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Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

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Re: Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

#2
I don't think building an AI is the most important task on our plate. We still have those disease, hunger, poverty, and war problems to contend with. If building an AI helps us solve those, then sure, let's build the AI. But I don't think strong AI is necessary to gain traction on the problems that confront the sapient beings we already have around.

Re: Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

#3
post #2

I don't think building an AI is the most important task on our plate. We still have those disease, hunger, poverty, and war problems to contend with. If building an AI helps us solve those, then sure, let's build the AI. But I don't think strong AI is necessary to gain traction on the problems that confront the sapient beings we already have around.

uggh. As if all the AI programmers out there would instantly join doctors without borders if they decided to stop working tomorrow. These sorts of arguments make no sense to me.

Re: Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

#4
Really interesting to think about the skills necessary just to play a modern open-world game such as Skyrim successfully.

NLP to understand dialogue and actions that need to be taken based on what NPC's/quests/item descriptions say, strategies for several different enemies with different strengths and weaknesses, exploring the open world in a logical order.

When you think about the difficulties of such a loosely defined problem, it's hard to buy into the real-world fears of AI.

Re: Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

#5
post #2

I don't think building an AI is the most important task on our plate. We still have those disease, hunger, poverty, and war problems to contend with. If building an AI helps us solve those, then sure, let's build the AI. But I don't think strong AI is necessary to gain traction on the problems that confront the sapient beings we already have around.

I would say that progress on general AI can solve a lot of the problems we are facing. To take an obvious and down-to-earth example, let's say we "solve" logistics in the sense that we can transport things wherever we want, timely and cheaply. That would help us with a lot of the problems we are facing, such as hunger. And for solving logistics we essentially need the same skills we need as for solving game-playing.

Re: Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

#6
post #2

I don't think building an AI is the most important task on our plate. We still have those disease, hunger, poverty, and war problems to contend with. If building an AI helps us solve those, then sure, let's build the AI. But I don't think strong AI is necessary to gain traction on the problems that confront the sapient beings we already have around.

Along similar lines, since AI is considered to be potentially dangerous, by figures from Elon Musk to Stephen Hawking, I would rather our civilization never open this pandora's box. We can solve Earth's problems and even spread to the stars without AI. We can invent fusion reactors and thus nearly free energy without AI. We can engineer biological immortality into our very genes without AI. Why risk playing with a loaded gun?

Re: Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

#7
post #2

I don't think building an AI is the most important task on our plate. We still have those disease, hunger, poverty, and war problems to contend with. If building an AI helps us solve those, then sure, let's build the AI. But I don't think strong AI is necessary to gain traction on the problems that confront the sapient beings we already have around.

Similarly, we shouldn't be focusing on (AIDS|malaria) as long as (malaria|AIDS) exists in the world.

Re: Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

#8
> Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

And here's why they aren't: First-person Shooters.

Why give AI something that's a goal that involves killing things that look like humans or animals for points? That's a recipe for disaster.

Breakout's not much better either. How often do you need to break a wall to smithereens with a ball? Never.

Re: Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

#9
post #2

I don't think building an AI is the most important task on our plate. We still have those disease, hunger, poverty, and war problems to contend with. If building an AI helps us solve those, then sure, let's build the AI. But I don't think strong AI is necessary to gain traction on the problems that confront the sapient beings we already have around.

Along similar lines, since AI is considered to be potentially dangerous, by figures from Elon Musk to Stephen Hawking, I would rather our civilization never open this pandora's box. We can solve Earth's problems and even spread to the stars without AI. We can invent fusion reactors and thus nearly free energy without AI. We can engineer biological immortality into our very genes without AI. Why risk playing with a lo…

Because it can make like infinitely easier. Save an entire population from having to work half their lives just to provide for their family. Why force people into work when we can build the technology that could do it instead? I'm obviously skipping over the societal effects of that, but if it can be done, it is worth trying.

Re: Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence

#10

> Video games are essential for inventing artificial intelligence And here's why they aren't: First-person Shooters. Why give AI something that's a goal that involves killing things that look like humans or animals for points? That's a recipe for disaster. Breakout's not much better either. How often do you need to break a wall to smithereens with a ball? Never.

Care to explain?
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