The Last Frontiers of AI: Can Scientists Design Creativity and Self-Awareness?

Is creativity a uniquely human trait? Defining the line between human and machine is becoming blurrier by the day as startups, big companies, and research institutions all compete to build the next generation of advanced AI. This arms race is bringing a new era of AI that won't prove its power by mastering human games, but by independently exhibiting ingenuity and creativity. Sophisticated AI is undertaking increasingly complex tasks like stock market predictions, research synthesis, political speech writing--don't worry, this article was still written by a human--and companies are beginning to pair deep learning with new robotics and digital manufacturing tools to create "smart manufacturing." Hod Lipson, professor of engineering at Columbia University and the director of Columbia's Creative Machines Labs, is pushing the next frontier of AI.