Book Summaries
Robert Provine (What to think about machines that think)
Robert Provine argues that we should not fear future clashes between humanity and machines, even as machines become more competent and intelligent. Humans possess qualities like cunning, deception, revenge, suspicion, and unpredictability, which machines lack.
Robert Provine argues that we should not fear future clashes between humanity and machines, even as machines become more competent and intelligent. Humans possess qualities like cunning, deception, revenge, suspicion, and unpredictability, which machines lack. These qualities, often considered irrational, can be adaptive and lead to creative solutions. Human sociality and collective intelligence are valuable assets. Thought experiments about incorporating emotions, selfhood, and social behavior into machines can inform the development of more advanced and socially capable machines. Provine sees no imminent threat of uncontrollable machines, as creating truly unpredictable and Machiavellian robots is currently beyond our technological reach.
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