AI Weekly: There are more pressing problems than god-like AI

A religion based around artificial intelligence is in the news again, this time helmed by Anthony Levandowski, a former member of Google's self-driving car team. His argument is that humans will eventually create AI that is more intelligent than we are, making it functionally god-like, so we might as well start planning for that eventuality. His thinking about the rise of super intelligent machines runs parallel to that of Elon Musk, who has been trumpeting the risks of artificial superintelligence on Twitter and in public appearances. But while talking about an AI god grabs headlines, we have more pressing problems to consider. The AI experts I get to speak with aren't concerned about an artificial superintelligence suddenly cropping up in the next few months and taking over the world. Meanwhile, there's plenty to be concerned about when it comes to immediate and unintended consequences of the machine learning techniques already available.