13.1 - The Singularity and The Future
Artificial Intelligence Policy
π§ Think:
- What does the future hold? Is there an AI Singularity on the horizon?
- Are current AI paradigms, products, and tools sufficient to bring about substantial technological and societal change? Do we need a new paradigm for AI to continue to advance? Is there another AI winter on the horizon without substantial new scientific and technological invention?
- Is AI a greater or lesser exisential risk than other threats (nuclear, climate, disease, etc) facing humanity? Or is AI not really about threat at all, and more about promise? Can we build a better future for us all with technology?
π Read:
- Blili-Hamelin et al, 2025. βStop Treating AGI as the North Star of AI researchβ
πΊ Watch:
- Mitchell, 2025. βThe Past, Present, and Uncertain Future of AIβ
π§ Listen:
- Optional: Complexity* podcast, Season 2, Episode 6: βAIβs Changing Seasonsβ
π Browse:
new FB guy venture - Wait But Why (Urban), 2015. βThe AI Revolution: The Road to Superintelligenceβ - Part 1 - Part 2 - βAI 2027β - See also*: The AI 2027 scenario and what it means: a video tour
π Additional Resources:
- Kurzweil, The Singularity is Near and The Singularity is Nearer
- Altman, 2025. βThe Gentle Singularityβ
- Shojaee, 2025. βThe Illusion of Thinking: Undestanding the Strengths and Limitations of Reasoning Models via the Lens of Problem Complexity(https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/illusion-of-thinking)β Apple.
- See also: Marcus, 2025. βSeven replies to the viral Apple reasoning paper β and why they fall shortβ
π Submit:
- Discussion question to course chat
TipTip
- βπ Readβ, βπ§ Listenβ, and/or βπΊ Watchβ items are required content for the day, and should be read/heard/watched before class on that day.
- βπ Browseβ items should be briefly looked at but do not need to be read deeply unless you want to
- βπ Additional Resourcesβ do not need to be looked at; they are there to serve, if useful, as further references for your debates, final projects, and general edification later.