Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

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video-archives-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Video archives concept.
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post
Author
Wesley J. Smith
Date
October 13, 2023
Categorized
Media
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The Crisis of Trust in the Mainstream Media

A vibrant and engaged media is essential to protecting American liberty. But what if it can't be trusted?
Wesley J. Smith
October 13, 2023
2
Media

This is cross-posted at Humanize. Visit this link to listen to the entire conversation between host Wesley J. Smith and journalist/commentator Alice Stewart. A vibrant and engaged media is essential to protecting American liberty—which is why the First Amendment provides such a strong protection for freedom of the press. If the media are to carry out their societal responsibilities, journalists must have the trust of news consumers. But these days, trust is in low supply. An October 2022 Gallup Poll found that only 34% of Americans trust the mass media to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly.” Why are the media experiencing this profound crisis of trust and what can be done about it? Wesley’s guest on this episode Read More ›

doubtful-young-man-thinking-stockpack-adobe-stock
Doubtful young man thinking
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post
Author
Jeffrey Funk
Date
October 12, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Why Are We Obsessed With How Smart AI Is?

The people with the most specific knowledge should be assessing applications for AI and their risks.
Jeffrey Funk
October 12, 2023
5
Artificial Intelligence
The biggest lesson from giving university exams to ChatGPT is that students should be tested in other ways. Read More ›
goal-to-success-for-level-up-with-person-climbing-on-route-slope-to-mountain-peakhuman-performance-limit-conceptsgrowth-mindset-and-motivationgenerative-ai-technology-stockpack-adobe-stock
Goal to success for level up with person climbing on route slope to mountain peak.human performance limit concepts.growth mindset and motivation.generative ai technology
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post
Author
Andrew McDiarmid
Date
October 11, 2023
Categorized
Human exceptionalism
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Are We Approaching the Singularity?

Are humans progressing morally as well as materially? What does it mean to be human in the cosmos?
Andrew McDiarmid
October 11, 2023
2
Human exceptionalism

Are humans progressing morally as well as materially? What does it mean to be human in the cosmos? On a new episode of ID the Future, we bring you the second half of a stimulating conversation between Dr. David Berlinski and host Eric Metaxas on the subject of Berlinski’s book Human Nature. In Human Nature, Berlinski argues that the utopian view that humans are progressing toward evolutionary and technological perfection is wishful thinking. Men are not about to become like gods. “I’m a strong believer in original sin,” quips Berlinski in his discussion with Metaxas. In other words, he believes not only that humans are fundamentally distinct from the rest of the biological world, but also that humans are prone to ignorance and Read More ›

cursive writing
closeup of old handwriting; vintage paper background
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post
Author
Richard W. Stevens
Date
October 11, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Authors Guild Sues OpenAI For Unlawful Copying of Creative Works

Did ChatGPT make physical copies of copyrighted books and articles?
Richard W. Stevens
October 11, 2023
6
Artificial Intelligence
It appears the Authors Guild has adequately alleged OpenAI, et al., made and used unlawful copies of copyright-protected written works. Read More ›
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Concept tunnel of light in near death experience, soul finding their ascension, astral trip, astral projection, people going through the portal of karma, death and birth. Spirituality, esoteric.
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post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
October 10, 2023
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind
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Are Near-Death Experiences Becoming Science Now?

The laughter has died down? Good. It was modern medicine — not religion — that created the hard evidence for credible near-death experiences
Denyse O'Leary
October 10, 2023
6
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind
In his chapter on near-death experiences in Minding the Brain, Gary Habermas discusses cases where people accurately witnessed events while clinically dead. Read More ›
greek-stoic-philosopher-statue-digital-render-stockpack-adobe-stock
Greek Stoic Philosopher statue digital render
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post
Author
Eric Holloway
Date
October 9, 2023
Categorized
Philosophy
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Ancient Greek Philosophy and Modern Blockbuster Graphics

The amazing computer-generated effects you see in almost every blockbuster today are only possible thanks to ideas proposed over 2300 years ago.
Eric Holloway
October 9, 2023
7
Philosophy
Ancient philosophy can be extremely useful, and entertaining, even when contrary to modern science! See it in the movies! Read More ›
statue-of-the-ancient-greek-philosopher-socrates-in-athens-greece-stockpack-adobe-stock
Statue of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates in Athens, Greece.
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post
Author
Andrew McDiarmid
Date
October 9, 2023
Categorized
Human exceptionalism
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David Berlinski: Humans Are Unique

Some argue that humans are growing more peaceful, enlightened, and improved by the year, and that a coming technological singularity may well usher in utopia. Berlinski isn’t buying it.
Andrew McDiarmid
October 9, 2023
2
Human exceptionalism
In this conversation and in his book, Berlinski argues that human beings have a fundamental essence that is radically different from other organisms. Read More ›
group-of-students-using-laptops-and-other-devices-in-classroom-stockpack-adobe-stock
Group of students using laptops and other devices in classroom.
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
October 8, 2023
Categorized
Education
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The Kids Aren’t Taking Notes

Colleges have become too dependent on digital methods of learning and communication.
Peter Biles
October 8, 2023
3
Education
Visit a typical classroom in the United States and you’re bound to see just about every student “taking notes” behind a computer screen as the professor lectures at the helm. Read More ›
consequences-of-the-pandemic-stockpack-unsplash
Consequences of the pandemic
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post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
October 8, 2023
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind
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Will Studio’s New “After Death” Be a Hit Like “Sound of Freedom”?

The new 90-minute film interviews researchers and survivors of near-death experiences
Denyse O'Leary
October 8, 2023
5
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

After Death (Angel Studios 2023), a look at the many recent accounts of near-death experiences, will premiere October 27. Angel is the studio that produced the recent smash hit Sound of Freedom (2023). There’s a story in that: While SoF was trashed by fashionable media, it outgrossed some of the biggest films at the box office. Will After Death, directed by Stephen Gray and Chris Radtke, meet the same fate? Its basic message is that NDEs are becoming an intersection of science/medicine and faith. It will be interesting to see how the same fashionable media react. The principle reason for exploding interest in near-death experiences in recent decades is that high-tech medicine has been bringing back thousands of people from Read More ›

walking-to-new-better-world-hope-and-bright-future-stockpack-adobe-stock
Walking to new better world. Hope and bright future
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
October 8, 2023
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind
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So AI is “Slightly Conscious” Now?

The AI optimists can't get away from the problem of consciousness.
Peter Biles
October 8, 2023
4
Philosophy of Mind

The idea that artificial intelligence could ever become actually “intelligent” is a minority view, but it’s espoused by some brilliant minds, including Jason Lemoine, an ex-Google employee who claimed the company’s developing AI system was sentient. Lemoine isn’t alone. According to Futurism, OpenAI’s top researcher, Ilya Sutskever, claimed in a Tweet this week that “large neural networks are slightly conscious.” Noor Al-Sibai writes, He’s long been preoccupied with artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which would refer to AI that operates at a human or superhuman level. During his appearance in the AI documentary “iHuman,” for instance, he even declared that that AGIs will “solve all the problems that we have today” before warning that they will also present “the potential to create Read More ›

the-captivating-robotic-woman-of-innovation-stockpack-adobe-stock
The Captivating Robotic Woman of Innovation
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
October 7, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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New Poll Says Most People Don’t Want “Super AI”

Not all problems can be solved through tech
Peter Biles
October 7, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

Despite tech companies’ search to create an artificial “super-intelligence,” a recent poll suggests ordinary citizens want no such thing to be set loose into the world. Sigal Samuel, writing for Vox, talks about technological “solutionism, ” the idea that all the world’s problems, moral or otherwise, can be solved through mere technological progress. This ideology, he notes, extends to the current craze and hype surrounding AI. Sigal writes, AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) enthusiasts promise that the coming superintelligence will bring radical improvements. It could develop everything from cures for diseases to better clean energy technologies. It could turbocharge productivity, leading to windfall profits that may alleviate global poverty. And getting to it first could help the US maintain an edge over China; Read More ›

a-chinese-man-wearing-a-face-mask-to-protect-himself-from-the-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-or-covid-19-is-riding-a-scooter-in-taipei-taiwan-stockpack-adobe-stock
A Chinese man, wearing a face mask to protect himself from the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV or COVID-19 is riding a scooter in Taipei, Taiwan.
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post
Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
October 6, 2023
Categorized
Global Technology, Medicine and Health
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COVID Helped China Get Ahead on Genetic Therapies

Why is China trying to lead the world in genetic technology?
Heather Zeiger
October 6, 2023
8
Global Technology, Medicine and Health
Some are concerned about the creation of genetic weapons, a bioterror tool to target certain ethnic groups. Read More ›
flat-lay-composition-with-medical-objects-on-color-background-stockpack-adobe-stock
Flat lay composition with medical objects on color background
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post
Author
Wesley J. Smith
Date
October 6, 2023
Categorized
Medicine and Health
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Affirmative Action and Health Care

It is high time that our medical journals stick to medicine.
Wesley J. Smith
October 6, 2023
3
Medicine and Health
The hyper-woke New England Journal of Medicine claims that affirmative action is a necessary health measure. Read More ›
tv-news-studio-recording-and-broadcasting-media-in-a-modern-set-design-with-blue-background-for-journalists-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
TV News studio - recording and broadcasting media in a modern set design with blue background for journalists. Generative AI
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post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
October 5, 2023
Categorized
Media, Science
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How Media Have Helped To Corrupt Science

Traditional popular media, science media, and science journalists have all helped create a situation where we can’t afford to Trust the Science!
Denyse O'Leary
October 5, 2023
7
Media, Science
Neither popular media nor science media now play a traditional role as evaluators and critics of elite groups’ claims on behalf of a broad public. Read More ›
group-of-people-with-posters-protesting-against-climate-change-outdoors-closeup-stockpack-adobe-stock
Group of people with posters protesting against climate change outdoors, closeup
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post
Author
Wesley J. Smith
Date
October 5, 2023
Categorized
Science
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More Ideological Alarmism in Yet Another Top Journal

Ideology continues to harm the scientific endeavor.
Wesley J. Smith
October 5, 2023
4
Science
I can’t think of anything more harmful to people’s respect for “science” than hysterical scientists in (say) lab coats. Read More ›
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Van, Turkey Ancient Urartu cuneiform from Van fortress. IX-VI century BC e.
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post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
October 4, 2023
Categorized
Archeology, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics
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Can AI Open Doors to Ancient Human History?

It’s not a time machine, to be sure, but it may help bring the past to life by motoring through dull, time-consuming translation tasks
Denyse O'Leary
October 4, 2023
4
Archeology, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics
There’s a lot to discover. Recently, scholars learned that the Babylonians were using trigonometry 3700 years ago, centuries before the Greeks. Read More ›
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Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway
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post
Author
News
Date
October 4, 2023
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind
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When Science Points Beyond the Physical

The idea that science has somehow shown the irrelevance of the mind to explaining behavior is seriously confused. 
News
October 4, 2023
3
Philosophy of Mind
Any attempt to use science to discredit the existence of mental subjects is fatally flawed because the bedrock data for all science comes from observation. Read More ›
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Raindrops on the window. Blue tone
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
October 3, 2023

Getting Beyond “Technique” When it Comes to Mental Health

A new book by Dr. Alan Noble on the value of choice, responsibility, and the inherent goodness of life.
Peter Biles
October 3, 2023
3

Jacques Ellul used the word “technique” to describe the mechanism befalling our modern society. When there’s a problem, we want the solution. When something isn’t fast enough, add the gears, the software updates, the weight loss pills, the trip to McDonald’s, etc. But suppose that mentality has seeped into the discourse surrounding mental health? Is there a quick-fix solution to debilitating depression and anxiety? Is there a pill for just that general sense of sadness and emptiness? Alan Noble is an Associate Professor at Oklahoma Baptist University and the author of a new book called On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden & Gift of Living. In it, Dr. Noble recognizes how a technique mindset is insufficient in addressing the Read More ›

tower-of-babel-abstract-painting-cubism-stockpack-adobe-stock
Tower of Babel, Abstract Painting. Cubism
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post
Author
News
Date
October 3, 2023
Categorized
Science
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A New Review for Berlinksi’s Latest Book

Despite the wonders of the scientific enterprise, it is run by humans, and is thus fallible.
News
October 3, 2023
5
Science

By David Klinghoffer By now the authority of science has been thoroughly abused. For that, you can thank scientists themselves, their promoters in government bodies and in university PR departments, and the legions of loyal pilot fish in popular and social media. Something really came undone in the Covid era. Today, the phrase “science says” or “doctors say” prompts a smirk from about half the population, and rightly so. To capture this reality, mathematician David Berlinski in his latest book, Science After Babel, evokes the image of Bruegel’s Tower of Babel — a bloated, vain enterprise, in denial of its own failings. The ancients saw science, and the other arts, as embodied by muses — beautiful young women. We may picture something more Read More ›