Brain power + computer power = super power
This glimpse
of the future was crafted by: John Hainsworth
of the future was crafted by: John Hainsworth
It was the ‘knight sacrifice’
that wrecked Garry Kasparov’s defence in 1997, sending the world chess champion
into a crash-and-burn tailspin within the first twenty moves of the game.
Unlike his competitor, the victor did not move his piece with unsteady hand on
the board. His heart didn’t pound within his chest; he wasn’t biting his lip
with uncertainty. This 32-node, 256-processor wasn’t even capable of blinking
an eye; he just won fair and square. ‘Deep Blue’ was never programmed to
celebrate, so the tears of victory were saved for some rather elated IBM
inventors on the sidelines.
that wrecked Garry Kasparov’s defence in 1997, sending the world chess champion
into a crash-and-burn tailspin within the first twenty moves of the game.
Unlike his competitor, the victor did not move his piece with unsteady hand on
the board. His heart didn’t pound within his chest; he wasn’t biting his lip
with uncertainty. This 32-node, 256-processor wasn’t even capable of blinking
an eye; he just won fair and square. ‘Deep Blue’ was never programmed to
celebrate, so the tears of victory were saved for some rather elated IBM
inventors on the sidelines.
This showdown of man vs machine (man 0, machine 1)
was hugely symbolic, proving that artificial intelligence was catching up with
the power of the human mind. A computer had successfully defeated a human
champion, in a domain in which mastery was previously seen as the pinnacle of
human intelligence.
was hugely symbolic, proving that artificial intelligence was catching up with
the power of the human mind. A computer had successfully defeated a human
champion, in a domain in which mastery was previously seen as the pinnacle of
human intelligence.
Fast forward to today, and a chess program running
on a standard cell phone can beat a human grandmaster; we can conduct business
meetings in Mandarin (without knowing a single word of it), and computers’
original poetry can give Emily Dickinson a run for her money.
on a standard cell phone can beat a human grandmaster; we can conduct business
meetings in Mandarin (without knowing a single word of it), and computers’
original poetry can give Emily Dickinson a run for her money.
Given the pace of the digital revolution and how
it’s transforming the economy and employment opportunities, the question on
everyone’s lips now, is “When will humans be obsolete?” The truth is
machines don’t need to be perfect to make their way into society. They just
need to be better (and cheaper) than humans. Autonomous vehicles are a good
example of this. There are 1.25 million road-related
deaths annually in the world each year. Google’s cars have driven more than
1.3 million miles since 2009, with only one official
‘incident’. The reality is that machines are already better at doing so
many things that humans do….just ask Garry Kasparov.
it’s transforming the economy and employment opportunities, the question on
everyone’s lips now, is “When will humans be obsolete?” The truth is
machines don’t need to be perfect to make their way into society. They just
need to be better (and cheaper) than humans. Autonomous vehicles are a good
example of this. There are 1.25 million road-related
deaths annually in the world each year. Google’s cars have driven more than
1.3 million miles since 2009, with only one official
‘incident’. The reality is that machines are already better at doing so
many things that humans do….just ask Garry Kasparov.
But business theorists Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew
McAfee tell us to stay very optimistic about technological progress. Their
book, The Second Machine Age, spotlights the dynamic forces shaping our
lives today; and the unprecedented opportunities these present.
McAfee tell us to stay very optimistic about technological progress. Their
book, The Second Machine Age, spotlights the dynamic forces shaping our
lives today; and the unprecedented opportunities these present.
Here are the some of the big ideas:
Growth is a good thing
The new machine age has three
driving factors.
The new machine age has three
driving factors.
Firstly, it is digital. This essentially means that
when something is done right, it can be instantly replicated at a higher
quality than a human would be able to, with zero cost. It can also
be measured. And measurement is the lifeline of science and progress. In
the age of big data, we can measure the world in ways we never could before.
when something is done right, it can be instantly replicated at a higher
quality than a human would be able to, with zero cost. It can also
be measured. And measurement is the lifeline of science and progress. In
the age of big data, we can measure the world in ways we never could before.
Secondly, it is exponential. Computers get better
faster than anything else, ever. A child’s PlayStation today is more powerful
than a military supercomputer from 1996. Unlike the human brain that is wired
for a linear world, digital systems innovate at frighteningly complex speeds
and levels. This means that vital information – empowering tools – are at your
fingertips.
faster than anything else, ever. A child’s PlayStation today is more powerful
than a military supercomputer from 1996. Unlike the human brain that is wired
for a linear world, digital systems innovate at frighteningly complex speeds
and levels. This means that vital information – empowering tools – are at your
fingertips.
And thirdly, it is combinatorial. Successful
innovation creates building blocks for even more innovations, leaving limitless
room for positive progress.
innovation creates building blocks for even more innovations, leaving limitless
room for positive progress.
Together, these driving factors have the potential
to drive forward (as opposed to displace) many professions. Take, for example,
the medical profession. By applying an algorithm inspired by the human brain,
known as deep learning, doctors have now developed a machine learning-based
system that more accurately predicts survival rates for cancer sufferers than
human pathologists could. Even more so, the digital system has generated
helpful groundbreaking discoveries in pathology. Data analytic techniques now
generate complex diagnostic information in less than 15 minutes, speeding up
the process of pinpointing the problems and allowing the doctor to do what they
do best – treat it!
to drive forward (as opposed to displace) many professions. Take, for example,
the medical profession. By applying an algorithm inspired by the human brain,
known as deep learning, doctors have now developed a machine learning-based
system that more accurately predicts survival rates for cancer sufferers than
human pathologists could. Even more so, the digital system has generated
helpful groundbreaking discoveries in pathology. Data analytic techniques now
generate complex diagnostic information in less than 15 minutes, speeding up
the process of pinpointing the problems and allowing the doctor to do what they
do best – treat it!
Destiny has skin
It’s understandable to be sceptical,
even scared, of the imminent digital landscape. But let’s remember: technology
is not destiny; we shape our destiny. Writer Oscar Schwartz says technology is
best described as a mirror to the human imagination. “We should not only be
asking ourselves, ‘can we build it?’ But we should also be asking ourselves,
‘What idea of the human do we want to have reflected back to us?’”
It’s understandable to be sceptical,
even scared, of the imminent digital landscape. But let’s remember: technology
is not destiny; we shape our destiny. Writer Oscar Schwartz says technology is
best described as a mirror to the human imagination. “We should not only be
asking ourselves, ‘can we build it?’ But we should also be asking ourselves,
‘What idea of the human do we want to have reflected back to us?’”
Let’s race with the machine, not
against it
There’s no wisdom in racing
against the machine, especially when there’s so much combustive potential
lurking in human synergy. The key is to tap into the shared prosperity of a
man-and-computer symbiosis.
against it
There’s no wisdom in racing
against the machine, especially when there’s so much combustive potential
lurking in human synergy. The key is to tap into the shared prosperity of a
man-and-computer symbiosis.
Today a supercomputer no longer holds the reigning
title for chess. Neither does a man. Rather, teams of humans and computers work
together to build something that is greater than the sum of its parts – i.e. an
intelligent computer capable of synergising the best human performances and
amplifying this to go on to supersede what humans (or arguably computers) would
be able to achieve on their own. There’s no grandmaster winner at the end; nor
is there a victorious supercomputer. What there is, however, is better
teamwork, proving that human and technological collaboration is not only
optimal; it’s essential for the human story.
title for chess. Neither does a man. Rather, teams of humans and computers work
together to build something that is greater than the sum of its parts – i.e. an
intelligent computer capable of synergising the best human performances and
amplifying this to go on to supersede what humans (or arguably computers) would
be able to achieve on their own. There’s no grandmaster winner at the end; nor
is there a victorious supercomputer. What there is, however, is better
teamwork, proving that human and technological collaboration is not only
optimal; it’s essential for the human story.
(Aurecon has launched a new futuristic
blog! Called Just Imagine, it
provides a glimpse into the future for curious readers, exploring ideas that
are probable, possible and for the imagination. This post originally appeared on Aurecon’s Just Imagine blog. Get access to the latest blog posts as soon as they
are published by subscribing
to the blog.)
blog! Called Just Imagine, it
provides a glimpse into the future for curious readers, exploring ideas that
are probable, possible and for the imagination. This post originally appeared on Aurecon’s Just Imagine blog. Get access to the latest blog posts as soon as they
are published by subscribing
to the blog.)
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