New brain, sir?
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A better graphical metaphor is the spike. If you look at an asymptotic curve it starts off relatively flat, but over time curves upward sharply, eventually rising straight up like a spike. The curve measures our technological level over time. As you follow the curve from time1 to time2 you increase in tech level by (oh lets say) X. However from t2 to t3 ( the same interval as 1 to t2) you increase by 2x. and from t3 to t4 you increase by 4x. The gist is that (theoretically) over a given time the rate of increase of technology increases exponentially, eventually reaching infinity within a finite time frame.
Now before the screaming starts, let me say that yes, there could be an unknown factor that limits technological growth. But that is the essence of prediction. You take what you know and extrapolate into the future. The reason the singularity prevents this is that tech change is eventually happening in the order of months, days, even minutes. By the time you have completed a prediction, thing can change so much to render your prediction invalid.
Now before the screaming starts, let me say that yes, there could be an unknown factor that limits technological growth. But that is the essence of prediction. You take what you know and extrapolate into the future. The reason the singularity prevents this is that tech change is eventually happening in the order of months, days, even minutes. By the time you have completed a prediction, thing can change so much to render your prediction invalid.
Agammamon,
I was referring to the "empty planet syndrome".
The idea is that a combination of self-replicating nanotechnology and computational singularity could make it possible that a machine could evolve that could grant your every wish - just by thinking about it. Considering the nature of our hidden desires, this could lead to total annihilation of our planet within a single night. We could never hope to control these machines because, in order for them to reach the singularity, they would necessarily have to evolve far beyond our capacity to understand them.
Runaway technology at its most nightmarish.
I was referring to the "empty planet syndrome".
The idea is that a combination of self-replicating nanotechnology and computational singularity could make it possible that a machine could evolve that could grant your every wish - just by thinking about it. Considering the nature of our hidden desires, this could lead to total annihilation of our planet within a single night. We could never hope to control these machines because, in order for them to reach the singularity, they would necessarily have to evolve far beyond our capacity to understand them.
Runaway technology at its most nightmarish.
I have a question for y'all about the part where it says:
I think what they are saying is that a artificial "brain" would be infallible and thus a person with an artificial brain would be forced to remember everything.
Thinking about it though, there are two factors that prevent us from remembering things:
1) Age & decay of our brains (or brain damage from, say, an accident)
2) Deliberate suppression of unpleasant memories
I would say that (1) is a physiological function which would be eliminated by the artificial brain (and that would be a good thing, IMO) but (2) is a psychological function which would not necessarily be affected.
Does anyone see a counter-argument to this or a flaw in my logic?
Graham
I think what they are saying is that a artificial "brain" would be infallible and thus a person with an artificial brain would be forced to remember everything.
Thinking about it though, there are two factors that prevent us from remembering things:
1) Age & decay of our brains (or brain damage from, say, an accident)
2) Deliberate suppression of unpleasant memories
I would say that (1) is a physiological function which would be eliminated by the artificial brain (and that would be a good thing, IMO) but (2) is a psychological function which would not necessarily be affected.
Does anyone see a counter-argument to this or a flaw in my logic?
Graham
It would depend on how #2 happens. If it's a form of self-imposed deterioration, perhaps it would have to be specifically allowed for. I'd imagine that any "sanity preservation" system would have to permit a certain amount of memory suppression.Graham said:
No.Graham said:
An artificial brain must necessarily be based on heuristic algorithms and, as such, would be as fallible as our own brains regardless of whether or not it had one hundred percent reliable memory.
The only alternative is "brute strength" algorithms and they cannot run in "real time'.
neutrino_cannon
Master Poster
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Fun! Cybernetics... and all the associated advantages.
I suppose, inversely, it might be interesting to make a computer out of neurons.
I suppose, inversely, it might be interesting to make a computer out of neurons.
Dragonrock
Militant Elvisian Tacoist
neutrino_cannon said:
Or, we could build a holographic computer using the patterning of a human brain, maybe we could use an executed criminal for our donor.