Vivienne Smith’s Post

"It's interesting. I mean, people often ask me, am I a technology optimist or a technology pessimist? And I always say I'm a technology realist, and we're looking at these systems being used. I think we are not benefited by discourses of AI doomerism nor by AI boosterism. We have to assess the real politic and the political economies into which these systems flow." https://lnkd.in/gZ5uEGFT https://katecrawford.net/

One of my favorite interviews on Eric Topol's channel is this one with Kate Crawford. If you are concerned about the ethical, social, and political impact of AI and big data, watch it! It's not just biases in data that are reflected in the output of the model. It's crowd labor and human exploitation by AI companies and the high consumption of non-renewable resources (energy and water) that are very concerning. https://lnkd.in/giGvAjJh

AI has undeniably become a powerful force in various applications, akin to an all-seeing eye of Sauron in recent months which raises intriguing questions about the extent of its capabilities. Mary’s Room thought experiment by Frank Jackson in 1982 talks about a brilliant “super-scientist” named Mary who is confined to a completely black & white room who specializes in neurophysiology of Vision and has acquired all the relevant physical knowledge to understand e.g which wavelength combination from the sky stimulates the retina, how through the central nervous system it contracts the vocal cords and expulsion of air from lungs for the humans to say the sky is blue! If Mary was an AI model who was to step outside its confined environment, would its responses be based on existing physical knowledge or exhibit entirely new behaviors? Exploring the parallels between Mary’s Room and AI models prompts us to question the true potential and limitations of artificial intelligence. https://lnkd.in/ggGEjJE2 #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Technology #Innovation #ThoughtExperiment #cognitivescience

Is the future of personal assistants AI-driven? 🤖👩💼 AI assistants are becoming increasingly sophisticated, handling schedules, answering queries, and automating tasks with impressive efficiency. But can they truly replace the nuanced understanding, empathy, and personal touch of a human assistant? The idea of "qualia"—the subjective essence of our experiences—suggests there's a depth to human interaction that AI might never fully capture. Can AI ever replicate the irreplaceable qualities of human assistants, or will the human touch always be essential? #AI #FutureOfWork #HumanVsMachine #Innovation #PersonalAssistants

The Strategic Importance of AGI for Humanity https://lnkd.in/dyanuzDU Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) represents a transformative leap in technology, with the potential to address some of humanity's most pressing challenges and opportunities: 🔍 Complex Problem-Solving: AGI could provide innovative solutions to global issues such as climate change and healthcare. 🚀 Accelerated Innovation: It can drive unprecedented advancements in science and technology, leading to breakthroughs across various fields. 📈 Economic Impact: AGI can enhance productivity, create new markets, and foster economic growth. 💉 Healthcare Transformation: It offers the potential for personalized medicine, improved diagnostics, and advanced treatment options. 🎓 Educational Access: AGI can democratize education by delivering personalized learning experiences and making high-quality education accessible globally. 🔒 Enhanced Security: It can improve safety measures, disaster response, and resource management. 🌌 Space Exploration: AGI could facilitate complex space missions and support human expansion beyond Earth. As we advance towards realizing AGI, it is crucial to emphasize ethical considerations, transparency, and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure its benefits are maximized and risks are mitigated. Let's work together to shape a future where AGI serves the greater good. 🌍✨ #AGI #Innovation #EconomicGrowth #Healthcare #Education #Security #SpaceExploration #AI #SingularityNET #SingularityDAO

RIP Daniel Dennett. Insights on Autonomy and Control: Reflections from an Enlightening Session with Daniel Dennett Last year, I had the honor of attending a thought-provoking panel featuring the late Daniel Dennett during the MIT Harvard Student Association conference in Colombia. His discussion left a profound impact on all of us present, bringing deep insights into the complex interplay of control, autonomy, and free will. Daniel explored the intricate dynamics of control systems, emphasizing that every degree of freedom represents both a chance and a need for control. He stressed the nuanced understanding that autonomy and determinism are indistinguishably linked, challenging us to rethink the nature of free will. A key takeaway from his talk was the idea that truly autonomous agents—whether human or machine—are designed to evade any external control. This autonomy, while empowering, also poses significant risks. Daniel's perspective was clear: we desire smart machines to assist us, not as equals but as tools that remain under our control, highlighting the inherent dangers in equipping them with too much independence. The conversation delved into how control over oneself is increasingly challenging in today's digital age, where external entities frequently attempt to capture our attention and influence our actions. Daniel cautioned about the "most dangerous effective puppet strings" of our time, such as clickbait and manipulative digital content, which subtly undermine our autonomy. He also touched upon the societal constructs around responsibility, the potential perils of creating "counterfeit people," and the critical need for clear distinctions between human and machine capabilities. Reflecting on the necessity of a pause in sentient intelligence development, Daniel advocated for watermarking creations to differentiate between human and AI outputs, underscoring the importance of strengthening humanities studies to maintain our societal values. Daniel's insights remind us of the delicate balance between leveraging technology and preserving our fundamental human qualities. As we continue to navigate these complexities, his teachings will undoubtedly guide our path forward. Thank you MIT Harvard Club de Colombia for having done the due diligence to bring him here, he made a lasting impression on many of us and today we mourn and celebrate his passing and his life. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- #DanielDennett #Philosophy #Autonomy #Control #MITHarvard #TechnologyEthics

We are excited to have a riveting conversation with Kenneth Stanley, the visionary author of Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned and former trailblazer at OpenAI for this coming Podcast series! 🎯 What’s in Store? · Learn why chasing specific goals might limit your potential for groundbreaking discoveries. · Discover how embracing serendipity can lead to monumental advancements in AI and beyond. · Gain exclusive insights from Stanley's pioneering work at one of the world's leading AI research labs and hear what he says! 🗓 October 29, 2024 ⏰ 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM PDT 📍 Zoom 👉 RSVP: https://buff.ly/3AdCZES With strong enterprise customer demand, we’ve launched a new initiative called AI for Enterprise Learning. This program empowers employees to master essential AI skills, enhancing efficiency and ensuring your organization stays competitive. Would this add value to your organization? Comment below with your email if you’re interested, and we’ll get in touch to explore how we can help transform your workforce! #AI #Innovation #BetaUniversity #OpenAI #SocialImpact #Workforce

Spent my lunch watching an interview with Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the godfather of AI. Here are some reflections on "Developing Intuition": - Don't stand for nonsense. - Stay open to diverse information. - Build, but avoid fixating on a framework; keep evolving with new experiences. - Welcome opinions, feedback, and critiques. - Play around with ideas and fit them into your framework, but know it's okay to reject. Blindly accepting can lead to poor intuition and decisions. To me, the question remains of deciding what to reject, even partially🤔 Also check out this HBR article from my leadership class @ Upenn for more on coaching in criticism: https://lnkd.in/ecdiuih5 #AI #Feedback

A very accessible view on AI and how we make sense of things; and why philosophy matters. From Daniel Dennett. Worth the ten minutes of your time today. https://lnkd.in/ghmc-fCP

We're seeing more and more AI tools and startups doing a lot of the same things. When this happens, the human becomes the differentiator. "The moat becomes a human, in an AI world." #AI #CX https://lnkd.in/eQz8VTeR