In the popular imagination, superhuman artificial intelligence is an approaching tidal wave that threatens not just jobs and human relationships, but civilization itself. Conflict between humans and machines is seen as inevitable and its outcome all too predictable. In this groundbreaking book, distinguished AI researcher Stuart Russell argues that this scenario can be avoided, but only if we rethink AI from the ground up. Russell begins by exploring the idea of intelligence in humans and in machines. He describes the near-term benefits we can expect, from intelligent personal assistants to vastly accelerated scientific research, and outlines the AI breakthroughs that still have to happen before we reach superhuman AI. He also spells out the ways humans are already finding to misuse AI, from lethal autonomous weapons to viral sabotage. If the predicted breakthroughs occur and superhuman AI emerges, we will have created entities far more powerful than ourselves. How can we ensure they never, ever, have power over us? Russell suggests that we can rebuild AI on a new foundation, according to which machines are designed to be inherently uncertain about the human preferences they are required to satisfy. Such machines would be humble, altruistic, and committed to pursue our objectives, not theirs. This new foundation would allow us to create machines that are provably deferential and provably beneficial. Shermer and Russell also discuss:
- natural intelligence vs. artificial intelligence
- “g” in human intelligence vs. G in AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)
- the values alignment problem
- Hume’s “Is-Ought” naturalistic fallacy as it applies to AI values vs. human values
- regulating AI
- Russell’s response to the arguments of AI apocalypse skeptics Kevin Kelly and Steven Pinker
- the Chinese social control AI system and what it could lead to
- autonomous vehicles, weapons, and other systems and how they can be hacked
- AI and the hacking of elections, and
- what keeps Stuart up at night.
Stuart Russell is a professor of Computer Science and holder of the Smith-Zadeh Chair in Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He has served as the Vice-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Council on AI and Robotics and as an advisor to the United Nations on arms control. He is a Fellow of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence, the Association for Computing Machinery, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is the author (with Peter Norvig) of the definitive and universally acclaimed textbook on AI, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach.
Listen to the podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn.
You play a vital part in our commitment to promoting science and reason. If you enjoy the Science Salon Podcast, please show your support.
THE GREAT COURSES PLUS
Get your free trial today
The Great Courses Plus makes lifelong learning and personal enrichment available to anyone, anywhere. Content-rich, unique courses provide you with a world of knowledge designed to expand your horizons, and deepen your understanding of hundreds of subjects. The Great Courses Plus has helped millions of lifelong learners take their learning to the next level.
Every course is thoroughly researched, extensively examined, and beautifully produced. The Great Courses specializes in crafting customized and entertaining learning journeys that are comprehensive, factual, and fascinating.
Sign up now using my special URL: thegreatcoursesplus.com/salon.
Get unlimited access to engaging and immersive learning experiences when you start a free trial today. Listen or watch on your TV, laptop, tablet, and smartphone. Pause, rewind, fast forward, or re-watch as often as you, and never listen to commercials.
This episode was released on June 2, 2020.
