Discussion article for the meetup : Talk on Singularity scenarios and optimal philanthropy, followed by informal meet-up

WHEN: 12 October 2011 06:18:06PM (-0400)

WHERE: 3 Seminary Pl, New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey 08901

I'll be giving a 35-minute talk to some folks from Rutgers philosophy and Giving What We Can, followed by Q and A, informal discussion, and hopefully conversation that continues over pizza or something. Come meet me, Carl Shulman (another SingInst research fellow; also, by husband:)), me, and other LW-ers, discuss some ideas, and have fun! * * * The abstract that was sent out to Rutgers folk: In 1965, I.J. Good proposed that machines would one day be smart enough to make themselves smarter. Having made themselves smarter, they would spot still further opportunities for improvement, quickly leaving human intelligence far behind. He called this the "intelligence explosion". I review the argument for an intelligence explosion, and how one might seek to influence its outcome, and reduce the odds of catastrophe, should such an event occur. I also try, very briefly, to situate such interventions in relation to other paths for doing good, such as third world poverty interventions and interventions to reduce nuclear risk.

Discussion article for the meetup : Talk on Singularity scenarios and optimal philanthropy, followed by informal meet-up

New Comment
4 comments, sorted by Click to highlight new comments since: Today at 1:58 AM

Any chance the talk or any of the ensuing discussion will be recorded?

Rutgers philosophy is a big deal. Top 3 program in the country.

Oh, shoot. I just realized the time on this is mis-posted. I"m really sorry about that. The talk was yesterday. (I just changed the announcement, so that it is now accurate, but until a few minutes ago it said that the talk was today.) I'm not sure how I did that originally.

Was anyone hoping/planning to go? Message me / comment here if so, especially if you started driving out to Rugters or something; Carl and I are in a hotel room doing work, but up for meeting up if someone came out for this. I'll check LW frequently until 9pm.

You can also phone us at our motel: 732 828 8000 and ask for the room Carl Shulman is staying in.