In fact, there was general agreement that minds can exist on nonbiological substrates and that algorithms are of central importance to the existence of minds.

Vernor Vinge

Categorized in : Mind Agreement Algorithms

I have argued above that we cannot prevent the Singularity, that its coming is an inevitable consequence of the humans natural competitiveness and the possibilities inherent in technology.

possibility technology natural

We humans have millions of years of evolutionary baggage that makes us regard competition in a deadly light.

competition light years

He claimed that nearby gun thunder cleared the mind - but most everybody else agreed it made you daft.

thunder gun mind

One of his greatest talents was empathy; no sadist can aspire to perfection without that diagnostic ability.

empathy talent perfection

What we have is a data glut. by Vernor Vinge

What we have is a data glut.

thought-provoking data

And for all my rampant technological optimism, sometimes I think I'd be more comfortable if I were regarding these transcendental events from one thousand years remove... instead of twenty.

optimism years thinking

Sometimes the biggest disasters aren't noticed at all – no one's... by Vernor Vinge

Sometimes the biggest disasters aren't noticed at all – no one's around to write horror stories.

horror-stories writing sometimes

Once upon a time I was such a good liar; I could talk the fish ri... by Vernor Vinge

Once upon a time I was such a good liar; I could talk the fish right into my mouths.

mouths once-upon-a-time liars

Sometimes terror and pain are not the best levers; deception, when it works, is the most elegant and the least expensive manipulation of all.

levers deception pain

Note that I am not proposing that AI research be ignored or less... by Vernor Vinge

Note that I am not proposing that AI research be ignored or less funded.

ignored notes research

Little fish risking everything for a piece of godhood...and not knowing heaven from hell, even when they find it.

pieces knowing heaven

We’re long on high principles and short on simple human understan... by Vernor Vinge

We’re long on high principles and short on simple human understanding.

understanding simple long

The illusion of self-awareness. Happy automatons, running on trivial programs. I'll bet you never guess. From the inside, how can you?

illusion self running

All evil and good is petty before Nature. Personally, we take comfort from this, that there is a universe to admire that cannot be twisted to villainy or good, but which simply is.

twisted evil comfort

Peregrine Wickwrackscar was flying. A pilgrim with legends that went back almost a thousand years-and not one of them could come near to this!

legends flying years

Hexapodia as the key insight...I haven't had a chance to see the famous video from Straumli Realm, except as an evocation. (My only gateway onto the Net is very expensive.) Is it true that humans have six legs?

legs video keys

It was not called the Net of a Million Lies for nothing. by Vernor Vinge

It was not called the Net of a Million Lies for nothing.

millions lying

Well, what do you know," Pham said. "Butterflies in jackboots. by Vernor Vinge

Well, what do you know," Pham said. "Butterflies in jackboots.

wells butterfly said

Effective translation of natural languages comes awfully close to requiring a sentient translator program.

program language natural

All his life he had lived by the law. Often his job had been to stop acts of revenge....And now revenge was all that life had left for him.

revenge law jobs