> Also, I find it funny that scientists always claim that the the future people will augment their intelligence with computers, to make them selves smarter. It's not a problem of capability, it's a problem of motivation. Have you ever heard someone say: "I wish I was smarter!" Maybe, but most of the time you hear people say "I wish I could have X, screw X, live in X." The simple fact is, most people couldn't care less than they already do about how intelligent they are, as long as they achieve the goals that make them happy.
Case 1 for motivation: Governments want to be ahead of the governments of other countries, so they want smarter leaders. One way to accomplish that is via augmented humans, another is via supporting AI.
Case 2 for motivation: Businesses want more intelligent functioning and less employees (so they don't have to pay as much for wages). And they want the employees that they have to be brilliant at what they do. Economic forces are likely to fuel a substantial amount of progress with the development of more capable AI (just look at Google, Intel, Microsoft, Amazon...).
> Have you ever heard someone say: "I wish I was smarter!"
Yes, quite a bit actually. I certainly don't know anyone who wishes they were less intelligent.
Case 1: Not sure what country you live in, but intelligence isn't the deciding criteria for selecting leaders in ANY of the few countries I have lived in.
Case 2: Though it's very true that all of the companies you have mentioned are working on AI systems, none of those systems need to be as intelligent as a human to be very good at the job they are intended for. Take Google Car for instance. Will Google some day soon have a car that will be possibly even safer at driving a car than a highly skilled human driver? YES! Does the AI in the car need to be even 1/2 as intelligent as my dog to do that task? No. Specialized AI is the future, general purpose AI is simply not necessary, and also, not really achievable any time soon.
> Yes, quite a bit actually. I certainly don't know anyone who wishes they were less intelligent.
Again, it's the motivations you have to pay attention to. Why do people want to be smarter? So they can have a better startup? So they can invent X, code X, build X? So, they don't want intelligence for intelligence sake, they want a tool. They don't want intelligence for it's own sake. Some people are smart, and as a result, very proud of the fact that they are smart. However, would they be as proud of their intelligence if they knew that at least part of it is augmented by an IBM chip. Again, there is no motivation to develop intelligence for intelligence sake. There are motivations to develop information syntheses "AI", but that would hardly supplant humans any time soon.
"Again, it's the motivations you have to pay attention to. Why do people want to be smarter?"
So they can know and understand everything possible in the Universe, make great contributions to humanity and the future, and live a pinnacle life full of fulfillment, riches and experiences few others attain. That's not to mention enduring fame throughout history.
As for artificial AI, that has the allure of mind uploading, and truly unimaginable power and experience including practical star travel.
Case 1 for motivation: Governments want to be ahead of the governments of other countries, so they want smarter leaders. One way to accomplish that is via augmented humans, another is via supporting AI.
Case 2 for motivation: Businesses want more intelligent functioning and less employees (so they don't have to pay as much for wages). And they want the employees that they have to be brilliant at what they do. Economic forces are likely to fuel a substantial amount of progress with the development of more capable AI (just look at Google, Intel, Microsoft, Amazon...).
> Have you ever heard someone say: "I wish I was smarter!"
Yes, quite a bit actually. I certainly don't know anyone who wishes they were less intelligent.