Category: ideas

He told the BBC:”The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”

“Is the risk real? Once humans code the first genuinely smart computer program that then goes on to develop its smarter successors, is the writing on the wall for humans?”

The seats shake in concert with the action onscreen, spray filmgoers with water, and emit action-matching smells. And there’s this: “Can’t cope with two hours away from your smartphone? One theater company has found success with instant on-screen messaging — the texted comments pop up next to the action.”

“Even if the hype for this show grows to a level where it brings podcasts exposure to a new audience segment perhaps even more sizable than that of current core podcast devotees, there’s little else like ‘Serial’ for this wave to listen to that will keep them around to sample more content.”

“Good and lovely buildings gladden the heart; their aesthetic pleasures make people feel substantively better. More than that, they provide a healthy sense of perspective. By connecting us subtly to the past, they somehow lighten the load of the present.”

“Commentator Alva Noë argues that we don’t need to be alarmed that our machines are rapidly outstripping natural-born human cognitive power: We’ve got a millions-of-years head start.”

“Recent research … suggests that people who are generally cheerful are not so great at reading other people’s negative emotions, though what’s especially interesting is that they think they’re very good at it.”

“‘You’re doomed! What you’ve got now – that’s it,’ is the answer [psychology professor] Brian Little … gave me, and he was only half-joking.” And he was half-joking because that answer is about half-true.