Astro Weekly: The AI Function

Right now, as you read this, there are hundreds of brilliant human minds working tirelessly in an attempt to create artificial intelligence (AI). Even more individuals are working on creating technology that will assist in achieving this goal. As computing power doubles every two years (Google “Moore’s Law”), we are getting closer and closer every day to creating echoes of the human mind in the machine. As exciting as our technological growth is, we must maintain a proper level of concern regarding AI and consider the future paths we will need to take and strategies we will need to employ to control it.

In his book “Superintelligence,” Nick Bostrom outlines (in illuminating and sometimes excruciating detail) the steps that are necessary to prevent AI from catastrophically getting away from us. Much of his book focuses on an artificial superintelligence — one that far exceeds a normal “general” artificial intelligence. Through recursive self-improvement (continuously building better versions of itself), it is probable that the creation of a general AI could inevitably lead to a machine that will leave us in the dust intellectually (and spiritually, artistically, etc). However, superintelligence aside, I want to emphasize the possible implications of creating a computer matching only the intellectual capabilities of the humble Homo sapiens.

Let’s say that in the year 2030, scientists/technologists create the first ever AI with intellect matching that of your average researcher at MIT or Cal. Tech. Even with equivalent intelligence, a general AI would far exceed our capabilities through speed alone, as electronic circuits function approximately one million times faster than biochemical ones. Therefore, over the course of one human work day in the MIT lab, the AI will have made approximately 20,000 years of intellectual progress. Imagine this occurring day after day, and you may start to get an idea of what would become possible. We are talking about machines that will have the capability to read every book, every newspaper/magazine article, every legal document, and every webpage that has ever been written — in a matter of seconds. How can you not be frightened by that alone?