Book Summaries

George Church (What to think about machines that think)

George Church explores the idea that humans are already “machines that think,” capable of self-reprogramming and extending abilities through technology.

June 1, 2021Book Summaries

George Church explores the idea that humans are already “machines that think,” capable of self-reprogramming and extending abilities through technology. He contrasts the efficiency and capabilities of biological brains (“carbo-brains”) with silicon-based brains (“sili-brains”), suggesting that as technology advances, we may shift from simulating to engineering our biological brains. Church raises ethical questions about the civil rights of hybrid human-machine entities, including issues like voting rights for brain copies. He speculates that the future could involve a Darwinian selection of hybrid minds, which might lead to a more empathetic and long-term planning society. He concludes that this hybrid approach could be safer than either relying solely on silicon-based intelligence or sticking to our current cognitive biases.

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