The rise of the machine

[JimC]

I could pretend to be a machine, if that helps...

[Brian Peacock]

Semi-automated truck convoys get green light for UK trials

Make way for robo-trucks – Automated lorries travelling in tight “platoons” have been given the go-ahead for trials on UK roads. But motoring bodies fear the concept – where a lead truck controls the steering, acceleration and brakes of two following directly behind – could be a danger and a nuisance for ordinary motorists, obscuring road signs and blocking exits. “A three-truck platoon is longer than half a Premier League football pitch,” said Edmund King, the AA president. All the trucks have drivers on board ready to take control; roads authorities and the Transport Research Laboratory say the system aims to improve safety, fuel efficiency and reduce pollution.


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... _clipboard

[Brian Peacock]

AI is coming to war, regardless of Elon Musk’s well-meaning concern

Elon Musk thinks we should ban Artificially Intelligent weapons before it’s too late and a galaxy of star researchers agree. This week, 116 of them wrote an open letter warning that time was running out. The danger is real – though it’s not the one the public often imagines, of some malign Skynet-like computer developing a mind and agenda of its own.

Yet the chances of any ban are slim to none.

Why would you want to outlaw battlefield AI? The most common fear comes via Hollywood – that an AI might decide to attack us on its own initiative. Think of the Terminator, Ex_Machina, or 2001 A Space Odyssey: it’s a recurrent theme. But the movie version is unlikely. Machines may eventually develop their own motivations, perhaps even their own consciousness, but we are a very long way from that; and if it ever comes, it will look far different to our evolved, biological cognition and motivations.

A second concern is that machines would be indiscriminate killers – perhaps targeting civilians. In one narrow sense, machines are likely to be rather more reliable than humans in shooting targets – they won’t feel the effects of fatigue, or fear, and they are much better at recalling previous examples.

Still, modern AI is extraordinarily poor at understanding context – think Apple’s Siri, but with guns. An AI can understand what you are saying literally – as when Siri effortlessly transcribes your words, no matter how thick your accent. But as Siri’s answers demonstrate, modern AI has very little idea what anything means. On the battlefield, is that person reaching for the gun to surrender, or shoot?

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/rob ... 06121.html

[Hermit]

Killer robots with AI are being developed by the USA, Russia and China right now. Nothing will stop those projects.

[Brian Peacock]

Smart missiles already choosing their own route to a target with Google Earth and decide what to hit when they get there.

[pErvinalia]

It will be interesting to see what happens with the first death from automated vehicles on public roads.

[Hermit]

It will be interesting to see what happens with the first death from automated vehicles on public roads.

The Guardian and some other papers will publish an article about it. pErv will miss them all. The sun will also rise.

[pErvinalia]

Ok, I should have been more specific. What I meant was driverless vehicles. And perhaps even more specifically, a platoon of semi-trailers going rogue. And skynet...

[JimC]

What if jihadists build an AI with a programmed need to kill infidels?

[pErvinalia]

[JimC]

Just imagine thousands of Terminators shouting "Allah Akbar"

[Brian Peacock]

JP Morgan lost control of their trading computer 2 years ago, but as long as it keeps making money....

[Rum]

My car tells me to have a rest if I cross the road lines too often. It dings at me, tells me I may need a rest and flashes a symbol of a steaming cup of coffee at me.

Bastard!

[Brian Peacock]

My aunt used to drive down the inside lane of the motorway holding the steering wheel of her VW Beetle with her thighs so she could get on with her knitting. One of these smart cars which automatically steers you back to the centre of the lane would have been a boon to her.

[Jason]

There's a YouTube channel called Two Minute Papers that I've been subscribed to for some time. They regularly publish videos showcasing the neat stuff AI is learning to do.

If that kind of thing interests you check them out: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbfYPy ... nutePapers