Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

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Thief Stealing Folder From Shelf
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
January 22, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Religion
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The President Pardons the Founder of a Church That Worships AI

On his last day in office, departing President Trump pardoned Anthony Levandowski
Robert J. Marks
January 22, 2021
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Religion

Anthony Levandowski has an interesting history He transitioned from Silicon Valley wunderkind to inept theologian to convicted felon. Now he is free, due to a pardon given by Donald Trump in Trump’s last day in office. If you are an orthodox materialist, you believe our brains are computers made of meat. Artificial intelligence, brains made out of silicon, will therefore match and eventually exceed human capabilities and become godlike. So it might make sense to form a church that worships this future AI god. That’s what Anthony Levandowski did in 2019. His church was christened Way of the Future. Levandowski reasoned “What is going to be created [by AI] will effectively be a god … if there is something a…

autonomous-vehicles-on-highway-with-self-driving-cars-sensing-environment-by-radar-and-operating-safely-on-speedway-thanks-to-artificial-intelligence-and-control-systems-automated-transport-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Autonomous vehicles on highway with self driving cars sensing environment by radar and operating safely on speedway thanks to artificial intelligence and control systems, automated transport concept
Type
post
Author
Jonathan Bartlett
Date
November 18, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Economics
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What Real Advantage Do Self-Driving Cars Provide?

It’s time for a hard-headed look at the costs and benefits of the pursuit of fully self-driving cars
Jonathan Bartlett
November 18, 2020
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Economics

More and more people are realizing that autonomous (self-driving) vehicles are not a road to automotive prosperity. To recap, Level 5 self-driving is what most people think of when they hear the term “self-driving.” You type in an address and the car takes you where you want to go while you sleep in the back. That car is not going to hit the road anytime soon. Level 4 self-driving is similar but only works within well-defined areas or situations. In practice, Level 4 essentially relies on either intelligent infrastructure or a territory that is so predictable and well-mapped that it obviates the need for intelligent infrastructure. Huge amounts have been invested in self-driving vehicles. The Information estimated that $16 billion…

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driver uber car in black car in the street of new york
Type
post
Author
Jeffrey Funk
Date
June 2, 2020
Categorized
Business and Finance, Global Technology
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Why Are There No New Googles and Amazons?

The internet has matured, making many new internet-based companies comparatively low-tech
Jeffrey Funk
June 2, 2020
Business and Finance, Global Technology

Today’s startups have targeted a much different set of technologies than did startups in past decades.

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Coffee shop interior design with white chairs and violet of flower.
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 26, 2019
Categorized
Business and Finance, Work
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Why the Millennial High-Tech Urban Lifestyle May Soon Cost More

In the wake of WeWork’s woes, analysts are questioning the business models we love
Denyse O'Leary
November 26, 2019
Business and Finance, Work

The problem is, WeWork is not a technology company. Neither is Airbnb or Uber. They all use software via the internet to leverage surplus physical space, whether the space is in an office building, a private home, or a privately owned car. 

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hype word on digital screen background with world map
Type
post
Author
News
Date
October 14, 2019
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance
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If Big Tech Were Spinning Its Wheels, Would We Know?

Not necessarily, says an economics prof who worries about the slowing pace of innovation but not of hype
News
October 14, 2019
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance

The slowing Funk refers to is in fundamental innovations like transistors and lasers. The apparent progress often turns out to be in patent applications for a bewildering array of comparatively insignificant mobile phone apps.

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Urban traffic Pexels
Type
post
Author
Brendan Dixon
Date
August 23, 2019
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Global Technology
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Are self-driving cars really safer?

A former Uber executive says no. Before we throw away the Driver’s Handbook…
Brendan Dixon
August 23, 2019
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Global Technology
Current claims that self-driving cars are safer are hype, not measurement. Meanwhile, Congress is expected to push for legislation next month to pave the way for widespread use of self-driving vehicles without a consensus on safety standards. Read More ›
gud
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
August 1, 2019
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Education, Work
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Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene: How to Spell Gud

Also, Google and Apple ditching college degree requirements is not really that new
Robert J. Marks
August 1, 2019
Artificial Intelligence, Education, Work

Twenty years or so ago, when I worked in Seattle, Microsoft was famous for the testing coding skills of their applicants and asking Mensa-like questions. Degrees were secondary.

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daniel-monteiro-47VpDiZzzEQ-unsplash
Car top taxi sign
Type
post
Author
Brendan Dixon
Date
July 24, 2019
Categorized
Business and Finance, Machine Learning
Tagged
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Even Uber didn’t believe in Uber’s self-driving taxis

We found that out after Google’s Waymo sued the company
Brendan Dixon
July 24, 2019
Business and Finance, Machine Learning

Optimism is not driving the recent collaboration and corporate consolidation in the self-driving car industry. Rather, their retrenchment is protection against an uncertain future.

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