Elon Musk Next World War to be AI led

Musk again warns of dangers of unregulated A.I.

According to the owner of OpenAI, Elon Musk, a third world war imminent with AI is the most pressing danger we face in the world today. Even more dangerous than North Korea. Musk has been the most outspoken tech leader of late when it comes to the potential dark side of AI.

He says in the article that a nuclear first strike would most likely be launched by AI after it calculates its odds of winning and its own necessity for survival.  

So, forget about psycho robots roaming the earth with a taste for human brains, it will be a shadow intelligence controlling all the big decision levers that we will have to worry about most.

But you have to wonder about Musk's stance given that his OpenAI company plans on creating computer brain implants to expand human mental capabilities. Can you say Government investment?

And then again, as Musk explains, enhancing human intelligence may be the only way to ensure we stay a head of the unknown dangers of AI.    

Automation Not Looking Good for Average Income Americans

Manufacturing productivity rises since 1995 while income falls

A study by the White House Council of Economic Advisors has found that there is an 83% chance that artificial intelligence will take over low paying jobs in the next few years. Employees earning less than $20 an hour will likely lose their jobs to automation. For workers earning more than $20 an hour there is a 31% chance of job loss, and for those paid double that there is a 4% chance. Source

An interesting graph found below shows that the advent of the early 20th-century industrial revolution increased productivity and increased wages for workers in the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's. But in the early 70's, productivity continued to increase while wages stayed the same and continue to remain flat to this day.

In summation, this appears to explain the income gap that has shown up in the US over the last 20 years. Wealth has been distributed to the upper tiers that control ownership of manufacturing, while the average worker has experienced lack of wage growth.

Will this be the model for the next economic revolution that AI is sure to bring? This time it will include white collar professions such as lawyers and financial experts. It appears that eventually, their incomes will lessen and flatten, while banks and corporations catch the windfall of increased efficiency and lowered costs.

2013 Oxford report entitled: The future of employment how susceptible are jobs to computerization?   

The results of that report captured here: Will a robot take my job click here find out what the chances are that your job will be done by robots and artificial intelligence in the near future.

Impact of automation on South East Asian economy

A good predictor of how AI will impact the US is what is happening in the South East Asian economy. This area of the world has grown the most economically over the last fifteen years and has a high level of innovation. AI and robots are starting to play a larger role there, just like in the American economy.

Automation has spurred most of the economic growth in SEA and boosted wages for the average worker, but an economic gap is growing there as well. Study of automation impact on South East Asian workers

Driverless Cars Approved by Congress

150,000 test cars to be on the road by early next year

Well, it's finally here. Congress has paved the way for autonomous self-driving cars by passing a law allowing manufacturers free reign to test their systems on the road. 

150,000 test cars are expected to hit the road by next year as all the big player's race to perfect their versions of self-driving cars. Representatives cited competition from China and Japan as the primary reason to hit the gas pedal for the US's push into driverless vehicles. 

There's is no turning back now. Automation, AI, and robots will be deemed as a necessity for fear of falling behind economically and militarily. Better buckle up, things are about to change. 

No Wonder Elon Wants to Leave Planet Earth

Elon Musk endures inane questions from audience during tech speech

Apparently, launching rockets into space, starting a car company from scratch, and leading humanity to venture into the stars is not enough for some people. PewDiePie takes a look at a recent speech by Elon Musk in which audience members ask the tech leader the most ridiculous questions imaginable, giving Musk and normal people reason to believe maybe humanity is not worth saving after all.

California Politicians Pushing for Robot Tax

San Francisco on the leading edge of workplace automation debate

The debate continues on the impact robots and AI will have and California is at the center of it. What happens there will be the blueprint for the rest of the US when it comes the politics of AI.

Some politicians there are pushing for a robot tax as the SanFrancisco area becomes more automated in the low skill service sector. Robots are being implemented in retail customer service and restaurant service. More is coming and so the debate is heating up as to the best course of action to take as jobs are lost to AI.

Taxing robots and automation seems like an obvious direction to go in. The revenue could be used to offset the transformation of humans out of current occupations and for training into new ones, or for some sort of UBI.

But going for an unfettered foray into AI with little Government intervention could be a better option, it is argued. It could mean a quick boost to the economy, expanding prosperity for everyone. Better jobs would result as the market begins to demand skills related to creating, maintaining, and managing AI and robots.

And demand for products and services with a human touch could increase in ways not yet seen. In this less fearful model, a more productive and efficient economy would arise before too much transitional pain is felt.

Keeping an eye on California and seeing what happens there, holds the key to determining AI's future economic strategies.The groups pushing for the robot tax, are the same ones that made the $15.00 an hour minimum wage a reality. The short term results of that have proven negative and ironically, have led to an increase in the presence of AI. So far, neither side seems too convincing. Only time will tell.

Apple Launches A.I. Program Means to Catch-Up

Secretive Apple to become more public about A.I. efforts

Apple lagging behind other tech giants in AI and plans on catching up. It has recently launched a blog, where it will post research papers related to its AI activities. 

How far is Apple behind compared to others? 

 Papers published on AI since 2016:

• Microsoft 1241
• Google 349
• Facebook 273
• Apple 4 

Robots and AI Will Do Our Space Travel?

Humans not built for deep space travel

Our immune systems won't be able to withstand deep space travel and unless that changes, our dreams of colonizing the stars may be in jeopardy. A recent study by a team of scientist found that our immune systems don't function too well in prolonged weightlessness.

Those astronauts and cosmonauts who spent long periods of time in space returned with diminished immune systems, the studies found.

There are other health problems humans face when out amongst the stars. Those same space travelers were more likely to die of heart disease compared to their low orbiting colleagues. Space radiation is another problem. Long term exposure to it, is a recipe for cancer.

For future exploration into space, humans may have to turn to robots and AI to reach Mars. Once they are there and have a place of their own, will they still think of us?

AI Software Already Showing Racial Bias

Professor's tests reveal racial bias in software

Professors program tests software find bias which raises concerns about a future inescapable from racial bias, which seems counter intuitive. Software in the future will play a significant role in decision making in areas of commerce, marketing, job hiring, health care and court cases. Pretty much everything.

How it decides matters could have huge implications on society politically. So, do software algorithms simply reflect reality or are they susceptible to biases because of being designed by humans?  

The study by the professors found that bias occurred against blacks when software determined individuals most likely to commit crimes in the future. On a much lighter note, Amazon software in determining shipping rates, have charged more affluent customers more based on geography.

   

Where Does the US Fall in Digital Readiness Rankings?

New Study ranks all the world's nations in digital competitiveness

The IMD released its findings in the global rankings of nation's digital competitiveness for 2017. The study examined each country's abilities in three areas: knowledge, technology, and future readiness. Most of the nations at the top of the list were European with several Asian countries along with the US. See the entire list of all nations in this study: IMD study nations digital competitiveness ranking

It's Curtains for Hollywood Actors in AI Future

New Role for AI in Hollywood

Could we see Marlon Brando and Heath Ledger in a new film release?

Ever dream of that perfect actor from the past or an all star list of performers from Hollywood's golden era playing in a modern movie? In an AI future, it could become reality. And movie goers wouldn't know otherwise.

In the future, AI will be able to copy the mannerisms of famous long ago actors in their most prominent performances and regenerate new ones for the big screen. Imagine a young Humphrey Bogart starring in a love story with Scarlett Johansson.

New movies starring actors like Marlon Brando and Heath Ledger would be possible. Directors and producers could pluck the ideal actor or actress for certain roles for AI to recreate. And the performances would be dynamic as well with AI formulating performances based on its best predictions of how actors would respond to stimuli.

AI would be involved in other areas of movie production as well, reducing the cost of film making significantly. More in this article: AI to transform Hollywood

Robots to Takeover Construction Jobs

Exoskeletons for human heavy lifting to grow  

Say 1001010001 to back breaking physical labor in the future as the exoskeleton industry is set to dramatically increase in the next few years. Ekso Bionics will debut its Ekso Vest in September, and begin to usher in an era of robotic human aid products for the construction industry.

It will be one of many companies developing exoskeleton products in an industry set to grow from 97 million to 1.9 billion in the next 10 years.

Bricklaying Robots

Bricklaying robots will begin to play a larger role in construction as well. Fastbrick Robotics of Australia is releasing the Hadrian X this year and it has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. It will have the ability to transport and lay bricks, putting up homes and buildings in record time and with minimal human labor.

Jobs in the construction industry are predicted to decline with the advent of robotics. It is believed that for every robot introduced into the construction workforce, 5.6 jobs will be lost.


Here is more: The Future of Construction