Can Synthetic Intelligence be our forbidden fruit?

A time when one other expertise unleashed an existential ethical dilemma is depicted in Peggy Noonan’s exquisitely written article “AI within the Backyard of Eden” (Declarations, April 22). There was a dialogue about nuclear weapons that was initiated when Robert Oppenheimer and Edward Teller dueled. Ultimately, the answer was to depend on sport idea and mutually assured destruction, whereas great-power strain was exerted to restrict the variety of gamers, at the least for a time, to make sure the system labored.

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It’s obvious that physicists have been far more grounded in ethical and philosophical ideas compared to right this moment’s online game geeks who drop out after just a few days of gaming and who’re absolutely dedicated to their “video games”.

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Can the present of information (of excellent and evil) be used to resolve the implications of our expertise of the allegory of the forbidden fruit if it focuses on a generic character flaw that isn’t remediable from the start? If that’s the case, can a prescient AI not begin with the identical flaw in the beginning as nicely?

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Mr. Jacoby, Richard

Citadel Rock, Colo.

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There isn’t any doubt that if I grow to be the god of synthetic intelligence (AI) sooner or later, this will likely be partly as a result of the truth that I already deal with trendy expertise as a god. Ms. Noonan brings into sharp focus how usually I shamelessly flip to Large Tech for solutions, as a substitute of turning to a better energy.

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I’ve a behavior of utilizing Google when I’ve an issue, Amazon once I want a gadget, Apple once I want an app, and Twitter once I want a reassuring opinion that I already imagine. That degree of searching for up to now was a gasoline that drove determined souls into organized religions to develop deep religion.

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Maria T. Cannon

New York

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Ms. Noonan reminds us to forestall ourselves from struggling the identical destiny that Adam and Eve skilled once they have been banished from the Backyard of Eden and opened their eyes by equating the serpent with our prideful technologists. You will need to keep in mind that Adam and Eve disobeyed the order to keep away from the apple due to the truth that their consciousness had not developed, but when that they had disobeyed, it isn’t doubtless that the world as we all know it might have superior.

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Because the starting of civilization, data has been gained and has been gained usually; because the starting of civilization, researchers have gained data, cultivated curiosity, indulged in delight and, sure, prompted the damaged world through which we stay to be so. We wouldn’t be right here with out our drives of delight, ambition and data.

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As Adam and Eve have been ashamed of what they did, we’re unable to do it another time since we’ve already tasted the brand new expertise.

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S. David Nathanson

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