How small is “small?” Spider silk nanofibrils are just a few molecular layers thick, equivalent to approximately one ten-thousandth the diameter of a human hair. They’re invisible to the naked eye and cannot be seen under an ordinary microscope.
Joscha Bach, a prominent cognitive scientist and AI researcher, explores the essence of artificial intelligence and consciousness. Bach elaborates on the history and philosophical underpinnings of AI, tracing its roots from Aristotle to contemporary deep learning. He discusses the current challenges and limitations in machine learning, particularly in achieving human-like understanding and consciousness.
Bach raises critical questions about the alignment of AI with human values and the feasibility of building systems smarter and more ethical than humans. He delves into the nature of consciousness, proposing that it is not merely a computational process but a fundamental aspect of how minds perceive and interact with the world. Bach also addresses the potential and risks of advanced AI, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and a deeper understanding of consciousness to guide future developments.
What took so long for humans to appear on Earth? The Earth is 4.6 billion years old, and life began about 4 billion years ago, yet humans—the only intelligent, technological species we know of in the universe—have existed only for the last 200,000 years. Why didn’t we come sooner? What factor(s) delayed our appearance? And what can life’s timeline here say about the possibility of other technologically advanced lifeforms in the universe?
Neoen formally opens first stage of what will be Australia’s biggest battery, soaking up rooftop solar and helping ease the last coal generators out of the grid.