AGI
The AI singularity : Of gods and monsters ? Gawdat refers to the singularity , a concept commonly discussed in computer science . He describes it as a point of uncertainty where the future direction of AI remains unknown . " Nobody really knows which way we will go ," he says . Drawing an analogy to physics , he likens the singularity to the event horizon at the edge of a black hole .
At this point , the laws of physics that govern our understanding of the universe become limited . Similarly , in the realm of AI , the singularity represents a moment when machines surpass human intelligence , and our ability to predict their behaviour becomes uncertain .
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Standing at a crossroads : Utopia dream or dystopian nightmare ? Gawdat emphasises the collective belief at Google that AI can genuinely improve the world , which he still holds today . He even envisions a possible utopian scenario where humanity thrives without concerns ; a world where the damaging impact on our planet can be minimised through the integration of AI ' s capabilities .
" Our limited intelligence allows us to build a machine that flies you to Sydney so that you can surf ," Gawdat explains . " However , it ' s our limited intelligence that makes that machine burn the planet in the process ." Recognising the potential for positive change , Gawdat believes that increasing our intelligence , alongside AI , could be highly beneficial for the planet and humanity . Invoking Marvin Minsky , one of the early pioneers of AI - who warned about the need to ensure that AI systems have humanity ' s best interests in mind - Gawdat stresses that if AI is aligned with our best interests , it has the potential to create an ideal scenario . However , he says , if it isn ' t , the implications could be unsettling . aimagazine . com 107