″… the overwhelming majority might as well belong to a religious cargo cult based on the notion that self-modifying AI will have magical powers.”
“Maybe you can admire someone who directly thinks you’re a crackpot, but I can’t.”
I have a high regard for most extropians (a subset of Transhumans, I think) I know well, but that doesn’t make me believe that the Egan line is more than hyperbole at most. I don’t take it as a slur against anyone whose name I know. I’ve certainly seen evidence that the majority wouldn’t be able to distinguish the magical explanations that appear.
And the fact that Charles Stross thinks that discussing Extropianism is attractive to his market makes me think Egan has more truth on his side.
But I also want to mention Egan’s “Diaspora”. I bring it often as a great fictional depiction of an AI awakening. I know, I know. “Arguing from fictional evidence.” But many people expect coming to awareness to be magic, and Egan shows how it could happen in a step-by-step manner.
″… the overwhelming majority might as well belong to a religious cargo cult based on the notion that self-modifying AI will have magical powers.”
“Maybe you can admire someone who directly thinks you’re a crackpot, but I can’t.”
I have a high regard for most extropians (a subset of Transhumans, I think) I know well, but that doesn’t make me believe that the Egan line is more than hyperbole at most. I don’t take it as a slur against anyone whose name I know. I’ve certainly seen evidence that the majority wouldn’t be able to distinguish the magical explanations that appear.
And the fact that Charles Stross thinks that discussing Extropianism is attractive to his market makes me think Egan has more truth on his side.
But I also want to mention Egan’s “Diaspora”. I bring it often as a great fictional depiction of an AI awakening. I know, I know. “Arguing from fictional evidence.” But many people expect coming to awareness to be magic, and Egan shows how it could happen in a step-by-step manner.