The strength of a theory is not what it allows, but what it prohibits; if you can invent an equally persuasive explanation for any outcome, you have zero knowledge.
Eliezer YudkowskyRead
Since the rise of Homo sapiens, human beings have been the smartest minds around. But very shortly - on a historical scale, that is - we can expect technology to break the upper bound on intelligence that has held for the last few tens of thousands of years.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Humans, while the most intelligent species, may soon be surpassed by technology in terms of intelligence.
Eliezer Yudkowsky warns that although Homo sapiens have been the pinnacle of intelligence for tens of thousands of years, advancements in technology could soon lead to a new form of intelligence that exceeds human capabilities. This perspective invites reflection on our relationship with technology and the implications of increasingly intelligent systems.
Themes
IntelligenceTechnologyHomo SapiensHumanFuture
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on the future of artificial intelligence, one might quote Yudkowsky to illustrate the potential shift in intelligence dynamics.
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The obvious choice isn't always the best choice, but sometimes, by golly, it is. I don't stop looking as soon I find an obvious answer, but if I go on looking, and the obvious-seeming answer still seems obvious, I don't feel guilty about keeping it.
Eliezer YudkowskyRead
Similar quotes
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