It seemed really amazing that you could write a few lines of code and have it learn to do interesting things.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the fascinating potential of coding and machine learning.
Andrew Ng expresses awe at the capability of writing a simple program that can enable machines to learn and perform complex tasks. This reflects the transformative power of technology, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence, where a few lines of code can lead to remarkable advancements and innovations.
In practice
During a tech conference, to emphasize the impact of coding in AI advancements.
AI has been making tremendous progress in machine translation, self-driving cars, etc. Basically, all the progress I see is in specialised intelligence. It might be hundreds or thousands of years or, if there is an unexpected breakthrough, decades.
Most of the value of deep learning today is in narrow domains where you can get a lot of data. Here's one example of something it cannot do: have a meaningful conversation.
Imagine if we can just talk to our computers and have it understand, 'Please schedule a meeting with Bob for next week.' Or if each child could have a personalized tutor. Or if self-driving cars could save all of us hours of driving.
A single neuron in the brain is an incredibly complex machine that even today we don't understand. A single 'neuron' in a neural network is an incredibly simple mathematical function that captures a minuscule fraction of the complexity of a biological neuron.
None of us today know how to get computers to learn with the speed and flexibility of a child.
I've been to so many manufacturing plants. I've yet to walk into one where I did not think AI solutions wouldn't help.
Lisp isn't a language, it's a building material.
In our interconnected world, novel technology could empower just one fanatic, or some weirdo with a mindset of those who now design computer viruses, to trigger some kind of disaster. Indeed, catastrophe could arise simply from technical misadventure - error rather than terror.
New technologies, however remarkable they might seem, are fundamentally just tools made by people for people.
... the Kindle is a "roach motel" device: its license terms and DRM ensure that books can check in, but they can't check out.
Smart infrastructure can provide cost-saving ways for municipalities to handle both infrastructure and social needs. And we want to shift the systems that open the doors for people who were formerly tax burdens to become part of the tax base.
There are websites that any government wants to block. The truth about the Internet is that it's extremely hard to block anything - extremely hard. You'll never get perfect blocking.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.