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<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=265100719-14112010>Michael
wrote: </SPAN><BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT
color=#0000ff>> </FONT></SPAN>What I find is that people don't like the
*connotations* of AI and are much more concerned about the
possibility <SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT
color=#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT
color=#0000ff>></FONT> </SPAN>of THEM PERSONALLY sparking the
Singularity with intelligence enhancement, so therefore they
underestimate <SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT
color=#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT
color=#0000ff>></FONT> </SPAN>the probability of the former simply
because they never care to look into it very deeply.<SPAN
class=265100719-14112010> "</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2 face=Arial>This is probably
true because most people don't understand strong AI or what a Singularity
(whether one big event or a series of surges forming a big event over
time.) </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT
color=#0000ff>> </FONT></SPAN>There is also a cultural dynamic in
transhumanism whereby interest in hard takeoff AGI is considered <SPAN
class=265100719-14112010><FONT
color=#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT
color=#0000ff>></FONT> </SPAN>"SIAI-like" and implies that one must be
culturally associated with SIAI.<SPAN
class=265100719-14112010> " </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Well let's look at
your last statement. Diverse views about a hard takeoff were around before
SIAI. You are correct that SIAI is one well-known organization within
transhumanism, but the Singularity is larger than SIAI and has many varied
views/theories which are addressed by transhumanists and
nontranshumanists. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I don't associate
with any one line of thinking on the Singularity. I pretty much
stick with Vinge and have my own views based on my own research and scenario
development. I think SIAI has done great work and has produced amazing
events. The only problem I have ever had with SIAI is that it does not
include women like me -- women who have been around for a long time and could
contribute something meaningful to the conversation, outside of Eli's dismissal
of women and/or media design as a substantial field o of inquiry and
consequential to our future of AGIs. But you and I have had this
conversation several time before and I see nothing has
changed.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2 face=Arial>By the way, since
you applauded a guy who dissed me a couple of years ago for my talk at
the Goertzel's AI conference, I thought you might like to know that Kevin
Kelly has a new book out _What Technology Wants_, which addresses technology
from a similar thematic vantage as I addressed the Singularity and AI in my
talk about what AGI wants and its intended
consequences.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Nevertheless, you
are one of my favorite transhumanists and I admire your work.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2 face=Arial>By the way, this
list's discussion on the Singularity was too focused on Eli and in a
disparaging way. I support and encourage more discussion from varied
perspectives and I think that Stefano did a good job at this objectively
presenting his own views, whether I agree with him or not they are far
better than attacking Eli.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2
face=Arial>Best,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=265100719-14112010><FONT size=2
face=Arial>Natasha</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>