Category Archives: Superintelligence

Hotly anticipated series Halo and Grand Crew debut this month, alongside a slew of award-winning movies (its Oscar month, after all), and some super fun South African additions. Watch it all on Showmax.

Halo | First on Showmax

One of Rotten Tomatoes Most Anticipated Shows of 2022, Halo brings one of the highest-grossing gaming franchises of all time to the small screen.

Already renewed for a second season, Halo follows Master Chief, a cybernetically enhanced super-soldier, as he defends humanity from an alien threat known as the Covenant.

With South African Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles) among the shows directors, the series stars Pablo Schreiber (Orange Is the New Black) as Master Chief John-117, with Jen Taylor reprising her voice role from the game series as Cortana. Halo streams on Fridays from 25 March, express from the US.

Grand Crew S1 | First on Showmax

Grand Crew follows a group of young Black professionals who gather at their favourite bar to wine down and unpack the ups and downs of life and love in LA, proving that life is always better with your crew. The shows instantly lovable cast includes Nicole Byer (Nailed It) and Echo Kellum (Arrows Curtis Holt/Mr Terrific). Binge now

PEN15 S2 Part 2 | First on Showmax

PEN15s second and final season brings us eight new episodes to close out the gloriously weird story of 13-year-old besties Maya and Anna, played by 30-something creators Anna Konkle and Maya Erskine. PEN15 S2 has a 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It is bowing out at the peak of its powers, says Guardian. Binge the whole series now

A Discovery of Witches S3 | First on Showmax

In the final season, Matthew and Diana return from their trip to 1590 as their enemies gear up against them. Adapted from Deborah Harknesss bestselling All Souls trilogy, A Discovery of Witches is a vampire-meets-witch story of forbidden love, starring Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey) and Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies). It has an 83% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Binge the whole series now

Vigil

From the creators of Line of Duty, Vigil investigates the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board the submarine HMS Vigil, which bring the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services. DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones, Gentleman Jack) and DS Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie, Game of Thrones) lead an investigation into a conspiracy that goes to the heart of Britains national security. It scored 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Binge now

Brave New World

Based on Aldous Huxleys classic 1932 novel, Brave New World imagines a utopian society that has achieved peace and stability through the prohibition of monogamy, privacy, money, family, and history itself. Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) lead an impressive cast. But be warned: it has an 18SN age restriction, with the Guardian suggesting that it should have been renamed Brave Nude World. Binge now

Chicago Med S6 | Binge from 1 March

The dedicated doctors, nurses and staff of Gaffney Chicago Medicals trauma centre are back for Season 6 of the hit medical drama. This season, they are pushed to the limit as they fight on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cast includes four-time Emmy nominee Oliver Platt (Fargo), as well as Yaya DaCosta (The Butler) and S Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order). Binge all six seasons so far

A Million Little Things S3 Part 1

Friendship isnt a big thing. Its a million little things. In Season 3, just when the friends seem to find their new normal, their lives are upended by COVID-19, forcing them to once again lean on each other. As TV Fanatic says, A Million Little Things is akin to Chicken Soup for the Soulas if you were snuggling up with a warm blanket, eating comfort food, and spending time with beloved friends. Binge the story so far now

Ziwe S1

Ziwe Fumudoh blasted onto the scene with her YouTube show Baited with Ziwe. Now she has her own talk and variety show, Ziwe, a no-holds-barred mix of musical numbers, interviews and sketches featuring the likes of activist Gloria Steinem, The Real Housewives of New York City star Eboni K Williams, actress Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs) and author Fran Lebowitz. Binge now

Wu-Tang: An American Saga S1

Set in early 1990s New York, at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic, Wu-Tang: An American Saga is the fictionalised account of the formation of legendary hip hop supergroup Wu-Tang Clan. Created by Grammy nominated Wu-Tang leader RZA with Alex Tse (Watchmen), Season 1 of the series was nominated for an Emmy and three Black Reel Awards. Binge now

MOVIES

The Hitmans Wifes Bodyguard

The worlds most lethal odd couple bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) and hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L Jackson) are back on another life-threatening mission. Still unlicensed and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Dariuss even more volatile wife, the infamous con artist Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek). Theyre joined by Antonio Banderas as a vengeful madman and Morgan Freeman as well, youll have to see. Stream from 14 March.

The Father

Anthony is 80, living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), introduces. Yet help is also becoming a necessity for Anne as Anthony's grip on reality is unravelling. At 83, Anthony Hopkins last year became the oldest-ever Best Actor winner at the Oscars. The Father also took home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, with another three nominations. It has 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Stream from 21 March.

Bad Hair

Horror satire Bad Hair follows an ambitious young woman (Elle Lorraine from Insecure), who gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career comes at a great cost when she realises her new hair may have a mind of its own. [This] pointed, fiendishly fun horror flick cackles at the gore when an ambitious music host gets a wig that literally slays, says Variety, calling it at once sly, resonant, and horrific. Stream now

Superintelligence

When an all-powerful Superintelligence chooses to study the most average person on earth, Carol Peters, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. As the AI decides whether to enslave, save or destroy humanity, it's up to Carol to prove that people are worth saving. Melissa McCarthy stars. Stream from 10 March

Let Them All Talk

A celebrated author (Meryl Streep) takes a journey with some old friends (Candice Bergen and Dianne Wiest) to have some fun and heal old wounds. Her nephew and new literary agent come along for the ride. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Traffic), it has an 88% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Stream from 24 March.

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NON-FICTION

The Sparks Brothers

How can one rock band be successful, underrated, hugely influential, and criminally overlooked all at the same time? With commentary from a host of celebrity fans, The Sparks Brothers celebrates the inspiring legacy of Sparks: your favourite band's favourite band. The doccie has won a slew of awards and has 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Stream from 21 March.

Final Account

Final Account is an urgent portrait of the last living people to participate in Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. Ranging from former SS members to civilians, they reckon with their memories, perceptions and personal appraisals of their own roles in one of the greatest crimes in history. It has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the Guardian calls it A simple, unadorned study of everyday evil, the past speaking to the present. Stream from 21 March.

South African

Settlers | First on Showmax

Filmed on the South Africa/Namibia border, with the arid desert landscape doubling for the inhospitable surface of Mars, Settlers centres on an isolated family battling the elements to survive on the Martian frontier. It stars Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project), Jonny Lee Miller (Elementary) and more, with plenty of South African crew. Stream from 3 March.

Diamond & Dolls

We are just trying to make a living. Please dont judge us. Diamond and Dolls is a six-episode reality show based on the lives of four slay queens on a journey towards fame, fortune and, more significantly, discovering themselves. Series producer Tebogo Ramokgadi - the self-described Mayor of Sandton - stars alongside Inno Morolong, Eva Modika, Lumi Jemma and Lolo Mlunjwana. Binge now

Wounds S1

1Magics gripping medical drama Wounds is set in the fictional Healing Hands Hospital, where nurses and doctors dedicate their lives to helping others. A place of both trauma and hope, its where we meet Busisiwe (Samke Makhoba from MTV Shuga), a new intern who is understandably nervous but for reasons that have more to do with her dark past than her future as a nurse. Weekly from 30 March.

KIDS

Santiago of the Seas S1

Join Santiago, an eight-year-old pirate, and his crew as they take on the high seas, embarking on rescues, uncovering hidden treasures and keeping the Caribbean safe. Its won many awards and has a five-star rating on Common Sense Media, where its recommended for ages 4+. Their review calls it an, Exceptional preschool series [that] celebrates kindness and courage. Binge now

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Zo Kravitz portrays a Seattle tech worker in Kimi. (Warner Bros. Entertainment Photo / Claudette Barius)

Once again, Seattles tech scene provides the backdrop for a high-profile movie on HBO Max but this time, its serious.

Oscar-winning film director Steven Soderberghs tech-noir thriller, Kimi, echoes movies like Rear Window and The Conversation in a tale that also reflects the mind-wrenching isolation forced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the concerns raised by smart devices that are capable of tracking our every move.

Zo Kravitz portrays an employee at a Seattle tech startup that markets a smart speaker and AI voice assistant called Kimi. The startup is gearing up for an IPO that promises a big payoff, but as Kravitzs character works through a list of audio files that Kimi couldnt understand, she happens upon a snippet that suggests a crime was committed. Her efforts to get to the truth spark a classic spy chase with some extra tech twists.

Its a tale far darker than Superintelligence, the 2020 romantic comedy starring Melissa McCarthy as a Seattle techie and James Corden as an AI overlord.

Will Kimi stir up a debate over AI voice assistants? Does the movie accurately reflect the Seattle vibe? Will it generate as much buzz as Amazons Alexa, or will it flop as hard as the Fire Phone? The early indications are mixed: On the Rotten Tomatoes website, for example, the critical consensus is thumbs-up (90%) while the audience score is an emphatic thumbs-down (55%).

To get the verdict from ground zero, we turned to the experts who helped us sort out the fact, fiction and frivolousness in Superintelligence: Carissa Schoenick, director of program management and communication at Seattles Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence; and Kurt Schlosser, GeekWires go-to guy for coverage of Seattles tech culture.

Heres the slightly spoiler-y breakdown from Schoenick and Schlosser, with some extra spin provided by yours truly:

There are strong echoes of Amazons Alexa AI assistant and Apples Siri in the squat smart speaker that was designed specifically for Kimi. (Soderberghs ex-wife, Betsy Brantley, provides the placid feminine voice thats a prerequisite for smart speakers.)

Screenwriter David Koepp was reportedly inspired to write the script for Kimi by a murder case in Arkansas in which prosecutors sought access to audio files that may have been recorded by a suspects Amazon Echo device. That case was eventually dismissed due to lack of evidence, but its specifically invoked in the movie.

In some of the Seattle scenes, we see flashes of billboards touting Kimi 6.0, but Schoenick was surprised by how basic the speakers functions seemed to be. It was all extremely Home Smart Speaker 101, she said.

At the beginning of the movie, the CEO of the company that makes Kimi claims that his product is superior to Alexa and Siri because actual humans are employed to make sense of the audio that Kimi cant figure out. (This is the job that Kravitzs character has.)

Real-world AI companies would probably dispute the CEOs claim.

Ive heard reports of Amazon using content workers to look at misheard commands and help annotate those, to correct the system, Schoenick said. That is absolutely par for the course with AI. Having a human in the loop like that is the way you get annotated data to improve your models.

An ethical company would scrub the audio files to ensure the users anonymity. But because this is a movie, the company behind Kimi isnt bound by real-world rules. They had a nice, really slick little app for how to spy on their users, Schoenick said.

The same goes for the other intrusive surveillance methods shown in Kimi, including triangulating on cellphone signals and collecting retinal scans of employees without their informed consent.

Its a good example of how a tech company could have abused personal data rights by gathering data and hiding that language in their terms and conditions, because the point that nobody reads those is true, Schoenick said. That is where regulating the application of AI can be important.

In contrast to many other tech thrillers, the AI isnt the bad guy. Instead, the plot relies on old-fashioned human villains who arent always as smart as the devices they wield. Without getting too heavily into plot spoilers, Schoenick said the movies climactic confrontation strained plausibility.

No one was doing the thing that they would really do in real life in this situation, Schoenick said. Including the bad guys. They seemed very bad at their job.

One of the least plausible aspects of Kimi has to do with the idea that Kravitzs character could actually afford the apartment where most of the action takes place.

Shes a glorified content moderator, Schoenick said. This is a job that crowdsourced folks would be doing in the real world you know, people in content moderation farms. It wouldnt support the lifestyle of a single person in a huge loft apartment.

The Kimi-equipped apartment serves as a fortress for the audio interpreter, whose fear of public places arose after a traumatic experience and was reinforced by COVID-related social distancing. Its in a neighborhood that looks like Capitol Hill, Pioneer Square or Belltown in Seattle, but is actually in Los Angeles.

Schlosser agreed that the apartment seemed a bit too upscale for the typical Seattle techie, but he said Kravitzs blue-haired, hoodie-wearing character was in tune with the Pacific Northwest vibe.

She looked perfectly Seattle to me, he said. She had a young and fun, techie look about her, and her apartment was decorated with the requisite music posters and stuff like that.

There are plenty of exterior scenes showing off the Emerald City including views of Westlake Park, the Helix Pedestrian Bridge and the citys light-rail stations. Theres even a homeless protest that brought hundreds of extras to downtown Seattle during last years filming.

Seattle looks good in the movie. Maybe a little too good, Schlosser said. The way he sees it, a tech-noir thriller like Kimi could have taken better advantage of the Pacific Northwests trademark gloom.

The sunshine was a little offputting, he said.

But Schlosser said the mere fact that AI-centric movies like Superintelligence and Kimi are set in Seattle says something about the citys status as a tech capital.

I just think its cool in regard to the fact that now moviemakers are leapfrogging Silicon Valley and picturing Seattle as the setting for anything happening in tech whether its badly portrayed, weirdly portrayed, funny, exciting or beautiful to look at, he said. Seattle is on the moviemaking minds of these guys who are saying, Where is tech centered?'

AI2s Carissa Schoenick: The AI voice assistant Kimi takes a backseat to the psychology and action of the storyline. Kimi isnt invoked in any surprising ways that arent already possible with todays smart speakers instead, the tech is a plot device to motivate the agoraphobic main character to face her fears. The notion that humans would be employed to review and correct misheard voice commands is not unrealistic; in fact, human-annotated data is fundamental in developing and improving AI algorithms,and companies like Amazondo this very typeof voice command auditing for speech recognition technology. The movie has a slow start and reallyuneven character development with a bit of an eye-rolling conclusion, but if youre looking for something short and a little weird, its a pretty average watch. Grade: C for technology, and C-minus for watchability.

Geek Life guru Kurt Schlosser: Ive been living through COVID and forced isolation for two years. I didnt need a movie to trap me inside all of that for two more hours especially with a smart speaker as my only friend. I want to escape! When Kimi does get outside, its into a Seattle that is too sunny for a film that is so psychologically gloomy. Grade: C-minus.

Science geek Alan Boyle: Maybe Kimi doesnt quite measure up to Rear Window, but I think anyone whos a fan of that claustrophobic film genre (which also includes The Woman in the Window from last year and a newly released parody, The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window) will want to check this out. The same goes for folks who get into the issues raised by digital surveillance, or who just want to see if they recognize the Seattle scenery. Kimi is the first movie Ive seen that weaves the COVID-19 pandemic into its plot, and the first movie since Her to give a central role to an AI voice assistant. Grade: B.

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Does Kimi deliver the goods? Thriller aims to capitalize on Alexa, Siri and Seattles tech cachet - GeekWire

More viewing suggestions and links to movie trailers can be found with this story online at inland360.com.

Heres whats new for home viewing on Video on Demand, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO and other streaming services, starting Friday.

Arriving from Sundance is the documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing (PG-13), which dissects the decisions that led to the catastrophic crashes of two new Boeing 737-Maxes. (Netflix)

Bel-Air: Season 1 (TV-MA) reimagines the hit Will Smith sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bell-Air as a serious drama about a teenager (Jabari Banks) from the mean streets of Philadelphia sent to live with relatives in L.A. Four episodes are available, and new episodes arrive on Fridays. A review is on Page 16. (Peacock)

After a two-year wait, the fourth season of the Emmy-winning comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV-MA) arrives with rising star Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) entering the 1960s and pushing the envelope of stand-up comedy. Milo Ventimiglia and Kelly Bishop are among the new cast members. Two episodes are available, and new episodes air on Fridays. (Amazon Prime Video)

The science fiction psychodrama Severance: Season 1 (TV-MA) stars Adam Scott as a young widower who undergoes an experimental procedure that disconnects his painful personal memories while at work, but beneath the happy exterior of his new situation is an ominous mystery. Patricia Arquette, John Turturro and Christopher Walken co-star and Ben Stiller produces and directs the first few episodes. Two episodes are available, and new episodes arrive on Fridays. (Apple TV)

Guillermo del Toros The Shape of Water (2017, R), a monster movie turned romantic fantasy about a mute janitor (Sally Hawkins) and an amphibious creature held captive in a government lab, won four Oscars, including best picture. (Hulu)

The spy movie prequel The Kings Man (2021, R) stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton and Djimon Hounsou as British agents in the early 20th century trying to stop a world war plotted by a gang of villains and despots, including Grigori Rasputin (Rhys Ifans). (Hulu)

Titane (France, 2021, R, with subtitles), Julia Ducournaus surreal thriller about a punk model (Agathe Rousselle) turned serial killer who is impregnated by a luxury automobile, is a cult movie in the making and a strangely touching movie about family. (Hulu)

jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy (TV-MA) is a three-part documentary on hip-hop icon Kanye West that premiered at Sundance. New episodes air on Wednesdays. (Netflix)

Classic pick: Peter Ustinov plays Hercule Poirot in Death on the Nile (1978, PG), the first big screen adaptation of the Agatha Christie mystery, with a cast of suspects that includes Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury, Mia Farrow and Maggie Smith. Kenneth Branaghs remake is currently in theaters (a review is on Page 13). (Criterion Channel)

The new Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022, R), co-written and produced by Fede Alvarez, plays out as a sequel to the 1974 classic.

Indonesian action star Iko Uwais headlines the martial arts action film Fistful of Vengeance (2022, TV-MA).

The Wonder Years: Season 1 (TV-PG), the revival of the family sitcom reimagined with an African-American family in late 1960s Alabama, comes to Disney+ along with Black-ish: Seasons 1-3 (TV-14) and Grown-ish: Seasons 1-4 (TV-14).

The Sky is Everywhere (2022, PG-13), based on the young adult novel by Jandy Nelson, stars Grace Kaufman as a teenage prodigy mourning the death of her sister.

Superintelligence and Locked Down.

Axmaker is a Seattle film critic and writer.His reviews of streaming movies and TV can be found at streamondemandathome.com.

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'Downfall' follows chain of bad decisions that led up to Boeing 737-Max crashes - Lewiston Morning Tribune

Some might wonder if they have delayed buying Bitcoin because it is already at the US$45,000 level

Since the beginning of 2022, Bitcoin is remaining under constant pressure. The cryptocurrency price rose sharply for 10 days straight only to fall back to its previous resistance level. Even after holding their hearts in their hands for three months now, Bitcoin investors are still hopeful about BTCs value going up. Speculatively, some are even wondering if they are too late to buy Bitcoin now. Therefore, in this article, we explore what investors should worry about and not when it comes to Bitcoin investment.

The cryptocurrency market is well known for its volatility. But over the past few months, things are getting even more uncertain with Bitcoins price touching massive lows. Fortunately, BTCs value hasnt broken through the US$30,000 resistance level, which wouldve put the digital token at a loss if it did. But still, Bitcoin is getting murkier. After the announcement from Federal Reserve to raise the interest rates came out and countries started tightening the regulations on cryptocurrency policies, Bitcoin is facing back-to-back hits. Bitcoins price has blown through both supports and resistance levels over the past few weeks, defying all the previous predictions of reaching US$100k in 2022. Even though BTC managed to hit US$45,000 last week, it couldnt break through this barrier. While some buy Bitcoin despite the uncertainty, some wonder if investing in cryptocurrency now might be too late.

From the technical point of view, it is too early to say it is late. When we consider artificial intelligence, we are yet to reach artificial general intelligence and artificial superintelligence. Therefore, experts say that we are even in the early stage of technology adoption although AI is over 70 years old. If we keep away the price of cryptocurrencies and just evaluate the underlying blockchain technology, the concept has a long way to go. It is comparatively young and might unleash new advantages which will eventually put digital tokens on the growth path.

Even when we consider Bitcoin, it is the first and oldest cryptocurrency to prevail in the market. Also, a majority of factors are indicating that we have a long way when it comes to buying and holding Bitcoin.

Practical Usage in Daily Life: Although Bitcoin is viewed as a legitimate store of value, people are expected to use it daily at some point. Currently, Ethereum is highly used as a transaction token in everyday life. But over time, Bitcoin is anticipated to take over its position. Once Bitcoin becomes a trading coin, it will reach massive adoption across industries.

Increasing Institutional Adoption: Bitcoins store of value concept is increasingly putting cryptocurrency at the center of institutional adoption. Already many companies have started adopting Bitcoin as a medium of exchange. This move is giving an edge to investors and forcing many organizations to invest in BTC to keep a hold of the asset and its movement.

Growing Ease in Services: One of the best ways to streamline Bitcoin in the commercial ecosystem is to simplify its transaction process. Already, Block and Robinhood are making it easy for investors to sell and buy Bitcoin while Coinbase is allowing customers to spend cryptocurrency in ordinary stores and earn rewards. When the transaction process gets easy, people will start choosing Bitcoin over other currencies.

Although many practical factors indicate that it is not too late for Bitcoin adoption, profit rates might indicate otherwise. When people step into the cryptocurrency world, they expect massive volatility and great growth. They want their potential investors to grow 100% or even more. But if you take Bitcoin into account, it has passed through the phase long back. Besides, now people are more interested in blockchain features like smart contracts, decentralized applications, and NFTs than cryptocurrencies. Therefore, there are high chances that the concept of virtual tokens might get overshadowed by the advantages. Some of the other factors that indicate you are late to Bitcoin are listed as follows.

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Maybe it is Not Too Late to Buy Bitcoin! BTC has a Long Way to Go - Analytics Insight

The "nuclear football" follows the president on trips. It allows the president to authorize a nuclear launch.

If artificial intelligences controlled nuclear weapons, all of us could be dead.

That is no exaggeration. In 1983, Soviet Air Defense Forces Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Petrov was monitoring nuclear early warning systems, when the computer concluded with the highest confidence that the United States had launched a nuclear war. But Petrov was doubtful: The computer estimated only a handful of nuclear weapons were incoming, when such a surprise attack would more plausibly entail an overwhelming first strike. He also didnt trust the new launch detection system, and the radar system didnt have corroborative evidence. Petrov decided the message was a false positive and did nothing. The computer was wrong; Petrov was right. The false signals came from the early warning system mistaking the suns reflection off the clouds for missiles. But if Petrov had been a machine, programmed to respond automatically when confidence was sufficiently high, that error would have started a nuclear war.

Militaries are increasingly incorporating autonomous functions into weapons systems, though as far as is publicly known, they havent yet turned the nuclear launch codes over to an AI system. Russia has developed a nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered torpedo that is autonomous in some not publicly known manner, and defense thinkers in the United States have proposed automating the launch decision for nuclear weapons.

There is no guarantee that some military wont put AI in charge of nuclear launches; International law doesnt specify that there should always be a Petrov guarding the button. Thats something that should change, soon.

How autonomous nuclear weapons could go wrong. The huge problem with autonomous nuclear weapons, and really all autonomous weapons, is error. Machine learning-based artificial intelligencesthe current AI voguerely on large amounts of data to perform a task. Googles AlphaGo program beat the worlds greatest human go players, experts at the ancient Chinese game thats even more complex than chess, by playing millions of games against itself to learn the game. For a constrained game like Go, that worked well. But in the real world, data may be biased or incomplete in all sorts of ways. For example, one hiring algorithm concluded being named Jared and playing high school lacrosse was the most reliable indicator of job performance, probably because it picked up on human biases in the data.

In a nuclear weapons context, a government may have little data about adversary military platforms; existing data may be structurally biased, by, for example, relying on satellite imagery; or data may not account for obvious, expected variations such as imagery in taken during foggy, rainy, or overcast weather.

The nature of nuclear conflict compounds the problem of error.

How would a nuclear weapons AI even be trained? Nuclear weapons have only been used twice in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and serious nuclear crises are (thankfully) infrequent. Perhaps inferences can be drawn from adversary nuclear doctrine, plans, acquisition patterns, and operational activity, but the lack of actual examples of nuclear conflict means judging the quality of those inferences is impossible. While a lack of examples hinders humans too, humans have the capacity for higher-order reasoning. Humans can create theories and identify generalities from limited information or information that is analogous, but not equivalent. Machines cannot.

The deeper challenge is high false positive rates in predicting rare events. There have thankfully been only two nuclear attacks in history. An autonomous system designed to detect and retaliate against an incoming nuclear weapon, even if highly accurate, will frequently exhibit false positives. Around the world, in North Korea, Iran, and elsewhere, test missiles are fired into the sea and rockets are launched into the atmosphere. And there have been many false alarms of nuclear attacks, vastly more than actual attacks. An AI thats right almost all the time still has a lot of opportunity to get it wrong. Similarly, with a test that accurately diagnosed cases of a rare disease 99 percent of the time, a positive diagnosis may meanjusta5 percent likelihood of actually having the disease, depending on assumptions about the diseases prevalence and false positive rates. This is because with rare diseases, the number of false positives could vastlyoutweighthe number of true positives.So, if an autonomous nuclear weapon concluded with 99 percent confidence a nuclear war is about to begin, should it fire?

In the extremely unlikely event those problems can all be solved, autonomous nuclear weapons introduce new risks of error and opportunities for bad actors to manipulate systems. Current AI is not only brittle; its easy to fool. A single pixel change is enough to convince an AI a stealth bomber is a dog. This creates two problems. If a country actually sought a nuclear war, they could fool the AI system first, rendering it useless. Or a well-resourced, apocalyptic terrorist organization like the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo might attempt to trick an adversarys system into starting a catalytic nuclear war. Both approaches can be done in quite subtle, difficult-to-detect ways: data poisoning may manipulate the training data that feeds the AI system, or unmanned systems or emitters could be used to trick an AI into believing a nuclear strike is incoming.

The risk of error can confound well-laid nuclear strategies and plans. If a military had to start a nuclear war, targeting an enemys own nuclear systems with gigantic force would be a good way to go to limit retaliation. However, if an AI launched a nuclear weapon in error, the decisive opening salvo may be a pittancea single nuclear weapon aimed at a less than ideal target. Accidentally nuking a major city might provoke an overwhelming nuclear retaliation because the adversary would still have all its missile silos, just not its city.

Some have nonetheless argued that autonomous weapons (not necessarily autonomous nuclear weapons) will eventually reduce the risk of error. Machines do not need to protect themselves and can be more conservative in making decisions to use force. They do not have emotions that cloud their judgement and do not exhibit confirmation biasa type of bias in which people interpret data in a way that conforms to their desires or beliefs.

While these arguments have potential merit in conventional warfare, depending on how technology evolves, they do not in nuclear warfare. As strategic deterrents, countries have strong incentives to protect their nuclear weapons platforms, because they literally safeguard their existence. Instead of being risk avoidant, countries have an incentive to preemptively launch under attack, because otherwise they may lose their nuclear weapons. Some emotion should also be a part of nuclear decision-making: the prospect of catastrophic nuclear war should be terrifying, and the decision made extremely cautiously.

Finally, while autonomous nuclear weapons may not exhibit confirmation biases, the lack of training data and real-world test environments mean an autonomous nuclear weapon may experience numerous biases, which may never be discovered until after a nuclear war has started.

The decision to unleash nuclear force is the single most significant decision a leader can make. It commits a state to an existential conflict with millionsif not billionsof lives in the balance. Such a consequential, deeply human decision should never be made by a computer.

Activists against autonomous weapons have been hesitant to focus on autonomous nuclear weapons. For example, the International Committee of the Red Cross makes no mention of autonomous nuclear weapons in its position statement on autonomous weapons. (In fairness, the International Committee for Robot Arms Controls 2009 statement references autonomous nuclear weapons, though it represents more of the intellectual wing of the so-called stop killer robots movement.) Perhaps activists see nuclear weapons as already broadly banned or do not wish to legitimize nuclear weapons generally, but the lack of attention is a mistake. Nuclear weapons already have broad established norms against their use and proliferation, with numerous treaties supporting them. Banning autonomous nuclear weapons should be an easy win to establish norms against autonomous weapons. Plus, autonomous nuclear weapons represent perhaps the highest-risk manifestation of autonomous weapons (an artificial superintelligence is the only potential higher risk). Which is worse: an autonomous gun turret accidently killing a civilian, or an autonomous nuclear weapon igniting a nuclear war that leads to catastrophic destruction and possibly the extinction of all humanity? Hint: catastrophic destruction is vastly worse.

Where autonomous nuclear weapons stand. Some autonomy in nuclear weapons is already here, but its complicated and unclear how worried we should be.

Russias Poseidon is an Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedo according to US Navy documents, while the Congressional Research Service has also described it as an autonomous undersea vehicle. The weapon is intended to be a second-strike weapon used in the event of a nuclear conflict. That is, a weapon intended to ensure a state can always retaliate against a nuclear strike, even an unexpected, so-called bolt from the blue. An unanswered question is: what can the Poseidon do autonomously? Perhaps the torpedo just has some autonomous maneuvering ability to better reach its targetbasically, an underwater cruise missile. Thats probably not a big deal, though there may be some risk of error in misdirecting the attack.

It is more worrisome if the torpedo is given permission to attack autonomously under specific conditions. For example, what if, in a crisis scenario where Russian leadership fears a possible nuclear attack, Poseidon torpedoes are launched under a loiter mode? It could be that if the Poseidon loses communications with its host submarine, it launches an attack. Most worrisome: The torpedo has the ability to attack on its own, but this possibility is quite unlikely. This would require an independent means for the Poseidon to assess whether a nuclear attack had taken place, while sitting far beneath the ocean. Of course, given how little is known about the Poseidon, this is all speculation. But thats part of the point: understanding how another countrys autonomous systems operate is really hard.

Countries are also interested in so-called dead hand systems. Dead hand systems are meant to provide a back-up, in case a states nuclear command authority is disrupted, or killed. A relatively simple system like Russias Perimeter might delegate launch authority to a lower-level commander in the event of a crisis and specific conditions like a loss of communication with command authorities. But as deterrence experts Adam Lowther and Curtis McGuffin argued in a 2019 article in War on the Rocks, the United States should consider an automated strategic response system based on artificial intelligence.

The authors reason the decision-making time to launch nuclear weapons has become so constrained, that an artificial intelligence-based dead hand should be considered, despite, as the authors acknowledge, the potential for numerous errors and problems the system would create. Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, former leader of the Department of Defenses Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, shot the proposal down immediately: You will find no stronger proponent of integration of AI capabilities writ large into the Department of Defense, but there is one area where I pause, and it has to do withnuclear command and control. But Shanahan retired in 2020, and there is no reason to believe the proposal will not come up again. Perhaps next time, no one will shoot it down.

What needs to happen. As allowed under Article VIII of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a member state should propose an amendment to the treaty requiring all nuclear weapons states to always include humans within decision-making chains on the use of nuclear weapons. This could require diplomacy and might take a while. In the near term, countries should raise the issue when the member states next meet to review the treaty in August 2022 and establish a side-event focused on autonomous nuclear weapons issues during the 2025 conference. Even if a consensus cannot be established at the 2022 conference, countries can begin the process of working through any barriers in support of a future amendment. Countries can also build consensus outside the review conference process: Bans on autonomous nuclear weapons could be discussed as part of broader multilateral discussions on a new autonomous weapons ban.

The United States should be a leader in this effort. The congressionally-appointed National Security Commission on AI recommended humans maintain control over nuclear weapons. Page 12 notes, The United States should (1) clearly and publicly affirm existing US policy that only human beings can authorize employment of nuclear weapons and seek similar commitments from Russia and China. Formalizing this requirement in international law would make it far more robust.

Unfortunately, requiring humans to make decisions on firing nuclear weapons is not the end of the story. An obvious challenge is how to ensure the commitments to human control are trustworthy. After all, it is quite tough to tell whether a weapon is truly autonomous. But there might be options to at least reassure: Countries could pass laws requiring humans to approve decisions on the use of nuclear weapons; provide minimum transparency into nuclear command and control processes to demonstrate meaningful human control; or issue blanket bans on any research and development aimed at making nuclear weapons autonomous.

Now, none of this should suggest that any fusion of artificial intelligence and nuclear weapons is terrifying. Or, more precisely, any more terrifying than nuclear weapons on their own. Artificial intelligence also has applications in situational awareness, intelligence collection, information processing, and improving weapons accuracy. Artificial intelligence may aid decision support and communication reliability, which may help nuclear stability. In fact, artificial intelligence has already been incorporated in various aspects of nuclear command, control, and communication systems, such as early warning systems. But that should never extend to complete machine control over the decision to use nuclear weapons.

The challenge of autonomous nuclear weapons is a serious one that has gotten little attention. Making changes to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to require nuclear weapons states to maintain human control over nuclear weapons is just the start. At the very least, if a nuclear war breaks out, well know who to blame.

The author would like to thank Philipp C. Bleek, James Johnson, and Josh Pollack for providing invaluable input on this article.

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Giving an AI control of nuclear weapons: What could possibly go wrong? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Arriving on Apple TV+ tomorrow (Friday 28th January) is brand new comedy The Afterparty a murder mystery about a high school reunion gone wrong.

The eight-parter, created by 21 Jump Street's Christopher Miller, features a stellar cast, with Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Dave Franco, Ilana Glazer and Jamie Demetriou starring in the series.

Franco plays Xavier: an unpopular student turned international pop star who winds up dead at his high school reunion afterparty but who else is in this comedy?

Read on to learn more about the cast of The Afterparty.

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Who is Detective Danner?Detective Danner is one of the first police officers to arrive at the scene of the murder and, while she's meant to hold the fort until her superior gets there, she sets about solving the crime herself.

Where have I seen Tiffany Haddish before?Emmy winner Tiffany Haddish is best known for starring in the film Girls Trip and shows like The Carmichael Show, The Last O.G, Tuca & Bertie, Solar Opposites, Bob's Burgers and New Girl. She has also appeared in films like Bad Trip, Like a Boss, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, The Oath, Nobody's Fool and Keanu.

Who is Aniq?Aniq is a escape room designer who had plans to confess his true feelings for former crush Zoe at his high school reunion.

Where have I seen Sam Richardson before?Sam Richardson is best known for playing Richard Splett in HBO's Veep and for co-creating the Comedy Central series Detroiters. He has also appeared in I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, New Girl, BoJack Horseman, Promising Young Woman, Office Christmas Party, Superintelligence and Spy.

Who is Zoe?Zoe is an art-loving teacher who was looking forward to letting her hair down at the high school reunion.

Where have I seen Zo Chao before?Zoe Chao has appeared in Strangers, The OA, Living with Yourself, Love Life, Modern Love and films The High Note, I Used to Go Here, Long Weekend and Where'd You Go, Bernadette.

Who is Yasper?Yasper is Aniq's high school best friend who dreams of a career in music but actually works in security installation.

Where have I seen Ben Schwartz before?Ben Schwartz is a comedian who rose to fame for playing Jean-Ralphio Saperstein in Parks and Recreation and his roles in House of Lies, DuckTales, The Other Guys, This Is Where I Leave You, Flora & Ulysses, Staged, Space Force and Modern Family.

Who is Brett?Brett is Zoe's ex-husband who was popular in school and plans on going to the reunion to get Zoe back.

Where have I seen Ike Barinholtz before?Ike Barinholtz is best known for appearing in Eastbound & Down, The Mindy Project, Bless the Harts and films like Neighbours, Suicide Squad, Snatched, Blockers, Late Night, The Hunt and Central Intelligence, which he co-wrote.

Who is Chelsea?Chelsea is the paranoid former class president who everybody sees as a drunken mess.

Where have I seen Ilana Glazer before?Ilana Glazer co-created and starred in Comedy Central series Broad City, after which she appeared in BoJack Horseman, The Night Before, Rought Night and False Positive.

Who is Xavier?Xavier is an international pop star who was unpopular at school but grew up to be a multimillionaire. He hosts the after party for the high school reunion and ends up dead.

Where have I seen Dave Franco before?Franco is best known for appearing in Charlie St. Cloud, 21 Jump Street, Now You See Me, The Lego Movie, Neighbours, Nerve, The Rental and shows like Scrubs, Privileged, Young Justice, Easy, BoJack Horseman, The Now.

Who is Walt?Walt is a socially-awkward loner who gets frustrated when no one at the reunion can remember who he is.

Where have I seen Jamie Demetriou before?Jamie Demetriou is the BAFTA-winning creator and star of Channel 4's Stath Lets Flats. He has also appeared in Fleabag, Paddington 2, Sherlock Gnomes, This Time with Alan Partridge, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Cruella and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain.

Who is Detective Culp?Detective Culp is the rule-abiding partner of Detective Danner.

Where have I seen John Early?John Early is a comedian best known for starring in Search Party, Netflix Presents: The Characters, Close Enough, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson and films like The Disaster Artist, Late Night and Save Yourselves.

TheBig RT Interview with Jamie Demetriou is available to read on RadioTimes.com on Friday 28th January.

The Afterparty premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday 28th January find out how tosign up for Apple TV+ here. Visit ourTV Guideto see whats on tonight.

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Meet the cast of The Afterparty - Radio Times

Thanks to medical advancements, people are healthier and living longer than ever before and thanks to agricultural and industrial advancements, poverty levels and global hunger are reduced. Along the way, we caused serious and lasting damage to Earths ecosystems and left us open, as a species, to a number of potentially destructive events.

Novel diseases like coronavirus are just one of the many things that currently threaten human lives on a global scale. Scientists have raised concerns that, in the coming years,forest fires, droughts, pollution, global warming, microbial mutations, or the rise ofharmful artificial intelligencecould endanger billions of lives.

Heres an overview of whats just hype and what the actual threats to human existence are in 2022.

1- Economic collapse in China

China is an economic titan, but its foundation is wobbly. The recent financial trembles in China have caused many economists to have great concern.

The real-estate sector accounts for 29% of the countrys total GDP. About20 percent of the total urban housing properties, or around 65 million properties in China are vacant and are located in major cities. These ghost cities have well-connected roads, infrastructure, skyscrapers, and a variety of appealing public spaces, but they are extremely underpopulated and have vast areas that are without residents. Dramatic social unrest in China and market collapses could ripple around the world.

2- More COVID-19 mutants

Omicron is now considered the fastest spreading COVID-19 variant in the world. Scientists predict thatCOVID-19is unlikely to disappear and we are likely to see more of its variants, although their severity may lessen over time.

The World Health Organization estimates that in its first two years COVID-19 has caused more than 5.4 million deathsglobally, and this is likely to be an underestimate.

3- Climate change

In August 2021, a wildfire in Greeceburnt down 50,910 hectaresof lush green forest. The same year, a series of floods wreaked havoc across Europe and caused damages totaling more than $11.8 billion. Hundreds of individuals lost their lives (196 deaths were reported in Germany alone) and thousands of families were displaced during the 2021 European floods.

Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the summer season of 2021 was the driest andhottest for contiguous statesin the U.S. in records, dating back 126 years.

Forest fires, floods, droughts, increasing temperatures, the melting polar ice, hurricanes, rising sea levels are all linked tohuman-induced climate change.

The WHO claims that climate change alone already costsaround 150,000lives each year, due to the various hazards that result from climate change.

A report suggests that, by 2030, rising sea levels willdrown many coastal cities,including Venice, Amsterdam, and New Orleans.

An estimate indicates that, if carbon emissions are not brought down, by 2050,about 800 million peopleliving in 570 cities across the world will be severely affected due to the rising sea level.

Climate experts have predicted that 2022 would also turn out tobe a hot year.

4- Harmful AI

Some believe that, in the next few years, AI could reach a level where it is smarter than all of humanity, andno human would be able to control it anymore. This is known as artificial general intelligence.

As oneteam of researchers recently noted, this kind of AI poses a fundamentally different problem than those typically studied under the banner of robot ethics. This is because a superintelligence is multi-faceted, and therefore potentially capable of mobilizing a diversity of resources in order to achieve objectives that are potentially incomprehensible to humans, let alone controllable.

Daron Acemoglu, an Institute Professor at MIT, wrote in the Washington Post that AI is already causing harm in many areas.

Narrow AI is already displacing workers. Firms that increase their AI adoption by 1% reduce their hiring by that much. Narrow AI is powering new monitoring and surveillance technologies used by corporations and governments. And it is warping public discourse on social media, hampering the functioning of modern democracies.

5- Nuclear war

There are around 13,900 nuclear warheads in total, out of which 90% are owned by the US and Russia alone. Apart from these two superpowers, there are seven more countries in the world that maintain anarsenal of nuclear weapons. These are China, Israel, India, France, the UK, Pakistan, and North Korea.

Apart from nuclear weapons, the use of biological or chemical agents in war, such as poisonous gases and disease-carrying microbes, could also give rise to a serious catastrophe.

Escalating conflicts in recent years have raised the worry is that a lone actor or rogue state might get their hands on nuclear or biological materials and use them.

6- Water scarcity

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that, by 2025,about 67% of the worldspopulation will be affected in some way by water scarcity. They add that, even at present, around 1 billion people do not have regular access to clean drinking water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year.

A UNICEF report claims that the numbers are even higher. They assert thatfour billion peoplestruggle to meet their water requirements for at least one month of the year.

7- Inflation

A lot of money has been pumped into the global markets and this liquidity rush has caused further excess wealth, a greater ability to borrow and spend, mixed together with supply issues, and these are key ingredients for inflation.

Monetary policies by Central Banks have largely resulted in a huge amount of liquidity being pumped into the markets.But the same bankers are equally terrified by the prospect of their economies stalling due to COVID, which means a fear of raising interest rates too high and thus enabling inflation to have a strong chance at continuing its rise in many places.

8- Crypto

There is a question of global dollar dominance being challenged or replaced and the response has been the If you cant beat them, join them approach from central banks whove been exploring digital currencies as a halfway house to crypto adoption. Indeed, 81 countries representing 90% of global GDPare exploring CBDCs.And with opportunity comes the risk of crisis, as powers old and new come up against one another.

Read the rest here:

8 big threats to human stability and even existence in 2022 - AMEinfo

In October 2020, for a previous editorial in this journal, the term artificial intelligence was searched in the National Library of Medicine via PubMed. At that time, the search yielded 110,855 publications.1 It is remarkable that performing that same search only a year later yields almost 28,500 further citations, with the total now as of 2 October 2021 being 139,304 publications. The potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) has been realised by even its staunchest critics, and the possibility of a wonder thinking machine, the Master Algorithm as computer scientist Pedro Domingo called it, is no longer just science fiction.2

Despite the recent explosion of interest in AI, the reality is that progress has been moving along for at least 180 years. The first published algorithm ever specifically tailored for implementation on a computer was published by Ada Lovelace the disciple of Charles Babbage and daughter of the great philhellene Lord Byron in 1843. Today, philosophers and futurists such as Nick Bostrom and Ray Kurzweil speak not of AI, but of superintelligence, far exceeding the capacity and might of the human brain.3 After all, Gary Kasparov did lose at chess to IBMs Deep Blue.

For clinicians in particular electrophysiologists and arrhythmia experts the power of AI has become equally apparent. There is now emerging evidence that AI may support diagnostics in electrophysiology by automating common clinical tasks or aiding complex tasks using deep neural networks that are superior to currently implemented computerised algorithms.4 Soon, AI simulations of the circuit of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia may be used to guide catheter ablation, or even stereotactic radioablation for a vast number of patients.5 Combining data obtained from several diagnostic modalities using AI might elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms of new, rare, or idiopathic cardiac diseases, aid the early detection or targeted treatment of cardiovascular diseases or allow for screening of disorders currently not associated with the ECG.4

Is all this the future or just wishful thinking? Computer scientist and inventor Eric Larson has seriously challenged the notion of any supercomputer exceeding the human brain.6 This is not only a problem of Aristotelian deduction versus induction versus inference: it seems to be a matter of logistics too. Rebecca Goldin, writing for the Genetic Literacy Project in response to President Obamas 2013 announcement of a broad new research initiative to understand the human brain, provides perspective:7

The human brain is estimated to have approximately 86 billion neurons (8.6 x 1010), each neuron with possibly tens of thousands of synaptic connections; these little conversation sites are where neurons exchange information. In total, there are likely to be more than a hundred trillion neuronal synapses so a computer recording a simple binary piece of information about synapses, such as whether it fired in a time window or not, would require 100 terabytes. The amount of storage needed to store even this very simple information every second over the course of one day for one person would more than 100,000 terabytes, or 100 petabytes. Supercomputers these days hold about 10 petabytes. And this quick calculation doesnt account for the changes in connectivity and positioning of these synapses occurring over time. Counting how these connections change just after a good nights sleep or a class in mathematics amounts to a whopping figure (and many more bytes than the estimated 1080 atoms in the universe). The wiring problem seems intractable in its magnitude.

The evolution of quantum computers promises exponentially more computing power. Nevertheless, the fundamental problem remains: how can we imitate let alone supersede the human brain when we do not actually know how it works in all its complex, everchanging functions in the time domain? The concept of singularity, by connotation with the Big Bang and Stephen Hawkings quest for the unified theory of physics, has always been appealing to the human intellect. Whether this motivation results in a future human-made super-intelligent machine and what the consequences of such an endeavour would be, remain to be seen. Ian McEwans most recent book reminds us of this dilemma.8 To understand the importance of human complexity, in its simplest form, is perhaps illustrated by the case of the residents of Scunthorpe in northeast England who, in the late 1990s, could not make an AOL account owing to the companys profanity algorithm detecting a certain inappropriate word within the citys name! It is hard to teach an algorithm to contextualise like the human brain can.9

In contemporary medicine and especially clinical electrophysiology and arrhythmia management AI is promising, but in the context of continuous validation of its diagnostic and predictive accuracy. As stated in an elegant review in Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review, before the implementation of AI algorithms in clinical practice, trust in the algorithms must be established.4 Perhaps one day machines and supercomputers will exceed human intelligence. Until then, electrophysiologists must rely on the best computer known today: their brain. This is what creates superintelligence after all.

Demosthenes G KatritsisEditor-in-Chief, Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology ReviewHygeia Hospital, Athens, Greece

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, US

See more here:

Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology | AER

Are We Living in a Computer Simulation? Artificial Superintelligence Could Provide the Answer

The advent of artificial superintelligence could play a key role in understanding the origins of humanity.

This is a question that has inspired many scientists from all around the world. Could we calculate our chances of being virtual creations of a higher intelligence?

Artificial superintelligence could play a major role in understanding the origins of humanity.

New research into machine algorithms is fueling the hypothesis that our reality may actually be a computer simulation.

The simulation hypothesis is the modern equivalent of an idea thats been around for a while, and it is the idea that the physical world that we live in, including the Earth and the rest of the physical universe, is actually part of a computer simulation.

Artificial intelligence (AI)is useful in physics and space exploration by processing satellite images as well as discovering other planets and galaxies. It can reduce the time required for initial mission design which otherwise takes many human work hours. AI can also help humans solve problems faster.In this manner, scientists can carry out effective and quicker inspections of our universe.

There are 3 types of artificial intelligence:

Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), which has a limited range of capabilities

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which has attributes that are on par with human capabilities

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), which has skills that surpass humans and can make them obsolete

University of Rochester

Given technological advances and the continuing evolution of our species, humans should be able to survive in the distant future.

There are lots of mysteries in physics that are better explained by the simulation hypothesis than by what would be a material hypothesis.

Here are the 7 biggest unanwered questions in physics:

1. What is matter made of?

2. Why is gravity so weird?

3. Why does time seem to flow only in one direction?

4. Where did all the antimatter go?

5. What happens in the gray zone between solid and liquid?

6. Can we find a unified theory of physics?

7. How did life evolve from nonliving matter?

The truth is that theres much we simply dont understand about our reality.

Getty Images | Blend Images

Long before Matrix and the novel Simulacron-3, which did much to popularize the concept of simulated realities in the collective mind, Plato with his masterpiece"Allegory of the Cave" had imprisoned ignorant men in a cave. There is no doubt that the idea that we are living in a simulation is appealing, but there are more questions that need to be answered. Two years ago, Herv Le Tellier even posed the question: "How, as a society, would we react to learning that we may be living in such a reality? "

In 2003, Oxford University philosopher Nick Bostrom published an article in which he imagined a technologically advanced civilization with immense computing power, a small part of which it could harness to simulate new realities harbouring conscious beings.

If we are probably living in a simulation, this is because there is a life form or divine entity smarter than us, capable of creating such a universe. Is it even possible? How do we know if our daily lives - and the universe more broadly - are not embodiments of a vast computer program?

For its first half-billion years, Earth was lifeless. Then life took hold, and it has thrived ever since.

Source: McKinsey & Company

Artificial intelligence is driving a new wave of economic progress, solving some of the worlds most difficult problems and providing solutions to some of the most profound challenges in human history.

Source: Future of Life Institute

The rise of superartificial intelligence in the future has the potential to transform many sectors such as information technology, science, biology, telecommunications, transportation, traffic management, health care, education, criminal justice, defence, banking and agriculture.

Future societies might, who knows, create simulations of their ancestors - that is, sentient human beings like us.

But, the fact that the simulated hypothesis necessarily contains a natural universe among the many simulated universes means that there would be a little less than a 50% chance that we lived in a computer simulation. If we come up with a little less than a 50% chance, it's because it's impossible to prove whether or not we are living in a simulation without our knowledge. Even if we were virtual beings, there is no tangible element to prove it.

Nobody can predict what the future will bring, but AI may ultimately help scientists find out more about the history and origins of humanity.

Originally posted here:

Are We Living in a Computer Simulation? Artificial Superintelligence Could Provide the Answer - BBN Times

Eli Thaler January 8th, 2022 - 1:08 PM

The 355 was an anonymous female spy during the American Revolution. This symbolic reference shines brightly in the January release as we watch dominant women spies fight off groups of mercenaries from around the world to obtain a device deadly enough to end humanity. With a loaded cast and riveting action, this film should make waves for an early 2022 film with potential insights on a future series of 355 movies. Written and directed by Simon Kinberg, the film features Jessica Chastain (Mace), Penlope Cruz (Graciela), Diane Kruger (Marie Schmidt), Lupita Nyongo (Khadijah), and Sebastian Stan (Nick), whose unique characters help to bring the film to its full potential.

This unseemingly group of agents join forces to fight criminal organizations with the same common goal. In the first couple of action scenes, we are introduced to Marie, a German spy whose unsettling past creates a cold and isolated character. Although appearing as an antagonist at first, she and Mace kept finding themselves at the exact locations to retrieve the device, ultimately leading to their camaraderie. Marie opens up throughout the film and through her new relationship with Mace, Khadijah, and Graciela as she adapts to not being alone and vulnerable. Although all four women are agents, they arent the four heroes you would expect. Jessica Chastain is known to play some very keen roles throughout her career and shines as the badass leading agent.

The audience isnt hit with an overwhelming display of a leading action star, but she is rather contempt, sweet, and admirable. She has the fighting and intelligence to be a Bond but doesnt necessarily have the charm. This works well for the film as each of the four women brings something unique to the table. Marie provides the detached hero who seems almost emotionless; Khadijah is full of superintelligence and provides planning and organization. Graciela is full of emotion and is timid about any situation they are in. This movie would not be as enjoyable if the four women werent strategically different and had diverse backgrounds. This adds an element to the action that is very enticing.

With such a great cast, the only natural way this movie could be bad is with a lack of action or plot. The action in the film is ceaseless and just as, if not surpassing, the intensity in the previous fight scenes. From the first scene in the movie, we see high-level violence and an introduction of mercenaries. As the film progresses, up until the final scene, there is never a dull moment. Whenever there seems to be a lull in the action or a still moment, Kinberg has done it purposefully so that the breaking of comfort makes the film more intense. The actual device the women are after also helps develop the film well. Due to the device being capable of global reckoning, criminal organizations from all over the world are after it. In some scenes, we have criminals from multiple countries fighting each other to steal the device. This leads to very creative action scenes. We see numerous criminals all killing each other, with the women trying not to be seen by them and eventually stealing the device from whoever gets it last. The action takes place in different countries, keeping the viewer interested and aesthetically pleasing.

There are many twists and turns in the movie. In one of the first scenes, we see Mace with her partner Nick who is killed. Nick is not necessarily who we think he is and provides a lot more to the film than originally thought. There are other characters, including her boss Dr. Marks whose lives become uncovered throughout the film. As multiple characters true identities are revealed throughout the film, we are introduced to new characters who help the women obtain the device and some characters who prohibit them from reaching goals.

Verdict: 4/5

This movie is full of action that is enticing and full of surprises. The plot of the movie is solid and contains high amounts of intense and thorough action films. The multiple twists and turns Kinberg brings us to make coming to the ending all the more satisfying. These women might become a new line of female agents.

The rest is here:

Movie Review: The 355 - mxdwn.com