Seth Lloyd (What to think about machines that think)

Seth Lloyd discusses the concept of e-spying and data mining by large tech companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft. He highlights the significant computational power devoted to collecting and analyzing personal data, totaling about an exaflop, which is equivalent to the combined computing power of the world’s 500 most powerful supercomputers.

Lloyd explains that these machines are making connections and identifying patterns in the vast amount of personal information they collect, using techniques like deep learning. However, he notes that deep learning, while informationally broad, is conceptually shallow. It excels at tasks like recognizing handwriting or directing handwritten envelopes but doesn’t provide profound insights.

He also humorously mentions the early predictions of artificial intelligence, such as robotic maids tidying rooms, and suggests that while exascale supercomputers may not unlock the mysteries of the human brain, they have become our new, data-savvy friends.

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