[clue-talk] The Coming Storm? Nano/AI/Skynet

[Jed S. Baer]

On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 11:58:58 -0700
Timothy Klein wrote:

> >> Artificial life is a great topic.  I read _The Age of Spiritual
> >> Machines_, though, and can't recommend it.
> >
> > Any particular reason? I admit, Kurzweil has a sort of evangelical 
> > tone,
> > and his future prophecies are just that. But overall, I thought it was
> > 
> > OK.
> 
> That comes pretty close to my complaint.  He starts with very plausible 
> assertions on things, but then wanders off into pure, unadulterated 
> speculation, and his tone indicates that he seems to really believe 
> that he has it exactly right.  Don't get me wrong -- I like reading 
> about the things he predicts, I am a big science fiction fan, so most 
> of it was somewhat familiar.  But I just felt a bit silly reading this 
> guy.  I expected more tempering of his speculation with fact and 
> analysis.

Well, if you're a glutton for punishment, the sequel is coming:
http://www.singinst.org/kurzweil.html

jed
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