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Vijay Balasubramanian University of Pennsylvania, SFI The human brain consists of a 100 billion neurons connected by a 100 trillion synapses. In its computational function, each neuron is a simple electrical device. In this sense it is no different, in its conceptual essence, from a transistor or a diode in a silicon microchip, converting input signals into ephemeral voltage pulses that transmit to other neurons. And yet, the collective effect of these tiny electrical flutterings creates the intelligent mind, with its astonishing capacity for perception and action, memory and imagination, affection and indifference. In the words of Ramon y Cajal (1854-1932), a founding figure of neuroscience, neurons are “the mysterious butterflies of the soul, whose beating of wings may one day reveal to us the secrets of the mind.” In this talk, Vijay Balasubramanian will explore current ideas about how this transmutation occurs. 

Watch at: www.youtube.com

Carlos Gershenson

While studying rank dynamics, we have found a universal pattern across a broad variety of phenomena: more relevant elements change their rank slower than the majority of elements. Our hypothesis was that this temporal heterogeneity provides a balance between robustness (slow) and adaptability (fast) similar to criticality, but without the need of fine-tuning parameters. With this motivation, we have studied the effect of different types of heterogeneity (structural, temporal, and functional) in complex systems, and shown that each of these “extend” criticality. We have also used heterogeneity as a simple strategy to improve search algorithms. A question remains open: how to find “optimal” heterogeneity?

Watch at: vimeo.com

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From the astonishing evolutionary advances of the Cambrian explosion to our present-day computing revolution, the trend of dramatic growth after periods of stability can be explained through the theory of the “adjacent possible,” says theoretical biologist Stuart Kauffman. Tracing the arc of human history through the tools and technologies we’ve invented, he explains the impact human ingenuity has had on the planet — and calls for a shift towards more protection for all life on Earth.

Watch at: www.youtube.com

Cybersyn was a project created by the Chilean President Salvador Allende. His idea was to build a large digital network serving the socialist government. It was a sort of internet before the internet, that would have made centralization possible, allowing to process an enormous amount of data from all over Chile. However, the project was abruptly interrupted due to the 1973 coup, that brought General Pinochet to power. What would have happened if Allende had completed his project? This podcast delves into the research of the engineers (the Santiago Boys) who helped the Chilean president and, in particular, into the figure of a prominent British technology guru, Stafford Beer.
The serie is written and presented by Evgeny Morozov,

Listen at: the-santiago-boys.com

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PROPOSITION
“AI research and development poses an existential threat.”

SUMMARY
With the debut of ChatGPT, the AI once promised in some distant future seems to have suddenly arrived with the potential to reshape our working lives, culture, politics and society. For proponents of AI, we are entering a period of unprecedented technological change that will boost productivity, unleash human creativity and empower billions in ways we have only begun to fathom. Others think we should be very concerned about the rapid and unregulated development of machine intelligence. For their detractors, AI applications like ChatGPT herald a brave new world of deep fakes and mass propaganda that could dwarf anything our democracies have experienced to date. Immense economic and political power may also concentrate around the corporations who control these technologies and their treasure troves of data. Finally, there is an existential concern that we could, in some not-so-distant future, lose control of powerful AIs who, in turn, pursue goals that are antithetical to humanity’s interests and our survival as a species.

DEBATERS
• Yoshua Bengio: Full Professor at Université de Montréal, and the Founder and Scientific Director of Mila – Quebec AI Institute (https://yoshuabengio.org)
• Max Tegmark: Professor doing AI and physics research at MIT as part of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence & Fundamental Interactions and the Center for Brains, Minds and Machines (https://physics.mit.edu/faculty/max-t...)
• Melanie Mitchell: Professor at the Santa Fe Institute (https://melaniemitchell.me)
• Yann LeCun: VP & Chief AI Scientist at Meta and Silver Professor at NYU affiliated with the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences & the Center for Data Science (http://yann.lecun.com)

Read the full article at: www.youtube.com