Thank you all for the amazing responses! I never expected to get this much feedback and it has helped me a lot. I'll be sure to pass on all this information and perspective to anyone else I meet who needs it.
Regards, Emahn On Sun, Aug 4, 2013 at 8:04 AM, Sergio Donal <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Emahn, > > I think you have clear ideas and some background in computing and > quantitative sciences. > > My suggestion is to pursue some degree with emphasis on: > - electrical engineering (to know how to make things work) and computer > science (to understand the double nature of information/computation), > - bat also on physics (to approach and develop models of nature with no > shame) > - neuroscience --that I would prefer than cognition-- to keep an eye on > how nature and evolution have already solved the problem. > - on philosophy, especially on religion (because mankind has approached > the same problem for thousands of years, and there must be interesting > ideas over there) > and arts, to keep the other part of the brain exercise. > > My advise is that you have to be aware that this is perhaps one of the > most difficult scientific problems to date (and surely one of the most > disruptive) and it is gonna be difficult that someone teaches how to solve > it. You will have to walk very big steps by yourself. So, whatever the > degree you choose, keep working on the other matters. Of course, another > possibility is to develop intuition and try to focus on one --hopefully > key-- subproblem. > > For instance, my intuition is to work with multi-agent systems, very much > like Sutton's Horde architecture (also see David Silver GTD Networks) or > deep learning in which we use predictors or other computing machines rather > than neurons. That requires applied mathematics, especially optimization is > a very interesting framework for modelling the learning process. And why do > I have that intuition, well in my case I am very interesting in > spirituality, I practice Yoga and read Buddhist, Hindi and Christian > Saints, and in all of them the notion of "Love" (which is suitable to be > considered as a force when modelling interactions) , "Happiness" (which is > a reward function to motivate learning) and the concept of the Spirit (that > could model the implicit communication and how the info diffuses) are > deeply --but sometimes poetically-- treated. > > So my two best recommendation are: > > - keep your mind open > - it may be a long journey, so take it easy and enjoy the trip (in > other words, choose whatever you like most and what your intuition tells > you, you will have time to pursue a MSc, PhD or simply spend a lot of hours > reading many authors) > > BTW, have you watched this speech by Steve Jobs? > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHWUCX6osgM > > I like Kierkegaard's quote: "Life can only be understood backwards; but it > must be lived forwards." > > > Best! > > Sergio > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 10:41 PM, Mike Archbold <[email protected]>wrote: > >> I think I remember that guy with the alien brain implant theory. >> >> I actually haven't read anybody on here that has nothing at all to add >> to the whole AGI problem. I mean, a lot of it I don't agree with or >> don't think it's a wise path, or whatever, but buried inside >> somebody's theory is some key notion that I suspect I could use at >> some point. >> >> Now, the guy with the brain implant might represent an exception. >> Also, there were some other outright crazy posts. >> >> What I don't like about the AGI crowd is the dismissive attitude some >> people have. Unless somebody shows me their working strong AI I'm not >> going to accept a dismissive attitude! And that's the problem... >> since there isn't a working strong general AI, there is no point of >> reference. There is nothing but grounds for endless arguments, and >> somebody might really listen to strong criticism and stop their point >> of research. I don't see any point in just having an exclusive >> attitude. >> >> On 8/2/13, Matt Mahoney <[email protected]> wrote: >> > On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 12:50 AM, Mike Archbold <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> I think a lot of people have left this agi list over the years due to >> >> protracted flame wars. >> > >> > Yes. It's too bad. Those were the people who were doing real research >> > and sharing results. But even then, no two people could agree on the >> > correct approach, so any collaboration on a project was impossible. >> > It's even worse now that people are mostly sharing ideas without the >> > research. >> > >> >> Some people I suspect have been >> >> institutionalized! It's a shame, and not limited to this agi list. >> > >> > I can think of two. In one case, he was able to continue his work on >> > simulated evolution, thanks to the mental institutions in Canada >> > having internet access. But he was banned from the list. If you saw >> > his rambling posts about alien brain implants and other paranoia, you >> > would understand. >> > >> > -- >> > -- Matt Mahoney, [email protected] >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------------------- >> > AGI >> > Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now >> > RSS Feed: >> https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/11943661-d9279dae >> > Modify Your Subscription: >> > https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; >> > Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com >> > >> >> >> ------------------------------------------- >> AGI >> Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now >> RSS Feed: >> https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/15717384-a248fe41 >> >> Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; >> Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com >> > > *AGI* | Archives <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now> > <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/24831508-4e7bc603> | > Modify<https://www.listbox.com/member/?&;>Your Subscription > <http://www.listbox.com> > ------------------------------------------- AGI Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/21088071-f452e424 Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=21088071&id_secret=21088071-58d57657 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
