Send Yasmin_discussions mailing list submissions to
yasmin_discussions@ntlab.gr
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://ntlab.gr/mailman/listinfo/yasmin_discussions_ntlab.gr
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
yasmin_discussions-request@ntlab.gr
You can reach the person managing the list at
yasmin_discussions-owner@ntlab.gr
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Yasmin_discussions digest..."
THIS IS THE YASMIN-DISCUSSIONS DIGEST
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Yasmin_discussions Digest, Vol 12, Issue 2
(YASMIN DISCUSSIONS)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2019 15:47:19 +0000
From: YASMIN DISCUSSIONS <yasmin_discussions@ntlab.gr>
To: "yasmin_discussions@ntlab.gr" <yasmin_discussions@ntlab.gr>
Subject: Re: [Yasmin_discussions] Yasmin_discussions Digest, Vol 12,
Issue 2
Message-ID:
<mailman.20.1564250150.35508.yasmin_discussions_ntlab.gr@ntlab.gr>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
I have to agree with Glenn, in that we do not need to attain true, fully sentient, thinking machines to realize the impact of what is currently being termed "AI" (though to be honest, I still have issues with using that term with respect to existing implementations - just me, I suppose).
We can learn from the past to see where this *may* be heading. Consider how past technologies have affected society. At one time, folks had to memorize vast quantities of information, and pass it along orally from teller to listener. Then we developed writing and, eventually, the printed book. No longer was a solid memory seen as a major benefit to being fully human. We could "offload" our information into books, and regain that knowledge whenever we needed it.
And at one time, walking was the prime mode of transportation. Then came the domestication of horses, camels and such, and eventually the automobile, train and air travel. This expanded the world of each individual beyond those who lived in their town. Our sense of personal space expanded to include places we could travel to in an acceptable amount of time. One could live in one community, and work in another.
Each of these technologies, like so many others, had an impact from their very early stages, long before they had matured. I believe the same can be stated for AI. Take for example intelligent news aggregators. Using simple rules, these applications "learn" our likes and dislikes with respect to news content, tailoring, over time, which stories they retrieve and present to us. Sites such as Amazon "learn" our buying habits and accordingly determine which items to suggest we *might* be interested in purchasing.
Neither of these *AI* uses is mind blowing, and the algorithms they are based on are fairly simple. However, they and so many others have had a significant impact on our lives. But do we want this? Do we want AI apps to "baby us," to become pseudo-caretakers, guiding our actions, or taking actions independently on our behalf?
Thoughts?
Bill Joel
------------------------------
Subject: Digest Footer
_______________________________________________
Yasmin_discussions mailing list
Yasmin_discussions@ntlab.gr
http://ntlab.gr/mailman/listinfo/yasmin_discussions_ntlab.gr
------------------------------
End of Yasmin_discussions Digest, Vol 12, Issue 3
*************************************************
