{"id":829,"date":"2016-12-24T21:58:17","date_gmt":"2016-12-25T05:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jjkpryde.com\/blog\/?p=829"},"modified":"2016-12-25T02:50:04","modified_gmt":"2016-12-25T10:50:04","slug":"humanity-from-beginning-to-end-in-3-2-million-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jjkpryde.com\/blog\/humanity-from-beginning-to-end-in-3-2-million-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Humanity from beginning to end in 3.2 million years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two interesting texts describe humanity from both ends of the spectrum.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Wanderlust , \u00a0a History of Walking<\/a> by Rebecca Solnet. 2001<\/h3>\n
In the early chapters, Rebecca explores anthropological research regarding the role of bipedalism in the development of humans. \u00a0She cites various arguments on whether human intelligence preceded or was enabled by the transition from walking on all four limbs to standing upright and walking on the two rear feet alone. \u00a0She quotes Mary Leakey as<\/div>\n
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\u201cOne cannot overemphasize the role of bipedalism in hominid development. \u00a0It stands as perhaps the salient point that differentiates the forebears of man from other primates. \u00a0This unique ability freed the hands for myriad possibilities – carrying, tool-making, intricate manipulation. \u00a0From this single development, in fact, stems all modern technology. \u00a0Somewhat oversimplified, the formula holds that this new freedom of forelimbs posed a challenge. \u00a0The brain expanded to meet it. \u00a0And mankind was formed.\u00a0“<\/i><\/div>\n
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\u00a0The earliest evidence for this upright behavior is the “Lucy” skeleton<\/a> found in Ethiopia and which dates back a about\u00a03.2 million years ago.<\/div>\n
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It may not feel like anything to be an alien<\/a> | KurzweilAI<\/h3>\n
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Humans are probably not the greatest intelligences in the universe. \u00a0<\/em>By\u00a0SUSAN SCHNEIDER\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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In this article, the author quickly dismisses the question as to whether technology will result in a greater than human intelligence.<\/div>\n
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“Neurons reach a peak speed of about 200 hertz, compared to gigahertz for the transistors in current microprocessors. Although the human brain is still far more intelligent than a computer, machines have almost unlimited room for improvement. It may not be long before they can be engineered to match or even exceed the intelligence of the human brain through reverse-engineering the brain and improving upon its algorithms, or through some combination of reverse engineering and judicious algorithms that aren\u2019t based on the workings of the human brain.”<\/em><\/div>\n
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and…<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe key point is that there is no reason to expect humans to be the highest form of intelligence there is. Our brains evolved for specific environments and are greatly constrained by chemistry and historical contingencies. But technology has opened up a vast design space, offering new materials and modes of operation, as well as new ways to explore that space at a rate much faster than traditional biological evolution. And I think we already see reasons why synthetic intelligence will outperform us.”<\/i><\/div>\n
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She does\u00a0question whether \u201cPostbiological intelligence\u201d, whether extra-terrestrial or human made AI, will or can develop conscious experience?<\/div>\n
Do they share values that correspond to human values (presumably that of life,\u00a0liberty and the pursuit of happiness).<\/div>\n
If not, they may not be controllable in such a way as to prevent them from annihilating\u00a0the human species.<\/div>\n
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In short…<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“On cosmological scales, consciousness may be a blip, a momentary flowering of experience before the universe reverts to mindlessness.\u201d
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On a related note, Elon Musk once wondered on twitter …<\/div>\n
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Hope we’re not just the biological boot loader for digital superintelligence. Unfortunately, that is increasingly probable<\/p>\n

\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 3, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n