Yeah .. That what's disagreements are for. Disdain, then surprise, then doubt, anger, and finally agreement... It's all part of the process. Right now disdain for sure.. :-)

Hahaha... It IS difficult, so I'm glad we agree -- it not going to be an easy decision, by any means. But I think it's also ABSOLUTELY critical -- the most important decision in the world. On that basis, I really believe that if enough people come at it seriously, with forethought and planning, it will be accomplished.

Again, it is NOT easy, but that's what strength is for, and I believe it's time now, before China get's too big to control.

No, sorry, I don't agree with that at all. That's in fact my point. That's why I think this kerfuffle is just that -- weird and perplexing.

Very strange, honestly. I have NEVER said the stuff that apparently you believe I said. "'Shit's fucked and here's why, let's sit and agree vigorously about it." -- that is the exact wrong thing to say, and I will say so 10 times out of 10. I basically am on the same page as you -- let's deliberate reasonably, and come to a rational conclusion. So -- I don't quite know what to say. I think you have been misinformed, pretty badly I'll say. If and when you disagree with me, I will try and change your mind, without rancor or bitterness. If you agree with me, so much the better -- then we're on the same page, and can try to lead to action.

Well "Superintelligence" by Nick Bostrom is a pretty recent book (that I've read and liked), but I suggest that right now, long articles are superior at this point to books. A recent 3-part article is http://www.lawandfuturetechnology.com/2017/05/military-ai-arms-race-will-ai-lower-threshold-going-war/

Just google "a book that's against the military AI arms race" and you will come up with lots of articles that will freeze your blood if you have any feeling how ominous it really is.

My goodness. I'm 56, a programmer by heart, and quite an excellent one at one time too. For 20 years I've either been a CTO or CEO. For 8 years I have been CEO of MeMeMe -- a voice recognition service in the cloud that focused on each individual, making it work far better for their individual voice. I raised $3 million dollars all by myself, got Costco and Lowe's and buy.com and many others large customers nationwide to implement it for mobile devices (both Android and iPhone), and sold it for quite a bit more. Now I'm the CEO of ideasware, and am completely into AI, robotics, and nanotechnology for several years. I am not a wacko or a nutjob, and the fact that you claim that for completely unfounded reasons is a genuine mystery to me.

But when you see one "worrisome example" it will already be too late. That the very nature of AGI -- that's what your obviously missing. I can't describe how much I am scared by your ridiculous finding, but you seem to believe it's perfectly ok. It's artificial intelligence, not ordinary human intelligence -- and once it's achieved for the very first time, it will only get stronger, not weaker. You silly humans seem to think it's just fine and dandy -- when exactly the opposite is true.

I'm very curious, what is "attuned to Hubski"? I'm really wondering what I've missed. I seem to be the only one who's in the dark...

But if you say "well, you really don't get how it's critical to go back and forth without rancor", I have to disagree... I think I've been very tolerant, but nonetheless I want to express my point with force and vigor, and have a good debate, and hopefully convince some other people. Is that so screwy?

Well, I have been posting articles for several years at Medium and reddit and facebook specifically about AI... But that seems not to have done the trick, even though I also post commentary saying exactly what I mean, for every article. I don't know what to do -- I'm stumped just as well.

Of course a few people listen to me -- I am a moderator on "Robotics for Good" on facebook, and a moderator on r/singularity, a subreddit for reddit -- so it's not as though I've gotten zero attention -- but unless I get a truly wide audience, I have done no good. A few awake persons -- when it's the greatest crisis ever -- simply does zero good. Do you have any idea what I could do better? -- I'm asking you honestly.

I think on the big picture level that privacy is completely 100% dead. In a very few years -- 5? 7? maybe 10 years at the absolute outside -- privacy will be dead as a doornail, and everything that goes with it. And that will be too bad -- one of the bad things that will be here very soon, along with the truly important things of impending job loss (with no silly re-training available, because no jobs will be had period) and the military AI arms race, which will be WON by China, and the US will cower in fear constantly.

Sorry , I already passed my 3-article limit for this month on the Economist. Can you print it out here?