The Universal Machine

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That's not just an outdated computer. Its not just an archaic mesh of plastic and transistors. It is a universal machine. Transhumanists aren't promoting computer science and artificial intelligence because it's cool, we do so because computers are the most significant and astounding invention in the history of mankind, and we believe they will change the course of history.

As I said above, its a Universal Machine- which is very significant. Some theoretical difficulties aside, there is pretty much nothing you CAN'T do with a computer. The only limiting factor in computer science is our knowledge of HOW to go about doing something.

In bare essence, a computer is simply the restricted flow of electrons through microscopic wiring. That's it- nothing more or less. Yet, from this simple eb and flow of energy, something greater manifests: Computation.

Its amazing if you really think about it. What is so special about a clump of wiring and plastic such that simulations, solutions and (someday) consciousness should come forth from it? The existence of computers is, to me, just as astounding as that of life and organic consciousness.

And now, in the 21st century, we are on the cusp of yet another powerful breakthrough: Quantum Computing.

In a traditional computer, composed of "bits," each physical bit exists in one of two states: On or Off. 1 or 0.
This limits our ability to fully integrate computers into our daily lives, because, even as transistors get smaller and smaller, we still require that each computer consist of billions of individual transistors.

No matter how small a physical object is, if you multiply said object a couple billion times over you tend to end up with a significant amount of matter.

Enter the Qubit.

Qubits are single atoms(bits) suspended in a quantum state, in which they can represent a number of values simultaneously(instead of just a one or a zero), and they represent a major leap forward in our abilities to both increase computing power and integrate small computers into every aspect of our lives.

A quantum computer the size of a grain of sand could be exponentially more powerful than today's most advanced computers, and anyone with a brain BIGGER than a grain of sand should realize that there are profound implications in such a development.

Scientists are already hard at work developing the hardware(and are getting very close to sustainable success), so the problem becomes how to store and create software which operates on a system of a few qubits rather than a billion transistors.

Perhaps computer hacking skills are a little more important than bow hunting skills after all.

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The Age of Spiritual Machines

What will the turning point be? When will humanity as a race acknowledge that it has created artificial sentient beings? This is a question I am not prepared to answer, but which I ask with great enthusiasm.

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At some point, likely in the near future, software will catch up to hardware. Our most advanced computers today are very powerful, but humanity lacks the ability to create software programs which take full advantage of physical computing capacity.

As awareness of and interest in the field of Artificial Intelligence grows, more and more advanced methods of creating thinking programs are being developed and becoming (relatively) common knowledge.

In order to bring about an Artificial Intelligence revolution, computer scientists don't need to be able to build a god-like super-human intelligence. We need only to create a hardware/software combination slightly more powerful than the human brain, and teach it how to program.

Once we can accomplish this, the gloves are off.

The AI can be unleashed and allowed to design an AI more intelligent than itself, which will also be able to create an even better one, ad infinitum.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

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No one really knows. After we succesfully create the first slightly super-human AI, the process of self-improvement within the world of virtual intelligence will be both beyond our control and beyond our understanding.

The best thing we can do is augment ourselves, communicate with our creation, and hope for a merger of man and machine.

This will be the end of man, and the beginning of the Age of Spiritual Machines.

For more information on Artificial Intelligence, and to become involved in the field yourself, I recommend visiting Udacity and taking their free online computer science courses, which culminate in developing an Artificial Intelligence program for a self driving vehicle.