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Superintelligence

Paths, Dangers, Strategies

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Superintelligence

By: Nick Bostrom
Narrated by: Napoleon Ryan
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About this listen

Superintelligence asks the questions: What happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? Will artificial agents save or destroy us? Nick Bostrom lays the foundation for understanding the future of humanity and intelligent life. The human brain has some capabilities that the brains of other animals lack. It is to these distinctive capabilities that our species owes its dominant position. If machine brains surpassed human brains in general intelligence, then this new superintelligence could become extremely powerful - possibly beyond our control. As the fate of the gorillas now depends more on humans than on the species itself, so would the fate of humankind depend on the actions of the machine superintelligence.

But we have one advantage: We get to make the first move. Will it be possible to construct a seed Artificial Intelligence, to engineer initial conditions so as to make an intelligence explosion survivable? How could one achieve a controlled detonation?

This profoundly ambitious and original book breaks down a vast track of difficult intellectual terrain. After an utterly engrossing journey that takes us to the frontiers of thinking about the human condition and the future of intelligent life, we find in Nick Bostrom's work nothing less than a reconceptualization of the essential task of our time.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2014 Nick Bostrom (P)2014 Audible Inc.
Machine Theory & Artificial Intelligence Philosophy Artificial Intelligence Human Brain Data Science Machine Learning Robotics

What listeners say about Superintelligence

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Too many acronyms and references to locations in the physical book.

Too many acronyms mentioned forced me to remind me what they meant. References to “see table below” or “as mentioned above” shouldn’t be in an audiobook.

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3 people found this helpful

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Primer on one of the most neglected issues

I highly recommend this book because I find its arguments highly convincing and I believe they should be discussed far more than they currently are.

But even if the book isn't persuasive, anyone who is interested by unusual ideas ought to come away from it satisfied.

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Informative

A must listen to inform you of our future however content can be dry at times.

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important & interesting

Amazing book. Some really interesting and important topics. I found it can be a bit hard going with very technical language at times.

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Insightful and complex yet easy to read.

Topics covered in this book are very complex and should be considered as a guide to understanding how AI will develop and influence the future of humanity. Highly recommended for a second or third read to ensure all the information you need is disseminated.

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Hopefully Transformative

Essential read for anyone seriously concerned about the moderate to long term future.
If you feel it is beyond your current level of comprehension, perhaps start elsewhere and return.

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An terrifyingly excellent read

I love this book. I'm reading it for the third time now.
Bostrom penetrates to the heart of the subject with his brilliant insights about this deep topic.
The narration is perhaps a little monotone, but it actually works quite well with the strange subject matter, having a voice that is a little machine-like. I think it sounded fine.
If you're at all interested in AI and the future of the human race (and beyond), then I'd highly recommend it! 10/10.

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Great, but might be better in print

This book is great. It's comprehensive on the problem, by examining it in an unopinionated way from many different point of view, and it's full of inspiration and food for thought and later research.

On the other hand given the technicality of the content it's quite hard to follow in it's audio format.

I feel the print version might be more useful, because of the possibility to read and re-read passages in an easier way that what and audiobook offers.

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Seems good but the narrator is terrible

I couldn’t finish this audiobook the way it was read. I may try the written version.

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Terrifying - must read

A detailed and thoughtful analysis of the implications of AI and other forms of potential superintelligence.

Terrifying conclusions. A true call to arms for those that care for the future of humanity.

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