Statement on AI & Singularity<br />
From: Bruce Klein bruce@singinst.org<br />
  To: kanzure@gmail.com<br />
  Date: 2008-09-26 10:07:04 am<br />
   <br />
Bryan - for the upcoming Summit, we plan to unveil a brief statement (signed by luminaries) on the importance of AI and accelerating change. Your feedback on the wording of this document is much appreciated.   <br />
<br />
-B <br />
<br />
--start draft: Throughout the past half-century, the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been progressing steadily. As progress continues, it is likely that the problem-solving abilities of AI systems will approach and then surpass the brightest human minds. If so, it is also likely these systems will acquire the ability to improve their own programming without human assistance. The development of such systems should be approached with considerable forethought.<br />
<br />
The prospects and implications of powerful machine intelligence has been called "singularity" by analogy to singularities in mathematical physics, particularly black holes. This analogy invokes the concept of the "event horizon" that shields the singularity from outside observation. This point of view is informed by the notion that it is difficult for us to predict what will be done by intellects that exceed our own mental ability.<br />
<br />
We consider it plausible that advanced AI systems may arrive in the next few decades, and the policies and precedents we set in the present will have significant influence over what will happen in the future. We think it is time for AI researchers and engineers to work together with society at large to craft a roadmap for the development of this technology to bring about a desirable and beneficial future. end draft--<br />
  <br />
<br />
Singularity Summit 2008: Opportunity, Risk, Leadership<br />
Oct 25, 9am-5pm, Montgomery Theater (San Jose, CA)<br />
<br />
Headlining:<br />
<br />
- Peter Diamandis, founder, CEO, and chair of X PRIZE Foundation<br />
- Esther Dyson, influential journalist, entrepreneur, investor<br />
- Ray Kurzweil, acclaimed inventor, author of The Singularity Is Near<br />
- Justin Rattner, VP and CTO of Intel Corporation<br />
- Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, initial investor in Facebook<br />
- Vernor Vinge, renowned science fiction author<br />
<br />
The Singularity Summit is the premier dialog on the Singularity. The first Singularity Summit was held at Stanford University in 2006 to further understanding and discussion about the Singularity concept and the future of human technological progress. It was founded as a venue for leading thinkers to explore the subject, whether scientist, enthusiast, or skeptic.<br />
<br />
Since 2006, the scope of this dialog has expanded dramatically. In 2008, the Singularity has now entered mainstream consideration. IEEE Spectrum, a sober and mainstream technology publication, issued a special report on the subject; and Intel CTO Justin Rattner remarked that "We're making steady progress toward the singularity" during his keynote to 2,000 people at Intel Developer Forum. What was once a relatively unknown concept is now being discussed in corporate board rooms.<br />
<br />
www.singularitysummit.com/blog/2008/08/25/intel-cto-predicts-singularity-by-2048<br />
<br />
Registration:<br />
<br />
$350 until Sept 30th (after $500)  <br />
www.singularitysummit.com/registration<br />
<br />
Regards,<br />
<br />
Tyler Emerson<br />
Curator, Singularity Summit<br />
Executive Director, Singularity Institute<br />
650 353 6063  <br />
 <br />
Bruce Klein<br />
Producer, Singularity Summit<br />
Director of Outreach, Singularity Institute<br />
650 273 2445 <br />
<br />
www.singinst.org/aboutus/team<br />
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