Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

Tagmind matters

amateur-observatories-interior-views-vintage-engraving-stockpack-adobe-stock
Amateur observatories, Interior views, vintage engraving.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 22, 2023
Categorized
Science
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

“Consensus” Doesn’t Always Mean Science

Real scientific discovery happens within a culture of free speech and open dialogue
News
September 22, 2023
1
Science

Robert J. Marks, host of the Mind Matters podcast, recently put out an article at Newsmax discussing “scientific consensus,” and how that term has been used to bully dissenting scientific viewpoints and even establish political and social policy. Marks writes, Consensus was used as a reason to stifle debate during the COVID crisis. Facebook and YouTube saw opposition to the government narrative as disinformation. Posts against consensus were censored and users were banned. Pre-Musk Twitter had a policy concerning tweets about climate change: “Misleading advertisements on #Twitter that contradict the scientific consensus on #climatechange are prohibited, in line with its inappropriate content policy.” The word pairing “scientific consensus” is a destructive science-stifling oxymoron. -Robert J. Marks, Consensus Doesn’t Equal Science | Newsmax.com 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 ›

megaphone-wrapped-in-barbed-wire-the-concept-of-banning-freedom-of-speech-censorship-barbed-wire-megaphone-stockpack-adobe-stock
megaphone wrapped in barbed wire. the concept of banning freedom of speech. censorship barbed wire megaphone
Type
post
Author
News
Date
August 25, 2023
Categorized
Censorship
Tagged
, , , , , ,

World Famous Psychologist Loses Appeal to Avoid “Social Media Training”

Does this decision legitimately restrict free speech?
News
August 25, 2023
2
Censorship

Clinical psychologist, world-renowned speaker, and author Jordan B. Peterson, who rose to international fame in 2017 after speaking out against an impending Canadian speech law involving mandatory gender pronoun use, may be compelled to take in “social media training.” (RELATED: Three More Key Takeaways From the Twitter Files and Their Fallout | Mind Matters) Several complaints regarding Peterson’s online rhetoric were sent to the College of Psychologists of Ontario in 2022, and the organization decided to have him undergo a professionalism training in order to address his online tone. Peterson appealed the decision, but lost, according to CBC: Three Ontario Divisional Court judges unanimously dismissed Peterson’s application, ruling that the college’s decision falls within its mandate to regulate the profession in Read More ›

drivertransport-business-trip-destination-and-people-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Driver,transport, business trip, destination and people concept
Type
post
Author
Jonathan Bartlett
Date
August 7, 2023
Categorized
Self-Driving Cars
Tagged
, , , , ,

Uber Achieves Profitability After Giving Up Self-Driving 

The alternative taxi service has finally parted ways with its self-driving unit
Jonathan Bartlett
August 7, 2023
3
Self-Driving Cars

Uber, the ride-hailing company, has been notorious for losing money. Since 2014, they have built up over thirty billion in operating losses. Just four years ago, analysts were saying that self-driving cars were the key to Uber’s future profitability.  However, in December 2020, Uber finally gave up the dream and sold its self-driving unit to the startup self-driving company Aurora.    This eliminated one of Uber’s biggest cash-burns. The Advanced Technology Group, the name of Uber’s self-driving unit, was draining $500 million from the company each year. Overall, the company probably spent well over $2 billion on self-driving, which some of Uber’s early investors (such as Bill Gurley) think was ultimately wasted spending.  This last quarter Uber has finally been able to turn a profit, Read More ›

sad-at-sunset-stockpack-adobe-stock
Sad at Sunset
Type
post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
August 5, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture
Tagged
, , , , ,

Westworld: Episode 8 Review

Is misery the key to consciousness?
Gary Varner
August 5, 2023
7
Arts & Culture

Episode Eight is one of the stronger episodes in the series. It starts with Bernard waking up after killing Theresa. He is distraught over killing his former girlfriend, and he is also horrified to realize he is a robot. This, of course, means the memories of his son are not real. Ford explains that Bernard is a robotic version of Arnold. The two men were on a quest to discover consciousness, but when Arnold died, Ford needed someone to help him continue his work. So, he built Bernard. This is a change in Ford’s story. Initially, Ford expressed no real interest in Arnold’s work. Now, he says the two were working together to create a version of consciousness. Of course, Read More ›

robotic-hand-study-for-object-manipulation-strategy-stockpack-adobe-stock
Robotic hand study for object manipulation strategy.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
July 16, 2023
Categorized
Transhumanism
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

Jay Richards Talks Transhumanism and AI

The underlying philosophy of transhumanism should be rejected
News
July 16, 2023
1
Transhumanism

Dr. Jay Richards, a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute and a friend of the Walter Bradley Center, which publishes Mind Matters, spoke recently at the Acton University conference, discussing both transhumanism and AI. Transhumanists, Richards notes, look at the scope of “cosmic evolution,” see a kind of increasing complexity among the human race, and speculate the next dramatic step: achieving immortality through a mixture of genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Richards described the transhumanist ideology as “anti-human,” but cautioned against having a reactionary response to all new technologies that seem to be involved in transhumanism’s vision, noting that some of them, when analyzed specifically, could have benefits (such as AI). The underlying philosophy of transhumanism, however, should be rejected. Read More ›

accounting-stockpack-adobe-stock
Accounting.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
July 13, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , ,

OpenAI is Now Under Investigation

The Federal Trade Commission wants to know how OpenAI gets their data and how much harm ChatGPT could have
News
July 13, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

The Federal Trade Commission (F.T.C.) sent a letter to OpenAI, the San Fransisco company responsible for creating ChatGPT, the Large Language Model that captured the world’s imagination in November of 2022. Per the New York Times, the F.T.C. is investigating the AI company’s methods of data acquisition and also plans on measuring the potential harms of AI on society, citing concerns over false information and job replacement. Cecilia Kang and Cade Metz report: In a 20-page letter sent to the San Francisco company this week, the agency said it was also looking into OpenAI’s security practices. The F.T.C. asked the company dozens of questions in its letter, including how the start-up trains its A.I. models and treats personal data. The Read More ›

side-view-of-a-humanoid-head-with-blue-and-yellow-eyes-and-vibrant-neon-neural-network-representing-futuristic-technology-and-artificial-intelligence-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Side view of a humanoid head with blue and yellow eyes and vibrant neon neural network, representing futuristic technology and artificial intelligence. Generative AI
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
June 30, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , ,

Revisiting the Mission of Mind Matters

Robert J. Marks on why Mind Matters (still) matters
Robert J. Marks
June 30, 2023
7
Artificial Intelligence

Originally posted in 2018. Mind Matters is a podcast and a news and commentary site where “artificial and natural intelligence meet head-on.” That’s a great slogan, but what does it mean? As your host for the podcast part of the site, I thought I’d take advantage of my role to talk you about some of our exciting plans for both the podcast and the online journal (the latter to be edited by science journalist Denyse O’Leary). Here’s a quick run-down: Topics Mind Matters will track the latest developments in applied AI and technology. How will AI continue to augment human performance and abilities? What are the latest innovations of AI? And how does AI affect you? How is AI applied in pricing Read More ›

secret-bunker-meeting-stockpack-adobe-stock
Secret bunker meeting
Type
post
Author
News
Date
June 23, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

C.S. Lewis’s “That Hideous Strength” is Making the Rounds Again

NYT columnist Ross Douthat offers his two cents on the dystopian classic
News
June 23, 2023
3
Arts & Culture

Just last week, Mind Matters editor Peter Biles wrote about That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis, a dystopian novel about a fearsome technocracy trying to conquer humanity. New York Times also wanted in on the fun, too, apparently. Ross Douthat, the conservative voice of the Times’ opinion column, published his latest essay on Lewis’s harrowing tale, and examined its modern pertinence. Douthat acknowledges the possibility of a mega-powerful technocracy, but notes how Lewis believed that on the outside, such an organization may look like the face of progress and humanitarianism. Douthat writes, Crucially, almost nobody in Lewis’s invented organization has any idea that in the inner ring they’re contacting the dark powers. Most people think they’re working for humanitarianism and Read More ›

forest-in-fog-with-mist-fairy-spooky-looking-woods-in-a-misty-day-cold-foggy-morning-in-horror-forest-with-trees-stockpack-adobe-stock
Forest in fog with mist. Fairy spooky looking woods in a misty day. Cold foggy morning in horror forest with trees
Type
post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
June 17, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture, Transhumanism
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , , ,

That Hideous Strength, A.K.A. Transhumanism

C.S. Lewis's classic science fiction tale is about the temptation to reject being human
Peter Biles
June 17, 2023
7
Arts & Culture, Transhumanism

C.S. Lewis’s 1946 science fiction novel That Hideous Strength is almost eighty years old now. Written during the throes of World War II, the novel is the culmination of Lewis’s cosmic trilogy, preluded by Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra. There are hosts of other articles attending to the prescience of Lewis’s terrifying novel, and for good reason; That Hideous Strength is a warning against using technology to dehumanize people and ultimately cripple the world into submission. It’s a great book as a novel, but it seems especially appropriate to revisit in lieu of the growing interest in transhumanism and the rapid acceleration of AI development. It feels like much of the talk on AI in recent months involves Read More ›

a-glacial-rivers-from-above-aerial-photograph-of-the-river-streams-from-icelandic-glaciers-beautiful-art-of-the-mother-nature-created-in-iceland-wallpaper-background-high-quality-photo-stockpack-adobe-stock
A glacial rivers from above. Aerial photograph of the river streams from Icelandic glaciers. Beautiful art of the Mother nature created in Iceland. Wallpaper background high quality photo
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 17, 2023
Categorized
Technology
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

The Solution for Tech Addiction

Trail Life USA is a way to get guys off their phones and into the wilderness
News
May 17, 2023
2
Technology

In a recent Mind Matters podcast episode, host Robert J. Marks spoke with Kent Marks, former Boy Scout guide who now works with Trail Life USA. In the wake of Boy Scouts’ precipitous decline over the last decade, Trail Life offers boys the chance to get outside and go on wilderness adventures. This is a huge opportunity to help young men get off the screens and into the beauty of creation. Speaking about the gravity of the problem, Robert said, The impact of social media has just been terrible. Teenage suicides are up, depression rates are up. I think a third of all girls involved in social media have body image problems. And that’s terrible. These are the symptoms of Read More ›

Unlocking latest smartphone with biometric facial identification scan
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 9, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , ,

AI is Closer Than You Think

Most of us carry powerful AI in our pockets every single day
News
May 9, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

Sometimes AI seems a bit of a niche idea, relegated to dystopian prophecies or sentient robots. But AI is much more pervasive and influential in our present world in more ways than we might assume. Oxford mathematician John Lennox reminds us in this recent podcast episode that our society teems with AI. Lennox commented, Now, the final example I would give you is the fact that we’re all involved in AI. That is any of us who own a smartphone, it’s tracking us all the time. What many of us don’t realize is that, for example, we make a purchase at Amazon. A few days later, we’ll get a pop-up saying, people that bought this book were interested in that Read More ›

observing the data
In the System Control Room Technical Operator Stands and Monitors Various Activities Showing on Multiple Displays with Graphics. Administrator Monitors Work of Artificial Intelligence.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
March 23, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , ,

Gary Smith’s New Book Reviewed in Washington Post

Smith argues that science itself is being undermined by the tools scientists use
News
March 23, 2023
3
Artificial Intelligence

Walter Bradley Center Senior Fellow Gary Smith’s book Distrust: Big Data, Data-Torturing, and the Assault on Science was reviewed in The Washington Post today. Smith is a frequent contributor to Mind Matters and teaches economics at Pomona College. In his new book, Smith argues that science itself is being “undermined” by the tools scientists use. Reviewer Abby Ohlheister writes, Smith, an economist whose work often examines the misuse of data and statistics in a variety of disciplines, argues that the current crisis of trust in science falls at the intersection of three forces: disinformation, data torturing and data mining. Disinformation, as Smith writes, is “as old as the human race,” but accelerated in speed and reach alongside social media. Data Read More ›

AI taking exam
Generative AI illustration of cute little robot reading assignment on paper during exam at school
Type
post
Author
News
Date
January 26, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Education
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , ,

AI Can Pass the MBA Exam, Wharton Professor Says

In the wake of ChatGPT uproar, its abilities (and limits) are becoming better understood
News
January 26, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence, Education

OpenAI’s ChatGPT passed the Master of Business Administration (MBA) exam according to a news report from NBC. Professor Christian Terwiesch of Wharton, who conducted the research and authored a paper on the matter, said that the bot scored somewhere in the B range on the exam, and that this has major implications for education. The report is just another in a flux of news and concerns about AI invading the spheres of education and academia. Terwiesch wrote, [The bot’s score shows] remarkable ability to automate some of the skills of highly compensated knowledge workers in general and specifically the knowledge workers in the jobs held by MBA graduates including analysts, managers, and consultants.” Despise its apparent advancement, the bot did Read More ›

hypnotic-abstract-red-digital-code-cyber-glitch-background-3d-illustration-psychedelic-stylish-artificial-intelligence-backplate-with-block-graphics-and-code-fragments-depicting-a-computer-hack-stockpack-adobe-stock
Hypnotic abstract red digital code cyber glitch background 3D illustration. Psychedelic stylish artificial intelligence backplate with block graphics and code fragments depicting a computer hack.
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
November 11, 2021
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When AI Goes Wrong

Robert J. Marks
November 11, 2021
1

AI must do what it is designed to do, but what if it doesn’t? What if AI begins behaving in bizarre and unpredictable ways? The more complex the system, the more that it can go wrong. Robert J. Marks discusses artificial general intelligence (AGI) with Justin Bui and Samuel Haug. Show Notes 00:37 | Introducing Justin Bui and Samuel Haug Read More ›