[extropy-chat] Extreme Intelligence

[Samantha Atkins]

On Aug 2, 2006, at 8:55 PM, Lee Corbin wrote:

> Could an intelligence exist using our basic human architecture
> that could rapidly solve problems far harder than anyone can
> solve today?
>
> Here is what I have in mind: suppose first that there is a
> canonical way to extend the IQ scale. Then would it be possible
> for a set of atoms to exist, human in form, such that using our
> same sense organs and with a brain less than twice as large as
> ours it would have an IQ high enough to in one week flat
> accomplish any of the following?
>

What do you mean by "human in form"?  Looks like a human and acts  
like a human and has human DNA, etc but is much smarter?  If so then  
adding circuitry and deep connectivity to a human brain, preferably  
within the skull, should allow quite a bit of improvement.  Replacing  
select parts of the brain with electronic faster equivalents is one  
way to do it.

>   * figure out how a fusion energy reactor could be designed,
>     and write up specifications sufficiently detailed so that
>     the rest of us could build the thing
>

Writing detailed specs is not a function of only greater  
intelligence.  It takes slow meat world time.  So no unless the uber- 
human is equipped with direct computer/brain IO.


>   * provide a specific outline of how an AGI could be coded-
>     up following the outline/design by a good software team
>     in six months
>

Predesigned and simply implemented software is largely mythological  
for much simpler projects.  So no, not exactly.

>   * be able to understand at about normal reading speed any
>     book ever written, much as you can easily understand and
>     absorb everything being conveyed by a Dick-and-Jane book


Yes and no.  Order of new knowledge would be important due to  
dependencies.  With that caveat and the caveat that actual learning  
and retention were similarly enhanced, yes.

- samantha