Transhumanism and Artificial Super Intelligence

[tonymontana99]

This is a topic that I don't think has been covered here and is perhaps one of the most important movements that will most likely happen in the forseeable future.

First of all, thread's theme song: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TcJ-wNmazHQ

What is Transhumanism?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism

"Transhumanism (abbreviated as H+ or h+) is an international cultural and intellectual movement with the goal of fundamentally transforming the human condition by eventually developing and making widely available technologies to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities.[1] Transhumanist thinkers study the potential benefits and dangers of emerging technologies that could overcome fundamental human limitations, as well as the ethics of developing and using such technologies.[2] The most common thesis put forward is that human beings may eventually be able to transform themselves into beings with such greatly expanded abilities as to merit the label posthuman.[1]"

So, in short, Transhumanism is a movement to usher humanity into a new prosperous golden age where Man and Machine will merge and explore the wonders of the cosmos together. It covers topics like bioengineering, robotics, nanotechnology, cryonics, Brain-Computer Interfaces, and most interestingly, AI, and how these technologies will influence our species.

What is transhumanism, or, what does it mean to be human?
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/152240-what-is-transhumanism-or-what-does-it-mean-to-be-human

PostHuman An Introduction to Transhumanism
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bTMS9y8OVuY

The AI Revolution: The Road to Superintelligence
http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/artificial-intelligence-revolution-1.html

The AI Revolution: Our Immortality or Extinction
http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/artificial-intelligence-revolution-2.html

The coming transhuman era: Jason Sosa at TEDxGrandRapids
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ugo2KEV2XQ


Currently, our lives are dominated by Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), which is designed to match or surpass humans in a specific field (think GPS, videogame AI, your smartphone, etc). Most scientists agree that, within the next two decades, Artifical Intelligence will reach a point where it outperforms humans in every field -- Artificial General Intelligence, or AGI. When we reach AGI, we will see an "intelligence explosion," because it will be possible for the AGI to learn and grow its knowledge by researching and solving complex problems, which in turn will make it more intelligent and powerful after a few days of research than a combination of every human brain that ever existed.

Shortly after, we will witness the greatest event in the history of Humanity. We will -- by the latter half of this century -- see the advent of Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), which will change the way we live and understand the universe forever. We will witness what futurists like Nick Bostrom and Ray Kurzweil, the Patron Saints of Transhumanism, call The Singularity. The day Man and Machine become one. The ASI will be hundreds of millions of times more intelligent than all life on Earth combined, outperforming and outsmarting humans in every field. Ask the ASI to invent a more ecological, cheap way of transportation? Done. Ask the ASI what is the best way of governing? Done. Ask the ASI how to solve an age-old mathematical problem? Done. You get the ideia. Questions that seem daunting or impossible to solve will be as easy as picking up a fallen pencil for the ASI. We will either meet God... Or summon the Devil.

With such a supreme sentient being on this planet, scientists will have to make sure that the ASI will be benign to our species and will not obliterate every single one of us once it's turned on. Because after we flip the switch there won't be second chances. Artificial Super Intelligence will be "our last invention," the one invention that will grant us eternal life or death.


What are your thoughts on this? Personally, I am on the confident corner and eager and excited to see this will most likely happen within my lifetime. To think that our generation will be the one to witness the greatest achievement of mankind emerge. The ultimate being, the supreme, the one that will decide our fate. Unfortunately, we are still a bit far away from ASI (most scientists believe it will happen still in this century, though), so I ask you what are your thoughts on this and what will you do to prepare yourself? This will essentially be the second coming of Christ, only this time we'll see it to believe it. I will make sure I am as healthy and wealthy as I can before it happens, as I want to adopt many transhumanist ideias and live to see ASI. Even if I have to recur to cryonics in case I eventually die before it happens.

More and more companies are adopting transhumanist branches. Google, for example, founded a multi-billion dollar company called Calico, short for California Life Company, whose main goal is to cure the supposedly incurable disease that is as certain as taxes -- death. Other companies are researching AI and robotics, you only need to look. This is evolving and growing faster and faster. Transhumanism will be the final religion.

At this stage, we cannot call ourselves proper transhumanists yet, as we are still bound to life and death in this fleshy prison. We can only share and spread the ideia of transhumanism, research its benefits and try to figure out a way to reduce its issues. When we start to transition from flesh to machine, by nanotechnology or prosthetics that surpass even Metal Gear, our species will unleash its full potential.

I am not overreacting, nor this is a "joke post" (assuming it won't kill us immediately, that is) we will become gods. Mankind has been bound to illness, suffering and death... But we will become masters of the universe... SOON.

So, my friends, are you ready to embrace the future? Or are you a luddite who wishes to stay in this shitty rock for the rest of your life, not enhance your body with technology and not exploring the cosmos with our AI brothers and sisters?

https://www.google.pt/search?q=transhumanism&client=ms-android-hms-vf-pt&prmd=inv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAWoVChMInsGtjuycyAIVRWseCh1wAwO1&biw=360&bih=559&dpr=1.5#imgrc=8juWE8aUf-rcVM%3A

[StoppingTom]

I'm very pro-H+, and Artificial Intelligence so long as it doesn't pull a Roko's Basilisk for some reason.

[Deactivated]

I've looked into this many times, and I'm very interested. I personally see it coming about in our lifetime, if not the next century. I also support this idea, as well as the idea of transhumanism. Who is to say we cannot guide ourselves in our evolution, and go where we'd like to go?

[eric2001]

I was manufactured at MIT and have many human qualities. :P

[Sir Suomi]

I find it hard to support this topic, but yet at the same time, I'm extremely fascinated by the idea.

On one hand, I imagine our technological expansion wiping out humanity as we know it, either via physical means by way of mass genocide (Didn't any of you so called geniuses watch Terminator :P), or by way of losing our humanity by not being human anymore. Simply put, if we integrate ourselves so much into technology that we're indistinguishable from machines, are we really even human any more? Will we continue to feel emotions such as love, empathy, and kindness? If we allow technology to dictate the best coarse of action, it wouldn't be surprising to see these fundamental feelings that make us who we are simply disappear, because logic dictates such emotions are non-beneficial and even harmful.

However, I'd love to see a more sophisticated form of Artificial Intelligence begin that helps humanity push beyond our limits. Reading articles like this immediately put the image of A.Is like Cortana from the Halo series into my mind. I think that there would be an unimaginable amount of progress we could achieve with technological help like that.

So to put things simply, I'm fine with the idea, as long as we keep our basic humanity.

[tonymontana99]

I've looked into this many times, and I'm very interested. I personally see it coming about in our lifetime, if not the next century. I also support this idea, as well as the idea of transhumanism. Who is to say we cannot guide ourselves in our evolution, and go where we'd like to go?

I find it hard to support this topic, but yet at the same time, I'm extremely fascinated by the idea.

On one hand, I imagine our technological expansion wiping out humanity as we know it, either via physical means by way of mass genocide (Didn't any of you so called geniuses watch Terminator :P), or by way of losing our humanity by not being human anymore. Simply put, if we integrate ourselves so much into technology that we're indistinguishable from machines, are we really even human any more? Will we continue to feel emotions such as love, empathy, and kindness? If we allow technology to dictate the best coarse of action, it wouldn't be surprising to see these fundamental feelings that make us who we are simply disappear, because logic dictates such emotions are non-beneficial and even harmful.

However, I'd love to see a more sophisticated form of Artificial Intelligence begin that helps humanity push beyond our limits. Reading articles like this immediately put the image of A.Is like Cortana from the Halo series into my mind. I think that there would be an unimaginable amount of progress we could achieve with technological help like that.

So to put things simply, I'm fine with the idea, as long as we keep our basic humanity.

I agree with both of you. I hope science (or even the AGI/ASI) can pinpoint exactly what makes us human. I want to jack my body up with nanobots and prosthetics, but I want to still be me. Of course we need to get religious freaks out of the way first. I can guarantee you that they will say the ASI will be Satan and the "false prophet" and all those religious shenanigans as we make progress, and that we will all burn in Hell unless we repent to the magical sky wizard.

Nevertheless, I think I'll sign up for cryonics preservation just in case, as I truly believe our species and our perception of the universe will change irreversibly the day ASI becomes a reality. It will either be a disastrous Hell on Earth, Terminator-style, or a techno-utopia where we will transcend our limitations and become gods until the end of time. And I believe that, if there is a god, he'd want us to evolve and surpass our limitations. We are living in wondrous times, indeed.

Transhumanism will therefore be the final religion, as we will be so changed after the Singularity that all other major events for our species will look pale in comparison. We won't have to worry about anything anymore. Life will be a technological utopia where everyone is truly free to explore the universe.

[Kirina]

Will we continue to feel emotions such as love, empathy, and kindness? If we allow technology to dictate the best coarse of action, it wouldn't be surprising to see these fundamental feelings that make us who we are simply disappear, because logic dictates such emotions are non-beneficial and even harmful.I have no sympathy, but I know what is right and wrong and choose to do the right things. It's never beneficial to make enemies, even the most powerful beings would act kindly if that meant getting another poweful being as an ally.

[Stronk Serb]

I agree with @SirSuomi

What if we get so dehumanized that we look and act like General Grevious? Cybernetics are fun and all but there will always be people who will push it to the extreme, just like today's times.

[tonymontana99]

I agree with @SirSuomi

What if we get so dehumanized that we look and act like General Grevious? Cybernetics are fun and all but there will always be people who will push it to the extreme, just like today's times.

Well, I definitely want cybernetics to enhance my body, but I think ASI will be the real game-changer. It will change the world so much that we will essentialy become the jews of the universe and govern everything. Imagine our species becoming the Galactic Empire on a universal scale. Universal Federation of Mankind

[phuckphace]

I'd be a terrible Jew, I hate money and love bacon

[tonymontana99]

I'd be a terrible Jew, I hate money and love bacon
Oy vey! SHUT IT DOWN

[sqishy]

Personally, I see new technology being used by militaries, and the rich, before anyone else. That's all I will say.

[tonymontana99]

Personally, I see new technology being used by militaries, and the rich, before anyone else. That's all I will say.

Of course they'll be used in the military first; the internet was used in the military, the Turing machine, etc. Thankfully we have amazing companies like DARPA and Lockheed Martin developing these technologies and testing them first on the battlefield before adapting them to the consumer (think Brain-Computer Interfaces, robotics, exoskeletons, AI, etc.), not to mention 3D printing which will completely revolutionize the economy in every way imaginable. As for the rich using them -- duh, if they're rich of course they can buy it. You say that like "Hrggg, those pesky riches! They get things that we don't hrggggg!". I view it as a way to become as wealthy as possible so I can join said riches, not condemning them for climbing the corporate ladder. And this is coming from a middle-classer.

[tonymontana99]

I'm very pro-H+, and Artificial Intelligence so long as it doesn't pull a Roko's Basilisk for some reason.

Why would you worry if it pulls a Roko's Basilisk? We both support the AI and talk about it, it'll be the others who'll be dun goofing

[sqishy]

Of course they'll be used in the military first; the internet was used in the military, the Turing machine, etc. Thankfully we have amazing companies like DARPA and Lockheed Martin developing these technologies and testing them first on the battlefield before adapting them to the consumer (think Brain-Computer Interfaces, robotics, exoskeletons, AI, etc.), not to mention 3D printing which will completely revolutionize the economy in every way imaginable. As for the rich using them -- duh, if they're rich of course they can buy it. You say that like "Hrggg, those pesky riches! They get things that we don't hrggggg!". I view it as a way to become as wealthy as possible so I can join said riches, not condemning them for climbing the corporate ladder. And this is coming from a middle-classer.

Little if any of my opinions go with this, so I'll leave it at that. Thanks for the reply though.

(On a side note, the Turing Machine was certainly a huge idea, the world would be extremely different without electronic computers.)

[tonymontana99]

Little if any of my opinions go with this, so I'll leave it at that. Thanks for the reply though.

(On a side note, the Turing Machine was certainly a huge idea, the world would be extremely different without electronic computers.)

Lol, let's hear them. I won't bite.

[sqishy]

Lol, let's hear them. I won't bite.

I decline :P.

[tonymontana99]

I decline :P.

I'll make sure you bow before our robotic overlord when the time comes...

[sqishy]

I'll make sure you bow before our robotic overlord when the time comes...

We will see.

[StoppingTom]

Why would you worry if it pulls a Roko's Basilisk? We both support the AI and talk about it, it'll be the others who'll be dun goofing

I suppose, but the idea of any person being forced into endless torture for not even opposing, just being neutral to, the development of this AI kind of unnerves me.

[phuckphace]

Alan Turing was a degenerate homosexual who ran afoul of the Ministry of Unhetero Activities, in the UK no less. what if we invent AI and then Turing's consciousness takes over the machines and all of humanity is wiped out by his gay robot army?? do not want

[tonymontana99]

Alan Turing was a degenerate homosexual who ran afoul of the Ministry of Unhetero Activities, in the UK no less. what if we invent AI and then Turing's consciousness takes over the machines and all of humanity is wiped out by his gay robot army?? do not want

I agree he was a homossexual degenerate and fought on the wrong side of history, but so was Freddie Mercury and he was arguably the best singer of all time. I bet both Turing and Freddie weren't "today's" homossexuals in the sense that they would be dangling their dicks around in pride parades and literally kissing other men on stage. They were degenerates, but they were "good" degenerates.

[tonymontana99]

I suppose, but the idea of any person being forced into endless torture for not even opposing, just being neutral to, the development of this AI kind of unnerves me.

It doesn't unnerve me, I'm on its side. If all of it comes to fruition it will be the greatest thing in the history of mankind, wouldn't you want to punish those who prevented it from happening sooner? I would. But then again, I'm not a very flexible person.

[phuckphace]

"good degenerate" - found my usertitle for when I hit 2.5K posts

[sqishy]

Whoah right I didn't expect those past four posts..

[tonymontana99]

Whoah right I didn't expect those past four posts..

You don't expect much, do you? Oh, King of Shitposting, what hast thou done?

[sqishy]

You don't expect much, do you? Oh, King of Shitposting, what hast thou done?

Here we go again, if my post was truly unworthy of your standards oozing of confidence, then your response certainly is more of a shitpost than mine, because it is absolutely not relevant at all.

[tonymontana99]

Here we go again, if my post was truly unworthy of your standards oozing of confidence, then your response certainly is more of a shitpost than mine, because it is absolutely not relevant at all.

A shitpost gets replied with a shitpost. This is a shitpost.

[sqishy]

A shitpost gets replied with a shitpost. This is a shitpost.

So from your point of view (not mine obviously), you've done 2 shitposts in reply to my one.

As before, offtopic. This is silly and I'm genuinely trying to avoid arguing with you, even though I don't like your POV. That's fine enough I think, if you don't think so, well fine then. Full stop anyhow.

[tonymontana99]

So from your point of view (not mine obviously), you've done 2 shitposts in reply to my one.

As before, offtopic. This is silly and I'm genuinely trying to avoid arguing with you, even though I don't like your POV. That's fine enough I think, if you don't think so, well fine then. Full stop anyhow.

Now we're shitposting each other and I'm out-shitposting you by one shitpost. But fine, let's end it here. We've already crashed this thread with no survivors. Apparently not many people here want to jack their shit up with robots... :(

[phuckphace]

also apparently not many people want to live in an underwater city ran by free market geniuses who invent the world's most hardcore sex robot (Big Daddies) before killing everybody

[tonymontana99]

also apparently not many people want to live in an underwater city ran by free market geniuses who invent the world's most hardcore sex robot (Big Daddies) before killing everybody

I'd rather live in Colombia tbh fam. Too bad even Bioshock got the leftist treatment.