Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

ArchiveArticles

anonymous-crowd-of-people-walking-street-wearing-masks-during-covid-19-pandemic-in-new-york-city-stockpack-adobe-stock
Anonymous crowd of people walking street wearing masks during Covid 19 pandemic in New York City

Doom and the Politics of Catastrophe

Setting the catastrophe of the 2020 pandemic in perspective

What happened in 2020? Why was there such confusion, contradicting information about Covid-19, and poor bureaucratic oversight of the pandemic? Setting the catastrophe of 2020 in historical perspective, renowned British historian Niall Ferguson explains why we are getting worse, not better, at handling disasters. The lessons of history that this country — indeed the West as a whole — should be closely heeded if we want to handle the next crisis better and avoid the ultimate doom of irreversible decline. We’ve been sharing a number of lectures from past COSM conferences. This video is just one of many you can find at the Bradley Center’s YouTube page. There you’ll find several lectures, interviews, and panels dealing with issues that range from Read More ›

internet-broadband-and-multimedia-streaming-entertainment-stockpack-adobe-stock
Internet broadband and multimedia streaming entertainment

Infinite Jest Revisited

The 1996 book by David Foster Wallace saw the Internet explosion, and its effects, approaching fast
If Aldous Huxley were born a few decades later, he and Wallace probably would have exchanged numbers. Read More ›
ocean-sunset-rays-stockpack-adobe-stock
Ocean Sunset Rays

Running from TikTok to Baptism and Truth

AI-powered social media is hurting kids, but look at the simultaneous revival happening, writes Robert J. Marks
Even while AI-powered apps addict and enslave so many, Marks thinks God is reaching this generation is a fresh and powerful way. Read More ›
doctor-with-virtual-reality-in-operation-room-in-hospitalsurgeon-analyzing-patient-heart-testing-result-and-human-anatomy-on-technological-digital-futuristic-virtual-interfacedigital-holographic-stockpack-adobe-stock
Doctor with virtual reality in operation room in hospital.Surgeon analyzing patient heart testing result and human anatomy on technological digital futuristic virtual interface,digital holographic

Can AI Customize and Individualize Healthcare?

Mundie thinks some aspects of biology are too complex for humans. Could AI help?
Craig Mundie says that his dream is to make artificial intelligence one day rival human intellect. Read More ›
3d-rendering-of-human-cell-or-embryonic-stem-cell-microscope-background-stockpack-adobe-stock
3d rendering of Human cell or Embryonic stem cell microscope background.

Scientists Close to Creating Human Embryos from Stem Cells

The “anything goes” ethical peril in biotechnology is all too real
Once again, biotechnology is racing ahead of our capacity to intellectually digest what is happening. Read More ›
machine-learning-artificial-intelligence-ai-deep-learning-and-future-concept-wireframe-brain-connect-with-circuit-electronic-graphic-and-binary-code-abstract-backgroundblue-tone-stockpack-adobe-stock
Machine learning , artificial intelligence , ai , deep learning and future concept. Wireframe Brain connect with circuit electronic graphic and binary code abstract background.Blue tone

The Myth of Artificial Intelligence

Tech entrepreneur Erik J. Larson on why the AI hype is profoundly misplaced

In today’s featured COSM video, watch author Erik J. Larson discusses ideas underlying his book, The Myth of Artificial Intelligence, as well as what he is exploring in his next book, which focuses on the history of the 21st Century so far. Here’s the summary of the book from Amazon: Futurists insist that AI will soon eclipse the capacities of the most gifted human mind. What hope do we have against superintelligent machines? But we aren’t really on the path to developing intelligent machines. In fact, we don’t even know where that path might be. A tech entrepreneur and pioneering research scientist working at the forefront of natural language processing, Erik Larson takes us on a tour of the landscape Read More ›

shanghai-china-stockpack-adobe-stock
Shanghai, China

Big Tech and China

Evaluating the technological competition between the two superpowers

How should the United States deal with China? Jay Richards interviews Dr. Bob Kelly, Managing Partner of Ignition Partners, on a panel he was included in. The panel explored the technological competition between the U.S. and China, what it means for the future, and presented differing schools of thought on how the United States should approach China moving forward. We’ve been sharing a number of lectures from past COSM conferences. This video is just one of many you can find at the Bradley Center’s YouTube page. There you’ll find several lectures, interviews, and panels dealing with issues that range from economics, Big Tech, and artificial intelligence. Notable speakers include 2022 Kyoto Prize winner Carver Mead, venture capitalist Peter Thiel, and George Gilder, co-founder of Discovery Read More ›

neon-nanotech-in-cyberspace-a-3d-illustration-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Neon Nanotech in Cyberspace: A 3D Illustration. Generative AI.

From Nanoscale to Waferscale

Sean Lie on the challenges and promises of the future's computing power

In today’s featured video, watch Sean Lie, Chief Hardware Architect at Cerebras Systems, and Pierre de Rochemont, Founder of Frontier Nanosystems, give presentations on the challenges and promising techniques for advancing computing power into the future. We’ve been sharing a number of lectures from past COSM conferences. This video is just one of many you can find at the Bradley Center’s YouTube page. There you’ll find several lectures, interviews, and panels dealing with issues that range from economics, Big Tech, and artificial intelligence. Notable speakers include 2022 Kyoto Prize winner Carver Mead, venture capitalist Peter Thiel, and George Gilder, co-founder of Discovery Institute and author of Life After Capitalism: The Meaning of Wealth, the Future of the Economy, and the Time Theory of Money.

old-vintage-monochrome-photographs-in-sepia-color-are-scattered-on-a-wooden-table-the-concept-of-genealogy-the-memory-of-ancestors-family-ties-memories-of-childhood-stockpack-adobe-stock
old vintage monochrome photographs in sepia color are scattered on a wooden table, the concept of genealogy, the memory of ancestors, family ties, memories of childhood

Is Dementia Research Missing the Forest for the Trees?

Sudden bouts of lucidity in people with dementia are understudied, researchers admit

Researchers have begun to ask about the curious fact that persons with obvious dementia sometimes have lucid episodes: “In the last week, Sarah has occasionally said things that were recognizable, startling her family. Most notably, on two occasions, she clearly and unexpectedly told her spouse, “I’m scared. I want you to come with me.” These episodes unsettled him. He reported them to Sarah’s physician, asking for advice. (This case is adapted from one of the author’s [JK] clinical experiences.)” – Peterson A, Clapp J, Largent EA, Harkins K, Stites SD, Karlawish J. What is paradoxical lucidity? The answer begins with its definition. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Mar;18(3):513-521. doi: 10.1002/alz.12424. Epub 2021 Aug 2. PMID: 34338400; PMCID: PMC8807788. The paper is open Read More ›

lazy-office-worker-with-feet-and-socks-on-table-useless-and-relaxing-man-doing-nothing-or-taking-break-from-work-in-workstation-businessman-resting-during-workday-laziness-and-relax-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Lazy office worker with feet and socks on table. Useless and relaxing man doing nothing or taking break from work in workstation. Businessman resting during workday. Laziness and relax concept.

ChatGPT: The Perfect Gadget for a Culture in Decline?

ChatGPT is an impersonal machine and can't generate meaning

Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro, professor of English at Grove City College and an editor at The Front Porch Republic, wrote an article for Plough on what he regards as the primary weakness of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. Bilbro comes to the issue from a literary background, which means he values the human element in language as a mode of communication. Literature is a “conversation,” requiring sentient minds. He sees ChatGPT as a soulless mechanism that will atrophy our ability to write and diminish our appreciation for good writing. Bilbro writes, LLMs are a technology suited to a decadent culture, one that chases easy profits rather than tackles the real challenges we face. It’s easier to make money rearranging words Read More ›

a-green-sprout-sprouts-from-the-microprocessor-a-symbol-of-a-new-startup-or-business-in-the-it-field-of-green-technologies-or-biotechnologies-a-living-beginning-in-computers-and-artificial-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
A green sprout sprouts from the microprocessor. A symbol of a new startup or business in the IT field of green technologies or biotechnologies. A living beginning in computers and artificial ai

“Emergence”: The College Level Version of “We Don’t Know How”

The word often permits the improbable to be considered probable for the purposes of sounding like science without providing any
No day that we can’t provide materialist explanations for everything can even be contemplated and that is where “emergence” stands bravely in the gap. Read More ›
atomic-weapon-after-the-us-bomber-enola-gay-dropped-the-atomic-bomb-on-hiroshima-japan-in-1945-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Atomic weapon. After the US bomber Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. Generative AI

American Prometheus: Destroyer of Worlds

Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" meets the hype and illustrates just how world-changing the atomic bomb was

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” So goes a line from the Hindu sacred text Bhagavad Gita, quoted by none other than J. Robert Oppenheimer, the quantum physicist who headed up the development of the first atomic bomb during World War II. Christopher Nolan’s new film Oppenheimer hit theaters on July 21 and has given audiences a taste of why the “father of the atomic bomb” entertained that haunting, little phrase. Nolan hit this movie out of the park. With a star-studded cast, a juxtaposed and non-linear storytelling mode, and a beautiful soundtrack to boot, some critics are calling it the most important movie of the century. That might be because the production of the atom bomb Read More ›

female-robot-face-artificial-intelligence-concept-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Female robot face, Artificial intelligence concept. Generative AI

Westworld: Episode 7 Review

In which Theresa makes a terrible discovery
This episode begins with Bernard having a flashback of his son. It’s a very sad scene that turns out to be a dream sequence. After that, we follow Theresa to Hale’s apartment. Read More ›
pipette-adding-fluid-to-one-of-several-test-tubes-stockpack-adobe-stock
Pipette adding fluid to one of several test tubes

Killing Disease and Living Longer

There are some exciting things happening in biotech that could lead to life extension

In this featured COSM conference video, Matt McIlwain, Managing Director of Madrona Venture Group, moderates a panel on exciting innovations in biotech that are offering new ways to both eliminate diseases and extend life. Panelists include Dr. Steve Meyer, Director of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, and Dr. Jim Tour, Professor of Chemistry at Rice University. We’ve been sharing a number of lectures from past COSM conferences and other videos related to artificial intelligence and technology. This video is just one of many you can find at the Bradley Center’s YouTube page. There you’ll find several lectures, interviews, and panels dealing with issues that range from economics, Big Tech, and artificial intelligence. Notable speakers include 2022 Kyoto Prize winner Carver Read More ›

scoring-the-winning-points-at-a-basketball-game-stockpack-adobe-stock
Scoring the winning points at a basketball game

Sabrina Ionescu’s Hot Hand

When basketball players hit a "streak," does that elevate the probability of success?
Athletes do sometimes get hot—not that their chance of success is 100% but that it is temporarily elevated above their normal probability. Read More ›
-stockpack-adobe-stock
銀河

Of AI and Aliens: Two Philosophers Give Their Thoughts

These sound minds are great resources to draw from in the chaos of our times
Sean McDowell of Biola University asked philosophers William Lane Craig and J.P. Moreland what they thought of extraterrestrial life and its implications. Read More ›
An abstract computer generated fractal design. A fractal is a never-ending pattern. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales.

The War on Math Becomes a Fight Over Textbooks

Florida, for example, rejected 54 math textbooks of 132 submitted by publishers on account of political content
Social justice messaging, right or wrong, is hardly going to help address the fact that American students lag behind most wealthy nations in math. Read More ›
bright-iridescent-thread-floss-for-embroidery-and-needlework-stockpack-adobe-stock
bright iridescent thread floss for embroidery and needlework

Is the “Threads” App a Bust?

The app originally attracted around 100 million users but has tapered off dramatically.

Within the first week of its existence, “Threads,” the new Twitter-like app from the tech company Meta, saw a colossal decline in usage. The app originally attracted around 100 million users but has tapered off dramatically. Jody Cerrano reports, Zuckerberg’s statements about returning users coincide with estimates from third-party traffic analysts that reported the big dip in Threads users last week. At that time, Sensor Tower, a market intelligence firm, said that Threads’ daily active users on iOS and Android were down by 20%. The company added that traffic was not the only thing affected. Time spent on the app per user also fell, according to Sensor Tower, by 50% — from 20 minutes to 10 minutes. On Monday, the analyst Similarweb reported an Read More ›

night-city-panorama-with-network-hologram-stockpack-adobe-stock
Night city panorama with network hologram

AI’s Role in Unlocking Human Potential

Can AI replicate or exceed human knowledge and creativity?

In today’s featured video from a past COSM conference, we ask the question: can artificial intelligence replicate or exceed human knowledge and creativity? What are AI’s implications for the workforce? Oren Etzioni, CEO of Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, George Montañez, Iris and Howard Critchell Professor of Computer Science at Harvey Mudd College, Robert J. Marks, Distinguished Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Baylor University, and Matt McIlwain, managing director Madrona Venture Group discuss the new business and career opportunities created by artificial intelligence, and whether AI and humanity will merge at some point in the future. We’ve been sharing a number of lectures from past COSM conferences. This video is just one of many you can find at Read More ›

planet-earth-from-space-peoples-republic-of-china-highlighted-elements-of-this-image-courtesy-of-nasa-stockpack-adobe-stock
Planet Earth from Space People's Republic of China highlighted, elements of this image courtesy of NASA

China’s Chatbot Toes the Party Line

How will China control what AI does and doesn't say?
The Chinese Communist Party is well aware that even if LLMs are trained on sanitized data, the output is still value-laden. Read More ›