The Sunday Brew #71
In this brew - 2023 Global Peace Index in a picture | Intelligence Explosion & Pavlovian Association | Neuralink's first human patient, Reddit's IPO & Boom Supersonic's demonstrator takes to skies.
Welcome to The Sunday Brew, weekly 1-2-3 newsletter by The Percolator. Every Sunday we drop in your inbox 1 story in a picture, 2 concepts, ideas or frameworks to expand your horizons and 3 news from the week, to keep you updated.
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ONE STORY IN A PICTURE
TWO IDEAS, FRAMEWORKS OR CONCEPTS
This week we bring to you two logical fallacy - Intelligence Explosion & Pavlovian Association
Intelligence Explosion
An intelligence explosion refers to a hypothetical scenario where an artificial intelligence (AI) becomes capable of recursive self-improvement, meaning it can enhance its own capabilities without human intervention. This leads to an exponential increase in intelligence, far surpassing human intellect in a short amount of time.
The idea was popularized by mathematician and philosopher I.J. Good in the 1960s, who suggested that once an AI reaches a certain level of intelligence, it could rapidly redesign itself, leading to an explosion in its cognitive abilities.
The implications of an intelligence explosion are profound and often debated. Some proponents of this concept argue that it could lead to unprecedented technological advancements, solving many of humanity's most pressing problems. However, others express concerns about the potential risks, including the loss of control over superintelligent systems and unforeseen consequences.
Overall, the notion of an intelligence explosion serves as a thought experiment, prompting discussions about the future of AI and the ethical considerations surrounding its development.
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Pavlovian Association
Pavlovian association, also known as classical conditioning, is a fundamental concept in psychology introduced by the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov. It describes a process by which an organism learns to associate two stimuli and anticipate events.
The classic example of Pavlovian association involves Pavlov's experiments with dogs. In his research, Pavlov noticed that dogs would naturally salivate when presented with food. He then introduced a neutral stimulus, such as the ringing of a bell, before presenting the food. After repeated pairings of the bell with the food, the dogs began to salivate in response to the bell alone, even when no food was present. This demonstrated that the dogs had formed an association between the bell (previously neutral stimulus) and the food, leading to a conditioned response (salivation) to the bell alone.
In this process, there are several key components:
Unconditioned Stimulus (US): The stimulus that naturally triggers a response without any prior learning (e.g., food in Pavlov's experiments).
Unconditioned Response (UR): The innate response elicited by the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation in response to food).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Initially a neutral stimulus that, through repeated pairings with the unconditioned stimulus, comes to elicit a conditioned response (e.g., the bell in Pavlov's experiments).
Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to the conditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation in response to the bell).
Pavlovian association is not limited to dogs and can occur in various organisms, including humans. It plays a significant role in understanding how behaviours are learned and can be applied in numerous contexts, including education, therapy, and advertising.
THREE NEWS FROM THE WEEK
Neuralink Makes Strides in Brain-Computer Interface with First Human Patient Demo
Elon Musk's Neuralink took a significant step forward in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology by showcasing its capabilities in a human patient for the first time.
During a live streamed event, Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old quadriplegic for eight years after a diving accident, astonished viewers by controlling a computer and playing complex video games like chess and Civilization VI solely through his thoughts. Read More »»»
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Social Media Giant Reddit Makes Stellar Stock Market Debut
Reddit, the popular online forum, rocketed into the public market on Thursday, exceeding expectations with a near-50% surge in its stock price on its first day of trading. Shares, trading under the ticker symbol "RDDT," opened significantly higher than the initial offering price, showcasing strong investor confidence in the company's future.
The closing price valued Reddit at a whopping $9.5 billion, surpassing its pre-IPO valuation. This successful debut highlights the growing importance of online communities and paves the way for Reddit's continued expansion in the social media landscape. However, the company will need to navigate challenges like monetization and maintaining a healthy online environment to ensure long-term success. Read More »»»
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Boom Supersonic Takes to the Skies, Paving the Way for a Faster Future
In a historic feat, Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator aircraft soared into the skies this week, marking a giant leap towards the return of supersonic passenger travel. This successful test flight, conducted at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California, is a major milestone for Boom's ambitions to revolutionize air travel with the Overture, the world's fastest airliner.
The XB-1, the first independently developed supersonic jet, reached an altitude of 7,120 feet and speeds of up to 238 knots (273 mph) during its maiden voyage. This accomplishment paves the way for the Overture, which promises to dramatically reduce travel times through a combination of innovative technologies like lightweight carbon fibre composites, advanced avionics, and a cutting-edge supersonic propulsion system. Read More»»»
The Sunday Brew by The Percolator brings to you curated news on tech, business & entrepreneurship, from across the internet to give your week a perfect start.
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