Friday, August 25, 2023

A Brief Reading List: Exploring Human Intelligence, Consciousness and the Role of Our New AI Partners


In this article I recommend three books that explore the answers to these broad questions:
• What is consciousness or intelligence and how did it spring forth in humans?
• How are machines being engineered to absorb and amplify human intelligence?
• What does it mean to be a conscious human in a world where both technology and its unique form of consciousness (Artificial Intelligence) predominates? 

Fittingly, my co-author in this article is Google's AI tool Bard. I asked Bard to create summaries of each of the books below. Since I have read each book (or rather listened to the unabridged audio book versions) I was able to evaluate the accuracy of Bard's summaries. The bottom line: Bard did a great job! So I've included Bard's summaries below. 


Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind


Before we can begin to understand artificial intelligence we need to strip it of the adjective "artificial" and examine intelligence on its own. Harari's book Sapiens describes the awakening of conscious awareness among the homo sapiens and how this awakening has manifested itself in the creation of culture and civilization. He then briefly predicts AI's potential to join or possibly supplant organic human intelligence.

Google Bard's Summary

"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is a book by Yuval Noah Harari that explores the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the present day. The book argues that the unique ability of humans to cooperate with each other in large numbers, enabled by our shared myths and stories, is what has allowed us to become the dominant species on Earth.

The book is divided into four parts:

  • The Cognitive Revolution: This part explores how the development of language and abstract thinking allowed humans to cooperate with each other in ways that no other animal can.
  • The Agricultural Revolution: This part examines the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural societies, and the consequences of this transition for human health, happiness, and environmental impact.
  • The Unnatural History of Humankind: This part explores the rise of empires, religions, and science, and how these forces have shaped the modern world.
  • The Future of Sapiens: This part looks at the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for humanity, such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and the possibility of nuclear war.

Sapiens is a thought-provoking and eye-opening book that challenges many of our assumptions about human history. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the world we live in and the challenges we face in the future."

The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence



Yes, this book is over 20 years old. However, it was written by a man who has "... written books on health, artificial intelligence (AI), transhumanism, the technological singularity, and futurism. Kurzweil is a public advocate for the futurist and transhumanist movements... " - from Wikipedia 

This book is a foundational text that accurately predicted some AI-based functions that are in use today and predicts others that are yet to come. It's an essential text for understanding the roots of AI.

Google Bard's Summary


"Here is a brief summary of the book The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence by Ray Kurzweil:
  • The book argues that the pace of technological advancement is accelerating, and that computers will eventually surpass human intelligence. Kurzweil believes that this will happen by the year 2045, and that it will lead to a "singularity" where machines will become so intelligent that they will be indistinguishable from humans. He also predicts that this will lead to the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), which will be able to perform any intellectual task that a human can. 
  • Kurzweil believes that AGI will have a profound impact on society, and that it will eventually lead to the "merger" of humans and machines. He argues that this merger will be beneficial for humanity, as it will allow us to overcome our physical limitations and achieve a higher level of consciousness.
  • The book has been praised by some for its cogent analysis of technological trends and its optimistic vision of the future. However, it has also been criticized by others for its lack of scientific rigor and its reliance on speculation... The Age of Spiritual Machines is a thought-provoking and controversial work that has had a significant impact on the way we think about the future of technology. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the potential implications of artificial intelligence."

God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning



This book explores what it means to be a conscious human in a world where both technology and technology's unique form of consciousness (Artificial Intelligence) coexist. Though the topics discussed are both profound and complex, O'Gieblyn's explanations are easily accessible and anchor the topic firmly in the real world.

Google Bard's Summary

"The book God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning by Meghan O'Gieblyn is a collection of essays that explores the ways in which technology has shaped our understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and our place in the world. O'Gieblyn argues that technology is not neutral, but rather that it carries with it its own set of metaphors and assumptions. These metaphors, in turn, influence the way we think about ourselves and our relationships to the natural world.

The book is divided into four parts. 
  • The first part, "God," examines the ways in which technology has been used to create new forms of spirituality and religious experience. O'Gieblyn discusses the rise of artificial intelligence and the ways in which some people are beginning to see AI as a kind of divine being. She also explores the use of technology in religious rituals and practices.
  • The second part, "Human," examines the ways in which technology has changed our understanding of what it means to be human. O'Gieblyn discusses the rise of social media and the ways in which it has altered our sense of self and our relationships with others. She also explores the ways in which technology has been used to create new forms of surveillance and control.
  • The third part, "Animal," examines the ways in which technology has changed our relationship to the natural world. O'Gieblyn discusses the rise of factory farming and the ways in which it has commodified animals. She also explores the use of technology in animal research and the ethical implications of this.
  • The fourth part, "Machine," examines the ways in which technology has become increasingly intertwined with our lives. O'Gieblyn discusses the rise of automation and the ways in which it is displacing human workers. She also explores the ways in which technology is changing our experience of time and space.
God, Human, Animal, Machine is a thought-provoking book that challenges our assumptions about ourselves, our relationships, and our place in the world. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the future of humanity and the role of technology in our lives."

Related Article

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Summer Reruns: A Few Entertaining Diversions & Inspirations


Whether you're hanging out on your front porch or inside in front of an air conditioner, long, warm summer days can be a good time to kick back, put your feet up and relax with a few media diversions. Or, if you're more ambitious, it can also be a good time to wax philosophical by reviewing some nuggets of wisdom handed down by the great philosophers and teachers.

Whichever your inclination, you'll find some useful resources below. I culled these from many years of my published articles, each of which took substantial effort to create. So that these don't disappear completely into our shadowy past, I hereby resurrect them as summer reruns. Enjoy!


Thursday, June 29, 2023

The truth is out there! And it's easier than ever to find.


Six Fact Checking Tools that Have Stood the Test of Time

Back in 2018 I wrote an article that included a strategy, links and a PDF reference tool to help you find factual, truthful information quickly. (See: The Truth Finder: 3 Questions & Lots of Links to Help You Distinguish Fact from Fiction.)

Now that we're back in another U.S. presidential campaigning season it seems like a good time to take another look at this article, some of the excellent resources it showcased and a couple of new ones that can help you separate fact from fiction.

I'm pleased to say that all the ones I originally shined a light on in that PDF are still going strong. They are:


Some Excellent New (to me...) Fact Checking Tools


In the 5 years since I wrote that article, I've learned of some powerful additions to this collection. They include: 
  • Tineye.com - Provides reverse image search to determine the authenticity of an image.
  • Google Fact Check Explorer - This is sort of a meta fact checker, with brief summaries of results from many fact checking sources, clearly documented and linked to help you with further research. 
Bonus:  Google Search has added a powerful new feature to help you quickly verify info that appears in your search results. According to Google:  
"Now, wherever you’re searching, you’ll see three dots next to most results on Google Search. Tapping those three dots gives you a way to learn more about where the information you’re seeing is coming from and how our systems determined it would be useful for your query. With this context, you can make a more informed decision about the sites you may want to visit and what results will be most helpful for you."  -- from Five new ways to verify info with Google Search.

My Original 3-Question Strategy for Digging Deeper and Finding the Truth



The Truth Finder PDF Worksheet


My original 3 question Truth Finder strategy presented a systematic approach to the complex process of thoroughly checking facts. Here's how it worked: 

Question 1: IS THIS SIMPLE STATEMENT TRUE?

Objective: An accurate depiction of reality.

This question is focused on finding whether an assertion is based on an observable, provable or historically accurate fact.

Examples:
  • Did congress person Jones accept a bribe from industry lobbyist Smith?
  • Is there a direct link between chewing tobacco and cancer of the mouth?
How to get the answer: Consult any of the fact-checking resources listed above.

Question 2: WHAT ARE SOME DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THIS COMPLEX ISSUE?

Objective: A deeper understanding of an issue.

Sometimes the "truth" is a matter of developing a deeper understanding of all the nuances and shades of grey surrounding an issue, then deciding what "truth" is for yourself.

Examples:
  • Are e-cigarettes dangerous?
  • Is presidential candidate X beholden to industry lobbyists?
  • Does Obama Care reduce healthcare costs?
How to get the answer: Consult any of the fact-checking resources listed above.

(NOTE: The last of my three questions in your truth quest usually can't be answered so quickly or easily. However, if your question is focused on an important issue or a particularly controversial topic then this question is probably worth spending the extra effort to answer.)

Question 3: WHO'S THE AUTHOR (PUBLISHER) and WHAT'S THEIR AGENDA (TRACK RECORD)?

Objective: Consider the source! (i.e., Consider the message creator's unique viewpoint & their credibility.)

Unless you plan to do original research or conduct your own interviews of experts or witnesses, you're going to be forced to trust the websites, authors and media people whose work you are consuming. So you need to answer these broad questions:
  • Does the content creator have a particular agenda they are working?
  • Do they typically represent the same constituency or political perspective or group of advertisers?
And then dig deeper with these questions:

FOR WEBSITES, ASK:
  • What does the "About" page or "Contributors" page say?
  • Who supports the website? (Founders, contributors, distributors, parent company, etc.)
  • Has the site won any awards or honors? If so, from whom?
  • What do advertisers seem to think the site's visitors want? (i.e., What unique points of view or content do the advertisers seem to expect the website/author to provide?)

FOR INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS OR MEDIA PRODUCERS, LOOK FOR:
  • Wikipedia biographies (Or general web search for "[name]: biography").
  • Any awards or honors attained. If so, from whom?
  • Reviews of the author's or producer's body of work.
  • A history of biased, slanted or sensational publications.
  • Membership in particular organizations.


The truth is out there! So take the time to find it.


Whether you need to check the accuracy of a simple assertion or pull back the curtain on something as complex as the "stolen" 2020 U.S. presidential election you have plenty of fact checking tools to help you distinguish reality from fiction. So if you want to help in the war against misinformation all you need to do is 1) select a suspected lie or distortion and then 2) get to work using the tools above to discover the truth and, finally, 3) publicize the truth you find by spreading the word on social media sites, interactions with friends & relatives, etc.


Learn how AI may be able to help.


Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to a number of developments in the process of fact checking. To learn more about how AI may be able to help with your fact checking chores, check out these articles: