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Nov 21, 2017

DARPA Seeking AI That Learns All the Time

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

The agency wants ideas for turning computers into lifelong learners.

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Nov 21, 2017

Walmart is ‘secretly’ testing self-driving floor scrubbers, signaling that more robots are coming

Posted by in categories: business, robotics/AI, transportation

Planning to try and automate the entire store.


Walmart (WMT) has been quietly testing out autonomous floor scrubbers during the overnight shifts in five store locations near the company’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.

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Nov 21, 2017

Toyota’s latest humanoid robot can mimic your movements

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

But can it backflip?

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Nov 21, 2017

The U.S. Military Is Building a Fleet of Star Trek-Inspired ‘Shadow’ Bombers Invisible to Radar

Posted by in categories: futurism, military

The Pentagon is developing a new fleet of shadow bombers that possibly disappear on radar like those featured in Star Trek movies.

The unit of B-21 stealth bombers, a futuristic combat aircraft, are being created at a secret desert plant in Palmdale, California, after the company Northrop Grumman won the contract for their development two years ago, The Times reported.

The U.S. military has sanctioned the development of around 100 of the bat-like bombers for as much as $80 billion. The precise amount remains top secret.

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Nov 21, 2017

What’s Wrong with Godless AI Technological Salvation, the Singularity?

Posted by in categories: Ray Kurzweil, robotics/AI, singularity

In a recent article, I began to unpack Rodney Brooks’ October 2017 essay “The Seven Deadly Sins of AI Predictions.” Now I continue my analysis by looking into the faulty atheistic thinking that motivates the AI salvation preached by futurists such as Google’s Ray Kurzweil. Although Brooks does not address this worldview dimension, his critique of AI predictive sins provides a great opportunity for just that.

Brooks is a pioneer of robotic artificial intelligence (AI) and is MIT Panasonic Professor of Robotics Emeritus. He is also the founder and chief technology officer of Rethink Robotics, which makes cobots—robots designed to collaborate with humans in a shared industrial workspace.

Previously I discussed Brooks’ remark that “all the evidence that I see says we have no real idea yet how to build” the superintelligent devices that Kurzweil and like-minded singularity advocates imagine.

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Nov 21, 2017

Great news! Photo

Posted by in category: futurism

Great news! Dr. Aubrey de Grey is going to be doing an AMA on Reddit. This is your chance to ask anything you like about SENS and the scientific progress we are making. Find out more about SENS and how you can help us at: http://www.sens.org/donate

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Nov 21, 2017

This Gene-Editing Tech Might Be Too Dangerous To Unleash

Posted by in categories: evolution, existential risks, genetics

With gene drives, scientists are trying to supercharge evolution to eradicate malaria and save endangered species from extinction. But is this DARPA-funded tech safe enough to test in the wild? One of its creators isn’t so sure.

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Nov 21, 2017

Even Light Exercise is Beneficial to Health and Can Reduce Mortality Risk

Posted by in category: health

Even very moderate activity levels can influence the risk of death, according to a new study led by the University of Buffalo. The study showed that there was a significant reduction of mortality risk in women over 65 who regularly engaged in light physical activites, such as household chores.

Yes, folding the laundry, ironing, vacuuming the house and other menial tasks might not seem the most glamorous of activities, but they may help you to live longer.

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Nov 21, 2017

The Stage Has Been Set For The Next Financial Crisis

Posted by in categories: entertainment, finance

We are in a multidimensional and fully internationalized carry trade game, folks, which means there is a very serious and tangible risk pool sitting just below the surface across world’s largest insurance companies, pensions funds and banks, the so-called ‘mandated’ undertakings…

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Nov 21, 2017

Maximize the impacts of space science

Posted by in categories: government, science

In our view, to get the most from space-science programmes — in terms of impacts on research and reputation — government agencies and institutions need to choose, manage and assess missions in ways that optimize the scientific outputs. As heads of space-science agencies and institutes from around the world gather at a forum next week in Beijing to identify principles for maximizing returns on such missions, we call on them to put science first.


Put research goals first when prioritizing and managing national and international projects, urge Ji Wu and Roger Bonnet.

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