The end of humanity as we know it is ‘coming in 2045’ and Google is preparing for it

This isn’t the prediction of a conspiracy theorist, a blind dead woman or an octopus but of Google’s chief of engineering, Ray Kurzweil.

Kurzweil has said that the work happening now ‘will change the nature of humanity itself’.

Tech company Softbank’s CEO Masayoshi Son predicts it will happen in 2047.

And it’s all down to the many complexities of artificial intelligence (AI).

AI is currently limited to Siri or Alexa-like voice assistants that learn from humans, Amazon’s ‘things you might also like’, machines like Deep Blue, which has beaten grandmasters at chess, and a few other examples.

But the Turing test, where a machine exhibits intelligence indistinguishable from a human, has still not been fully passed.

Not yet at least…


What we have at the moment is known as narrow AI, intelligent at doing one thing or a narrow selection of tasks very well.

General AI, where humans and robots are comparable, is expected to show breakthroughs over the next decade.

They become adaptable and able to turn their hand to a wider variety of tasks, in the same way as humans have areas of strength but can accomplish many things outside those areas.

This is when the Turing Test will truly be passed.

The third step is ASI, artificial super-intelligence.

ASI is the thing that the movies are so obsessed with, where machines are more intelligent and stronger than humans. It always felt like a distant dream but predictions are that it’s getting closer.

People will be able to upload their consciousness into a machine, it is said, by 2029 – when the machine will be as powerful as the human brain – and ASI – or the singularity – will happen, Google predicts, in 2045.

There are many different theories about what this could mean, some more scary than others.

‘We project our own humanist delusions on what life might be life [when artificial intelligence reaches maturity],’ philosopher Slavoj Žižek says.

‘The very basics of what a human being will be will change.

‘But technology never stands on its own. It’s always in a set of relations and part of society.’

Society, however that develops, will need to catch up with technology. If it doesn’t, then there is a risk that technology will overtake it and make human society irrelevant at best and extinct at worst.

One of the theories asserts that once we upload our consciousness into a machine, we become immortal and remove the need to have a physical body.

Another has us as not being able to keep up with truly artificial intelligence so humanity is left behind as infinitely intelligent AI explores the earth and/or the universe without us.

The third, and perhaps the scariest, is the sci-fi one where, once machines become aware of humanity’s predilection to destroy anything it is scared of, AI acts first to preserve itself at the expense of humans so humanity is wiped out.

All this conjures up images of Blade Runner, of iRobot and all sorts of Terminator-like dystopian nightmares.

‘In my lifetime, the singularity will happen,’ Alison Lowndes, head of AI developer relations at technology company Nvidia, tells Metro.co.uk at the AI Summit.

‘But why does everyone think they’d be hostile?

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE @

http://metro.co.uk/2017/07/27/the-end-of-humanity-as-we-know-it-is-coming-in-2045-and-big-companies-are-working-towards-it-6807683/

Variable Wind Energy Problems Due To Poor Planning By European Nations

A group of weather and energy researchers from ETH Zürich and Imperial College London have concluded that the variability of electricity from wind turbines in Europe is due not to any fault in the equipment, but rather to a lack of planning by individual countries.

In a study published in journal Nature Climate Change, the researchers suggest that nations ought to look beyond their own boundaries when deciding where to site wind energy projects. Gee, does that mean Europe should adopt a European viewpoint rather than a nationalistic agenda? Yes, that’s precisely what it means.



30 Years Of Data

The researchers made use of the Renewables.ninja platform developed at ETH Zürich. It simulates the output of Europe’s wind and solar farms based on historical weather data. The simulation tool is available for use by any interested person worldwide and was developed to improve transparency and openness of the science behind renewable energy.

This is helpful when viewing Europe as a whole – sometimes the winds off the Atlantic are calm, but strong in southern Europe and northern Scandinavia. Christian Grams, lead author of the study from the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich, explains that, “There is hardly a weather situation in which there is no wind across the entire continent and thus all of Europe would lack wind power potential.”

Regional, Not National, Focus

Conditions in each region may remain stable for days or even weeks. During the past winter, winds were calm in most of the areas bordering the North Sea, where many wind generating farms have been built. That caused the amount of wind generated power available to Europe as a whole to decline dramatically. That, in turn, allowed advocates for coal, natural gas, and nuclear generating stations to go screaming to their local politicians with claims that renewables are not reliable.

Current plans call for more wind turbines in the North Sea area, but the researchers argue that new facilities should be built in the Balkans, Greece, western Mediterranean areas, and northern Scandinavia. That way, when turbines near the North Sea are quiet, turbines elsewhere could be supplying Europe’s electricity needs.

“This is why wind capacity in countries such as Greece or Bulgaria could act as a valuable counterbalance to Europe’s current wind farms. However, this would require a paradigm shift in the planning strategies of countries with wind power potential,” emphasises co-author Iain Staffell from Imperial College London.

Storage is Not The Answer

The authors of the study say it would be difficult to store electricity for several days to balance these multi-day fluctuations – with batteries or pumped-storage lakes in the Alps, for example – since the necessary amount of storage capacity will not be available in the foreseeable future. Current storage technologies are more suited to compensating for shorter fluctuations of a few hours or days.

The researchers say that for solar to compensate for fluctuations across Europe using, solar energy capacity would have to be increased tenfold. “The sun often shines when it’s calm,” explains co-author Stefan Pfenninger, from the Institute for Environmental Decisions at ETH Zürich, “but in winter, there is often not enough sunshine in central and northern Europe to produce sufficient electricity using solar panels.” It would therefore make little sense to compensate for fluctuations in wind energy with a massive expansion of solar capacity.

What will government policy makers do with the information provided by the study? Probably file it away to look at in the future while they continue their push to add wind farms along the coastline that borders the North Sea.

AS SEEN @

https://cleantechnica.com/2017/07/25/variable-wind-energy-problems-due-poor-planning-european-nations/

This Silicon Valley Billionaire Wants to Give Us All Robot Bodies

"Here" is a funny word. So says Scott Hassan, the media-shy Silicon Valley billionaire who once set out to build the first fully autonomous humanoid robot, and ended up hawking what looks like a flatscreen atop two long legs with wheels. If Hassan has his way, this seemingly simple device—called a Beam—will close the loop between cyberspace and meat-space.

The Beam was designed as a video conferencing tool, allowing instant, face-to-face communication—kind of like FaceTime or Skype, except you can drive the screen on legs around the room remotely, with a keyboard. It could one day become much more. Those with disabilities can have access to a rudimentary body that allows them to go where they otherwise can't. (Edward Snowden has famously used one in his public appearances.) As Beams proliferate, you could transport yourself over to visit a family member across the country, or to tour Paris or Hong Kong for the afternoon. There has been speculation that the Beam might even eventually sprout arms, making it more like a body. Hassan won't confirm these rumours, but he won't deny them either.

In a future where we can zap ourselves over the internet into different robot bodies around the world, "here" won't just be here anymore, Hassan believes. It'll be anywhere.


READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE @

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/yp3wab/this-silicon-valley-billionaire-wants-to-give-us-all-robot-bodies-beam-scott-hassan

Human embryos kept alive in lab for unprecedented 13 days so scientists can watch development

Human embryos have been kept alive in a petri dish for an unprecedented 13 days, allowing scientists to finally see what happens in the mysterious days after implantation in the womb.

Cambridge University have created a special thick soup of nutrients which mimics the conditions in the womb, allowing the embryo to attach, and begin dividing into groups of cells which will eventually form the foetus, placenta and yolk sac.

Previously an embryo had to implant in the womb by day seven to survive, but it is impossible to see what is happening inside the mother at this stage, so scientists were in the dark about the cellular and molecular changes taking place.

“It was incredible, it was the happiest day of my life when we saw this.”
Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, University of Cambridge
Crucially it is during that period that two thirds of pregnancies fail because the embryo does not implant properly.

Now that scientists can see the steps needed for healthy embryo development it will help them understand why things go wrong, potentially improving IVF rates.

“It is a most enigmatic and mysterious period of our development which we have never had any access to,” said lead author Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz of the University of Cambridge.

Human embryos kept alive in a petri dish for 13 days
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“Implantation is a milestone in human development as it is from this stage onwards that the embryo really begins to take shape and the overall body plan are decided

“It is also the stage of pregnancy at which many developmental defects can become acquired. But until now, it has been impossible to study this in human embryos.

“This new technique provides us with a unique opportunity to get a deeper understanding of our own development during these crucial stages and help us understand what happens, for example, during miscarriage. It was incredible, it was the happiest day of my life when we saw this."

The first time an embryo has been seen at day 11 of development
The first time an embryo has been seen at day 11 of development  CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Although studies are just beginning the scientists have already made new findings including the fact that embryos create two cavities to grow in, one for the foetus and one for the placenta.

Dr Simon Fishel, founder and President of CARE Fertility Group, adds: “This is about much more than just understanding the biology of implantation embryo development. Knowledge of these processes could help improve the chances of success of IVF, of which only around one in four attempts are successful.”

Currently UK law bans laboratories for growing embryos for longer than 14 days as after two weeks, twins can no longer form, and so it is deemed that an individual has started to develop.

The time limit has remained unchallenged while scientists were unable to keep embryos alive beyond seven days, but the new breakthrough could lead to calls for the threshold to be extended.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE @

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/05/04/human-embryos-kept-alive-in-lab-for-unprecedented-13-days-so-sci/

This 3D-Printed Human Heart Can Do Everything a Real One Can

IN BRIEF

Soft robotics and 3D printing have allowed a team of researchers from Switzerland to develop an artificial heart that works like the real thing. This proof of concept design was successfully tested in the lab, but it may take a while before it will be ready.

Scientists have been developing artificial hearts for quite some time now. However, many of the current designs are unfortunately clunky, which presents difficulties in successfully integrating them into human tissue. To approach this issue, a team of researchers from ETH Zürich decided to take a cue from the biological human heart.

Instead of using separate parts, the Swiss team, led by Nicholas Cohrs, 3D-printed an artificial heart using a soft, flexible material. The material was molded into a single part (or a “monoblock”) which allowed the team to design a complex inner structure complete with pumping mechanisms able to be triggered by silicon ventricles. This method imitates a realistic human heartbeat.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE @

https://futurism.com/this-3d-printed-human-heart-can-do-everything-a-real-one-can/

491. στα απόβλητα

Καθε στιγμη και ενα σταυροδρομι. Και μια επιλογη. Για να το θεσω καλυτερα μια ψευτοεπιλογη.
Δεν νομιζω πως υπαρχει η μοιρα, τουλαχιστον με την προσωποποιημενη μορφη που της εχει αποδοθει μεχρι τωρα.

Τιποτα προδιαγεγραμμενο και ομως εκ των υστερων ολα φανταζουν τελείως λογικα και νομοτελειακα.

Ενας δουλος του συστηματος και της καθεστηκυίας ταξης. Δεν μπορεις να ξεφυγεις.
Δουλειά και δουλεία. Ιδια λεξη. Ιδια ντροπη ανα τους αιωνες.

Η ψευτοεπιλογη που δινεται για ψηφοφορία καθε τεσσερα χρονια δεν μπορει να καλυψει το ονειδος της ανελευθεριας.

Δουλικες καταναλωτικες συνηθειες. Ντε φακτο εκμεταλλευση των αδελφων που ζουν υπο χειροτερες συνθηκες στο Μπαγκλαντες και την Κινα και την Ζιμπάμπουε και αλλου.

Καπιταλισμος μωρο μου.
Ολα για να ευφρανθει η κοιλια και οι ματαιοδοξες επιθυμιες.
Ολα για την εικονα και τον εντυπωσιασμο των υπολοιπων.

Ντροπή.

Θα πεις βεβαια οτι εχεις την ευχέρεια να φυγεις οποτε θες. Να κανεις ο,τι θες. Δεν ισχυει.

Με την εμποτισμενη νοοτροπια και πνευματικη γαλουχηση τοσων ετων εκπαιδευσης απο ολα τα μεσα και εργαλεια του "συστηματος" , το να ξεφυγεις φανταζει υπερβολικα δυσκολο με την κυρια δυσκολια να πηγαζει απο το συναισθηματικο δεσιμο που εχει αναπτυχθει με τους κοντινους.

Ο στοχος ειναι ενας: να μην μπορεις να ονειρευτεις εναν καλυτερο κοσμο αλλα να ονειρευεσαι ενα "καλυτερο" οικονομικα μελλον για σενα. Να εχεις την διαθεση ειτε να υπομενεις τα πανδεινα ειτε να πατας επι πτωματων προκειμενου να ικανοποιεις την κοιλια του αφεντη. Του εκαστοτε αφεντη. Δεν εχει σημασια.

Αφεντης ειναι και ο εργοδοτης, αφεντης ειναι και το κρατος.

Και εμεις ολοι τα πουτανακια του εκαστοτε καργιολοπουστα που ειτε απο κληρονομια ειτε απο τυχη ειτε απο σιδηρα αρρωστημενη απανθρωπη πυγμη εχει τα μεσα να εξουσιαζει τις ζωες μας.

Για να καταλαβεις νιωθω τυψεις για τις γενιες που ερχονται και προκειται να κατοικησουν ετουτο το γαλαζοπρασινο διαστημοπλοιο.

Τυψεις γιατι ΕΝΩ γνωριζω τις συνεπειες της δουλικης μου υπαρξης και πορειας εγω συνεχιζω και επιμένω. Στον μισθο που λαμβάνω, στα ρουχα που φορω, στο εξυπνοφωνο που κρατω παντού υπάρχει αίμα. Δεν ειμαι κατι αλλο παρα ενας high tech λοβοτομημενος δουλοπαροικος με ψευδαισθησεις αυτονομιας και φυτεμενα ονειρα. Εκτελω ο,τι μου λεει ο αφεντης, αυτος που με ταιζει ξεροκομματα ενίοτε και γκουρμεδιαρικους μεζεδες, ζυγιζω τα λογια απο φοβο μηπως και τον δυσαρεστησω και χασω τα λεφτουδακια. Παω οπου με στειλει, κουβαλώ ό,τι με προστάξει σκυβω το κεφαλι και κοιταω κατω απο ντροπη και απο φοβο.

Ομως αυτο το high tech κομματι σε λιγα χρονια θα θεωρειται παρωχημενο αλλά το στίγμα της ντροπιαστικης δουλείας θα παραμεινει αιωνιo.

Ελευθερια ειναι η καθαρη συνειδηση οτι επιτελεις το ανθρώπινο χρέος προς τον συνανθρωπο. Διχως αναστολες, διχως δευτερες σκεψεις και παντα λαμβανοντας υπ'οψιν την κοινη αναποδραστη μοιρα ολων μας: τον θανατο. Η ψυχη ενα ονειρο σκιας που μοιαζει να βαστιεται με μια λεπτη ασημενια κλωστη απο αυτο το κρεατινο φθινον σαρκιο. Χρονος με την παραδοσιακη εννοια δεν υπαρχει, ολα συμβαινουν τωρα και εδω.




ο μηχανισμός

Who's in charge of outer space?

Date: 23/05/2017
Source: foxnews.com

In space, no one can hear you scheme. But here on Earth, plans to go where few have gone before are getting louder by the minute.

In February, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo passed its third glide-flight test, putting it on pace to offer suborbital space tourism by the end of 2018. In March, Goldman Sachs announced to investors that a single asteroid containing $25 billion to $50 billion of platinum could be mined by a spacecraft costing only $2.6 billion—less than a third of what has been invested in Uber.

“While the psychological barrier to mining asteroids is high,” the Goldman report concludes, “the actual financial and technological barriers are far lower.” In April, NASA selected Trans Astronautica Corp., an aerospace company based in Lake View Terrace, Calif., for $3.25 million in technology study grants. Among TransAstra’s NASA-approved projects: an asteroid-hunting telescope whose stated mission is “to start a gold rush in space.”

The final frontier is starting to look a lot like the Wild West. As more companies announce ambitious plans to do business beyond Earth, serious questions are emerging about the legality of off-planet activity.

This story originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal.