Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

ArchiveArticles

telecommunications-tower-antenna-and-satellite-dish-and-city-at-night-as-background-stockpack-adobe-stock
Telecommunications tower, antenna and satellite dish and city at night as background
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 15, 2023
Categorized
Technology
Tagged
, , , , , ,

The Future of 5G

Feutsch says that one of the great benefits of 5G will not only be faster speeds, but much lower latency
News
September 15, 2023
2
Technology

In today’s featured video from a past COSM conference, Jay Richards interviews Andre Fuetsch, President of AT&T Labs and Chief Technical Officer at AT&T, about the future of 5G communications. Feutsch says that one of the great benefits of 5G will not only be faster speeds, but much lower latency. This will be a “game changer” for latency-sensitive applications such as autonomous vehicles, drones, and online gaming that require real time information. Andre Feutsch oversees the global technology direction for AT&T. This includes network planning, the company’s innovation road map, AT&T Labs, AT&T Foundry, and the intellectual property organization. His responsibilities include spearheading the design of the company’s next-generation 5G wireless infrastructure and software-defined networking (SDN) initiative. (REGISTER NOW FOR Read More ›

the-cloud-ai-illustration-chat-gpt-stockpack-adobe-stock
The Cloud, AI illustration, Chat GPT
Type
post
Author
Jeffrey Funk
Date
September 15, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance

When will the AI-driven Productivity Revolution Begin?

Big corporations are slow to embrace AI tech
Jeffrey Funk
September 15, 2023
7
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance

Just a few months ago professors and big consulting firms were saying that Generative AI will increase the rate of productivity growth and raise unemployment, thus frightening some into calling for a pause in AI development. For instance, “Tegmark’s Future of Life Institute spearheaded an open letter calling for a pause in training the most powerful AI systems until researchers adopt a shared set of safety standards. Its 33,000 signatories include Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Yoshua Bengio, a computer scientist who won the Turing Prize for his pioneering work in AI. But now, a different message is appearing. A title from a WSJ article is: “AI Startup Buzz Is Facing a Reality Check,” because of declining usage Read More ›

COSM2022-Wed-174A9344-Peter-Thiel-George-Gilder
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 14, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

AI: Intelligent, Conscious, or Merely Evil? 

Venture capitalist Peter Thiel addresses burning questions surrounding AI at last year's COSM conference
News
September 14, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

In today’s featured video, watch Peter Thiel from COSM 2022 speak on how we should think about artificial intelligence. Is it really intelligent and even conscious? And is it likely to be a force for good, or does it have the dangerous potential to control us? Listen in to learn more on this broad and often contentious topic. Peter Thiel is an internationally known venture capitalist and investor. (REGISTER NOW FOR COSM 2023) COSM is an exclusive national summit on the converging technologies remaking the world as we know it. From artificial intelligence to 5G and WiFi6, from tokenized time to blockchain, from cloud computing to the quantum revolution, and from biotech to the nanotech revolution, COSM brings together some Read More ›

parking-electric-cars-charging-stations-fast-charging-cars-3d-illustration-stockpack-adobe-stock
Parking electric cars. Charging stations, fast charging cars. 3d illustration
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 14, 2023
Categorized
Technology
Tagged
, , ,

The Benefits of Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Technology

Innovation has always created more opportunity, not less
News
September 14, 2023
2
Technology

In today’s featured video from a past COSM conference, Jay Richards interviews Tom Alberg, Founder, Madrona Venture Group and Co-chair of the ACES Northwest Network, about ACES’ efforts to bring Automated, Connected, Electric, and Shared vehicle technologies to the Puget Sound region. Alberg dismisses the idea that these new technologies will lead to job loss because innovation has always created more opportunity, not less. (REGISTER NOW FOR COSM 2023) COSM is an exclusive national summit on the converging technologies remaking the world as we know it. From artificial intelligence to 5G and WiFi6, from tokenized time to blockchain, from cloud computing to the quantum revolution, and from biotech to the nanotech revolution, COSM brings together some of the greatest minds Read More ›

3d-rendering-glowing-ai-artificial-intelligence-technology-chipset-cpu-on-circuit-board-electronic-and-technology-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
3D Rendering Glowing Ai artificial intelligence technology Chipset CPU on circuit board. electronic and technology Concept.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 13, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

AI as a System of Innovation

What sectors might AI transform in the future?
News
September 13, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

In today’s featured video from COSM 2022, Eric Schmidt explores the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) — from language to military applications, business, finance, energy, social media, and medicine. (REGISTER NOW FOR COSM 2023) COSM is an exclusive national summit on the converging technologies remaking the world as we know it. From artificial intelligence to 5G and WiFi6, from tokenized time to blockchain, from cloud computing to the quantum revolution, and from biotech to the nanotech revolution, COSM brings together some of the greatest minds of our time to explore how technology intersects with international competitiveness, investing, government regulation, freedom, and the triumph of the human spirit. The conference is targeted toward anyone seeking to peer into the future Read More ›

COSM2022-Nov10-174A0113-blake-lemoine-panel
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 13, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

Revisiting Marks, Lemoine, on AI and Consciousness

What is AI? In what sense can it be said to be "intelligent"? Could it ever be sentient, or conscious?
News
September 13, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

What is AI? In what sense can it be said to be “intelligent”? Could it ever be sentient, or conscious? In today’s video, a distinguished panel of artificial intelligence (AI) experts, include Blake Lemoine and Robert J. Marks, debates the meaning of artificial intelligence, what the future holds for its application (both positive and negative), and how far AI can be taken in terms of mimicking and even exceeding human capabilities. (REGISTER NOW FOR COSM 2023) COSM is an exclusive national summit on the converging technologies remaking the world as we know it. From artificial intelligence to 5G and WiFi6, from tokenized time to blockchain, from cloud computing to the quantum revolution, and from biotech to the nanotech revolution, COSM brings Read More ›

big-radar-parabolic-radio-antenna-global-information-data-stream-stockpack-adobe-stock
Big radar parabolic radio antenna global information data stream
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 12, 2023
Categorized
Technology
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

A Google Engineer Talks to Mind Matters About the Radio Spectrum

The spectrum business goes to the highest bidder. But what problems does that pose in the long run?
News
September 12, 2023
2
Technology

The federal government determines how the radio spectrum is used and who can use it. Turns out, renting out the spectrum to private companies is a billion-dollar business. The spectrum business goes to the highest bidder. But what problems does that pose in the long run? Google engineer Andrew Clegg discusses this and more with Dr. Robert J. Marks and Austin Egbert in the latest episode of the Mind Matters podcast. Here’s Clegg speaking to some of these issues from the transcript: In the decades past, there were typically enough frequencies to go around for everybody. And so pretty much the first person who applied for a particular frequency or band or whatever, would be given that frequency. And that worked Read More ›

starry-night-sky-over-sea-and-beach-with-man-silhouette-man-standing-on-sea-beach-under-starry-sky-stockpack-adobe-stock
Starry night sky over sea and beach with man silhouette. man standing on sea beach under starry sky.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 12, 2023
Categorized
Cosmology
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

Rogan and Astrophysicist Talk Aliens and UFOs

Are we really the only (intelligent) beings out here?
News
September 12, 2023
5
Cosmology

By David Klinghoffer Our astrophysicist friend Brian Keating from UC San Diego was on the Joe Rogan Experience — for three and a half hours, much as philosopher of science Stephen Meyer was recently. I’ve listened to the whole thing. Very interesting! And with shout-outs to Dr. Meyer on a couple of points that Dr. Keating offers for consideration: that religious faith prepared the way for modern science by teaching the intelligibility and order of nature, and that what really got Galileo in trouble was challenging not the Bible but Aristotle, who had in effect (but not literally) been embraced as a saint by the Catholic Church. Watch and listen here on Spotify. From Another World, or Our Own? The conversation is very wide-ranging, as Read More ›

hand-of-businessman-using-smartphone-chatting-with-chat-bot-chat-with-ai-or-artificial-intelligence-technology-stockpack-adobe-stock
Hand of businessman using smartphone chatting with chat bot, Chat with AI or Artificial Intelligence technology.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 11, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , ,

ChatGPT is Losing Momentum

Is the "hype curve" starting to flatten out?
News
September 11, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT’s traffic has declined for the third month in a row, according to Reuters. The Large Language Model (LLM) AI tool took the world by storm in November of 2022 when it was released by OpenAI, posing questions of academic integrity, and urging a host of tech giants to incorporate LLMs into their own platforms and search engines. Anna Tong writes, Worldwide desktop and mobile website visits to the ChatGPT website decreased by 3.2% to 1.43 billion in August, following approximately 10% drops from each of the previous two months. The amount of time visitors spent on the website has also been declining monthly since March, from an average of 8.7 minutes on site to 7 minutes on site in Read More ›

magazines-stockpack-adobe-stock
Magazines
Type
post
Author
Wesley J. Smith
Date
September 11, 2023
Categorized
Science

“Science” Journals Are Getting Less Trustworthy

Unless scientific journals set aside nonscientific agendas, public trust in them will continue to skydive
Wesley J. Smith
September 11, 2023
4
Science

The science and medical journals have become highly ideological on many of the most important and contentious societal issues of the day, ranging from global warming to gender ideology, to critical race theory, to virtually everything woke. Severing the discourse from true scientific objectivity could mean that legitimate research will be stifled, properly sourced articles that do not follow the preferred ideological narrative refused publication by politicized editors, or perhaps, that scientists could self-censor their own work so as to ensure their studies make it into a prestigious journal with all the career rewards that offers. And now, a climate scientist has written that he pulled his punches in a climate-change article in order to be published by the prestigious journal Nature. From, “I Left Out the Full Read More ›

medical-development-laboratory-caucasian-female-scientist-looking-under-microscope-analyzes-petri-dish-sample-specialists-working-on-medicine-biotechnology-research-in-advanced-pharma-lab-stockpack-adobe-stock
Medical Development Laboratory: Caucasian Female Scientist Looking Under Microscope, Analyzes Petri Dish Sample. Specialists Working on Medicine, Biotechnology Research in Advanced Pharma Lab
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 10, 2023
Categorized
Technology
Tagged
, , , , , ,

Killing Diseases and Living Longer

Can innovations in biotechnology enhance and lengthen human life?
News
September 10, 2023
2
Technology

Can innovations in biotechnology enhance and lengthen human life? This is question typical to the COSM Conference, where today’s leading voices in tech and science converge to discuss the potentials of the present and the vision of the future. Here, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Jay Richards interviews Matt Scholz, CEO Of OISON Biotechnologies, on new approaches to killing disease and living longer.  (REGISTER NOW FOR COSM 2023) COSM is an exclusive national summit on the converging technologies remaking the world as we know it. From artificial intelligence to 5G and WiFi6, from tokenized time to blockchain, from cloud computing to the quantum revolution, and from biotech to the nanotech revolution, COSM brings together some of the greatest minds of our Read More ›

back-view-of-man-looking-at-alien-invasion-ufo-flying-in-the-sky-concept-of-evidence-and-sighting-retro-illustration-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Back view of man looking at alien invasion, UFO flying in the sky, concept of evidence and sighting, retro illustration. Generative AI
Type
post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
September 9, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture
Tagged
, , , , , , , , ,

Arrival Review, Part 1

Nobody behaves like they should for the first ten minutes. They act, dare I say, alien.
Gary Varner
September 9, 2023
6
Arts & Culture

Arrival is an interesting movie. It’s well-shot, well-acted, and well-written. The trouble is the script makes some strange choices in the beginning and I just wasn’t persuaded by the movie’s twist at the end. The story starts out with a montage where Louise is raising her daughter, but the child tragically dies of some unknown illness, presumably cancer. The viewer is led to conclude that this is a flashback, but if one listens to the monologue Louise delivers, she says plainly that she’s explaining when the child’s story begins, if there are beginning at all, which is something she no longer believes. This basically means that the entire movie is a flashback, but the viewer is not supposed to notice Read More ›

the-young-guy-playing-an-acoustic-guitar-shooting-backlit-stockpack-adobe-stock
the young guy playing an acoustic guitar. Shooting backlit
Type
post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
September 8, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture
Tagged
, , , , , , , , ,

Oliver Anthony, Music, and Human Exceptionalism

Honest music speaks to the heart and brings us closer together.
Peter Biles
September 8, 2023
2
Arts & Culture

If you’ve been online at all for the last few weeks, chances are you’ve come across headlines about the folk/country singer Oliver Anthony, whose song “Rich Men North of Richmond” went viral in August. The song, a broad critique of elite power in Washington D.C., (Democrat and Republican) has gained both applause and fierce critique, but for the most part, seems to have deeply resonated with the general American public. Psychologist Jordan B. Peterson recently had Anthony on his podcast, discussing music, entrepreneurship, and virality. One thing is clear about Anthony’s songs: they’re honest, and people are attracted to that. Peterson noted in their conversation that authenticity is a sign of brilliance in artists, and how that sort of honesty Read More ›

alone-with-the-universe-stockpack-adobe-stock
Alone with the Universe
Type
post
Author
David Hsing
Date
September 8, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , ,

Artificial Consciousness Remains Impossible (Part 3)

The claim that all things are conscious (including AI) misunderstands the meaning of the term
David Hsing
September 8, 2023
5
Artificial Intelligence

Read parts one and two of the series to catch up to speed. I don’t subscribe to panpsychism, (a topic that has been popular in SA in recent years[26]), but even if panpsychism is true, the subsequent possible claim that “all things are conscious” is still false because it commits a fallacy of division. There is a difference in kind from everything to every single thing. The purported universal consciousness of panpsychism, if it exists, would not be of the same kind as the ordinary consciousness found in living entities. Some examples of such categorical differences: Johnny sings, but his kidneys don’t. Johnny sees, but his toenails don’t. Saying that a lamp is conscious in one sense of the word simply Read More ›

lit-up-black-modern-hallway-stockpack-adobe-stock
Lit up black modern hallway
Type
post
Author
Wesley J. Smith
Date
September 7, 2023
Categorized
Technocracy
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

The Technocracy Continues to Grow

We live in a time where individual freedom is under material threat from an emerging technocracy
Wesley J. Smith
September 7, 2023
6
Technocracy

Readers may recall two cases from the UK: Alfie Evans and Charlie Gard, infants with catastrophic illnesses whom the courts did not allow to be taken out of their hospitals — as desired by their parents — to receive treatment elsewhere. Now, also in the UK, a conscious and capable 19-year-old patient, referred to in legal documents as “ST,” with an apparent terminal disease has been told by a court that she can’t decide to continue life-extending treatment after the hospital sued to be able to move her to palliative care against her will. From the legal ruling involving the National Health Service Trust (emphasis added): The Trust’s case is that ST is “actively dying”. It became clear during the course of the oral evidence I heard Read More ›

visualizatipon-of-human-consciousness-in-artificial-intelligence-process-of-thinking-robot-humanoid-android-on-dark-background-with-neurals-connection-created-with-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Visualizatipon of human consciousness in artificial intelligence, process of thinking robot. Humanoid android on dark background with neurals connection. Created with Generative AI
Type
post
Author
David Hsing
Date
September 6, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Artificial Consciousness Remains Impossible (Part 2)

A machine no more “does things on its own” than a catapult flings by itself.
David Hsing
September 6, 2023
11
Artificial Intelligence

Read part one of this article series here. The following segments are responses to specific categories of counterarguments against my thesis, which you can read in part one of this article HERE. Please note that these responses do not stand on their own and can only be seen as supporting my main arguments from the first part. Each response only applies to those who hold the corresponding objections. “You can’t provide proof of intentionality and qualia because they’re subjective” If your mind doesn’t possess intentionality, “the power of minds to be about, to represent, or to stand for, things, properties, and states of affairs,” then you wouldn’t be able to understand any word on this screen in front of you Read More ›

Robert J. Marks with Michael Medved
Robert J. Marks on Great Minds with Michael Medved
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 6, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

Revisiting “Non-Computable You”

New podcast episode reviews the key ideas and insights of the book "Non-Computable You"
News
September 6, 2023
1
Artificial Intelligence

If you’re a regular reader of Mind Matters, you’ve probably heard us applaud and discuss the book by computer scientist and professor Robert J. Marks, Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will. The book is well worth reading and sheds much needed insights on our current technological moment where AI is either seen as the “greatest thing ever” or the tool that will enslave and destroy humanity, Terminator style. However, if you’re more of an audiobook kind of person, maybe you’ll just want to listen to a new podcast episode in which Dr. Marks discusses the key themes of his book with various hosts. You can listen to the podcast or download it for free here: Why Read More ›

COSM-2021-174A3829-Bob-Metcalfe-Large
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 5, 2023
Tagged
, , , , ,

Metcalfe’s Law and the Ethernet

The man who helped create the Ethernet is speaking at this year’s star studded COSM conference
News
September 5, 2023
2

The man who helped create the Ethernet is speaking at this year’s star studded COSM conference in Bellevue, Washington. The winner of the prestigious 2022 Turing Award, Bob Metcalfe paved the way for billions of computers and now smartphones to be connected to the Internet. He is also known for the concept behind Metcalf’s Law, which states that the value of a network depends on the square of how many devices can use it. A true pioneer in the field of computing, you won’t want to miss Metcalfe at this year’s COSM conference. For now, here’s an interview between Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Jay Richards and Metcalf himself at COSM 2021. (REGISTER NOW FOR COSM 2023) COSM is an exclusive Read More ›

ai-machine-learning-hands-of-robot-and-human-touching-big-data-of-global-network-connection-internet-and-digital-technology-science-and-artificial-intelligence-digital-technologies-of-futuristic-stockpack-adobe-stock
AI, Machine learning, Hands of robot and human touching big data of Global network connection, Internet and digital technology, Science and artificial intelligence digital technologies of futuristic.
Type
post
Author
David Hsing
Date
September 4, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

Artificial Consciousness Remains Impossible (Part 1)

The cherished fiction of conscious machines is an impossibility
David Hsing
September 4, 2023
12
Artificial Intelligence

This article is an attempt to explain why the cherished fiction of conscious machines is an impossibility. The very act of hardware and software design is a transmission of impetus as an extension of the designers and not an infusion of conscious will. The latter half of the article is dedicated to addressing counterarguments. Lastly, some implications of the title thesis are listed. Intelligence vs. Consciousness Intelligence is the ability of an entity to perform tasks, while consciousness refers to the presence of a subjective phenomenon. Intelligence[1]: “…the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one’s environment” Consciousness[2]: “When I am in a conscious mental state, there is something it is like for me to be in that state from the Read More ›

young-anxious-woman-lying-in-bed-staring-at-smartphone-screen-at-night-reading-about-depression-symptoms-in-internet-phone-addicted-female-can-not-stop-scrolling-news-media-before-bedtime-anxiety-stockpack-adobe-stock
Young anxious woman lying in bed staring at smartphone screen at night, reading about depression symptoms in internet, phone addicted female can not stop scrolling news media before bedtime. Anxiety.
Type
post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
September 4, 2023
Categorized
Addiction
Tagged
, , , , , ,

Cal Newport: Overstimulation Is Ruining Your Life

Turns out the solution is simple: don't use things that overstimulate you.
Peter Biles
September 4, 2023
2
Addiction

Cal Newport, author of So Good They Can’t Ignore You and Deep Work, now runs a YouTube channel/podcast where he offers advice about how to live and work deeply and effectively in the digital age. I’ve consistently found his thoughts interesting, informative, and inspiring. Last week, Newport released a fifteen-minute video on “overstimulation,” and talked at some length about the chemical dopamine, and how dopamine gives us the urge to do things we think will provide us with rewards. For instance, dopamine may compel us to take another inhalation of a cigarette, yank the lever of a gambling machine in Las Vegas, or even do something as apparently benign as refreshing your email tab. While there are many opinions and Read More ›