Nicholas Agar has recently argued that it would be irrational for future human beings to choose to radically enhance themselves by uploading their minds onto computers. Utilizing Searle’s argument that machines cannot think, he claims that uploading might entail death. He grants that Searle’s argument is controversial, but he claims, so long as there is a non-zero probability that uploading entails death, uploading is irrational. I argue that Agar’s argument, like Pascal’s wager on which it is modelled, fails, because the principle that we (or future agents) ought to avoid actions that might entail death is not action guiding. Too many actions fall under its scope for the principle to be plausible. I also argue that the probability that uploading entails death is likely to be lower than Agar recognizes.
Archive for the ‘computing’ category: Page 23
Sep 14, 2024
New discovery aims to improve the design of microelectronic devices
Posted by Dan Breeden in categories: computing, electronics
A new study led by researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is providing new insights into how next-generation electronics, including memory components in computers, breakdown or degrade over time. Understanding the reasons for degradation could help improve efficiency of data storage solutions.
The research is published in ACS Nano (“Uncovering Atomic Migrations Behind Magnetic Tunnel Junction Breakdown”).
For the first time, researchers were able to observe a “pinhole” within a device and observe how it degrades in real-time. (Image: Mkhoyan Lab, University of Minnesota)
Sep 13, 2024
Infineon announces semiconductor technology breakthrough
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: computing, innovation
Infineon announced that it has succeeded in developing the world’s first 300mm GaN wafer technology for power electronics. This allows for the improvement of efficiency performance, smaller size, lighter weight, and lower overall cost for the chips.
Sep 13, 2024
Coding Consciousness: An Algorithm for Awareness?
Posted by Jose Ruben Rodriguez Fuentes in categories: computing, information science, neuroscience
Can conscious self-awareness be coded in an algorithm? According to distinguished computer scientist Lenore Blum and Turing Award Laureate Manuel Blum the answer is \.
Sep 13, 2024
Creating Life’s Operating System
Posted by Dan Breeden in categories: biotech/medical, computing, genetics
Have we created an operating system for life? How close are we to cloning humans, and what would that even look like?
You’re in for a fascinating episode as the line between science and science fiction gets blurred. My guest is microbiologist and geneticist Andrew Hessel, the CEO and Founder of The Genome Project-Write, and author of \.
Sep 13, 2024
Quantinuum accelerates the path to Universal Fully Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing
Posted by Dan Breeden in categories: computing, quantum physics
More recently, in a period where we upgraded our H2 system from 32 to 56 qubits and demonstrated the scalability of our QCCD architecture, we also hit a quantum volume of over two million, and announced that we had achieved “three 9’s” fidelity, enabling real gains in fault-tolerance – which we proved within months as we demonstrated the most reliable logical qubits in the world with our partner Microsoft.
We don’t just promise what the future might look like; we demonstrate it.
Sep 13, 2024
Services for modeling the effects of nuclear weapons on agricultural systems
Posted by Saúl Morales Rodriguéz in categories: computing, food, government, military, policy
This is a U.S. General Services Administration Federal Government computer system that is “FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY.” This system is subject to monitoring. Individuals found performing unauthorized activities are subject to disciplinary action including criminal prosecution.
This system contains Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). All individuals viewing, reproducing or disposing of this information are required to protect it in accordance with 32 CFR Part 2002 and GSA Order CIO 2103.2 CUI Policy.
Sep 13, 2024
Quantum Chip Cuts Unintended Signals
Posted by Saúl Morales Rodriguéz in categories: computing, quantum physics
A 25-qubit quantum processor architecture reduces the stray signals that can cause errors and is suitable for scaling up.
Sep 12, 2024
Axon-like active signal transmission
Posted by Cecile G. Tamura in categories: biological, computing, neuroscience
Dr. Tim Brown.
Taking…
Axon-mimicking Materials for Computing https://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2024/09/axon-mimicking-mat…uting.html.