It is more probable than not that, within the twentieth century, an ultraintelligent machine will be built and that it will be the last invention that man need make, since it will lead to an “intelligence explosion.” This will transform society in an unimaginable way.

Speculations Concerning the First Ultraintelligent Machine (1965)

Portrait of Irving John Good

Irving John Good

Mathematician
December 9, 1916 – April 5, 2009

I. J. Good, born Isadore Jacob Gudak, was a prominent British statistician and mathematician whose work significantly impacted cryptography and artificial intelligence. A graduate of Jesus College, Cambridge, he was recruited during World War II by Alan Turing to join the codebreakers at Bletchley Park, where his statistical expertise was crucial in deciphering the German Enigma machine. Post-war, Good continued his academic career at the University of Manchester, where he worked on the first stored-program computer, and later at Oxford and Virginia Tech. His contributions to Bayesian statistics and the Good-Turing frequency estimation method remain influential. Good was also a visionary in the field of AI, coining the concept of an “intelligence explosion,” where the creation of ultraintelligent machines could lead to rapid technological advancements. He authored over 300 papers and several books, showcasing his breadth of knowledge and innovation, and leaving behind a legacy of profound contributions to mathematics, statistics, and the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence.

WIKIPEDIA ➦

1 Document

Filter

Sort

Alphabetic

Date

Duration

Word Count

Popularity

Mentioned in 2 documents

Murray Shanahan

Satori Before Singularity

What if future AIs achieved enlightenment before world domination? Shanahan suggests a truly advanced AI might transcend the human ego, dropping our obsession with the “self.” Instead of triggering a runaway intelligence explosion, such a being could attain satori: a Zen-like peace that halts the singularity in its tracks.

Ray Kurzweil

The Singularity is Near

Ray Kurzweil predicts a future where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, triggering an era of rapid technological growth. He argues that advancements in AI, nanotechnology, and biotechnology will merge humans with machines, leading to superintelligent beings and even digital immortality. This "Singularity," expected by the mid-21st century, will radically transform society, solving problems like disease and aging while raising profound ethical questions. Kurzweil’s vision is bold, controversial, and thrilling—painting a future where humans evolve beyond biology itself.