From von Neumann’s blueprint, which predated the discovery of DNA, to viral genes that now help form our memories and placentas, Blaise Agüera y Arcas argues that function defines life more than material does, and that AI belongs in the same story. He explains why he thinks AGI is already here, and gives a blueprint for using AI without sacrificing your own mind.
About the speaker: Blaise Agüera y Arcas is an American artificial intelligence researcher, software engineer, software architect, and author. He is a vice president, fellow, and the CTO of Technology & Society at Google, where he leads the Paradigms of Intelligence team on basic research in AI and related fields.
Timestamps
00:00:22 Chapter 1: Defining life: Computation & symbiogenesis 00:06:24 von Neumann cracked life’s code 00:16:17 Viruses helped write your DNA 00:23:20 Is AI alive? 00:27:58 Chapter 2: Why life requires function 00:33:20 The brain of Theseus 00:40:34 Life from random code 00:49:15 An arms race of intelligence 00:51:37 Chapter 3: Co-existing with AGI 00:53:16 AGI is already here 01:07:05 AI is our new mitochondria 01:13:57 Is anybody home?
Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
