Minds among us, or: exploring non-human intelligence

Happy Monday and welcome to another edition of Artificial Insights. Thanks to everyone who shared suggested names and links to thinkers and researchers I should follow. In such a broad and fast-moving field as artificial intelligence, it is a constant challenge to even decide who to read and what to focus on. In publishing this newsletter I hope to help you navigate and learn from some of the voices shaping our (inevitable) future of more and different kinds of intelligence.

This week features a few short talks and articles exploring the implications and possible consequences of the explosion in intelligence we are experiencing. I have a strong suspicion that we will learn a lot more about non-human intelligences in the near future – there are probably many more kinds of intelligence out there than our anthropocentric worldview have us consider. It would be arrogant and short-sighted to imagine our current selves at the peak of intellectual evolution – and it arguably wise to learn about possible kinds of intelligence lurking around the corner.

MZ

Eliezer Yudkowsky discusses the potential risks of creating a superintelligent AI that surpasses human understanding. Without a serious approach to aligning superintelligence with human values, conflict with an AI entity that does not share our values could pose a significant threat to humanity. Yudkowsky does not advocate violence as a means to address the issue but acknowledges the push for an international reckoning on managing the risks associated with AI.

Renée Cummings discusses the challenges and ethical considerations associated with the use of data and AI. She highlights the potential for data to perpetuate biases and injustices, particularly in marginalized communities, and emphasizes the importance of responsible and ethical technology deployment. Cummings calls for greater transparency, diversity, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the design and use of data science tools.

Co-founder of Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs, Demis Harabis shares insight into the cutting edge of AI research and his experience working in the field with Ezra Klein. Dense and technical conversation - highly worth a listen, especially to understand how AI might affect research and help us address critical global challenges.

Karen Bakker discusses how scientists are using artificial intelligence to decode non-human communication and gain a deeper understanding of the intricate communication networks in the non-human world. Fascinating how bats and orcas, whose vocalizations have been decoded using AI, reveal complex communication systems and dialects.

Short report by BBC News on how the UN Security Council is starting to discuss AI risk, international cooperation and regulation. AI displays potential positive and negative uses, all of which need to be considered and resolved for progress to be possible.

Yuval Noah Harari delves into the power of storytelling and the impact it has on shaping human beliefs and history. He emphasizes that fictional stories and human-created rules, despite being products of imagination, hold significant consequences in society. He warns of the allure of simple and attractive narratives and the need to critically examine them to understand their underlying implications.