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EESTI ELU reedel, 3. juunil 2022 — Friday, June 3, 2022
Caution and optimism in the development of artificial intelligence intelligence doesn’t have to take a physical form. It can be At the end of 2020, Waltham, contained within a computer, Massachusetts-based robotics whether it’s the “brain” of a company Boston Dynamics self-driving car, Siri, or HAL released a video of their 9000. robots (including two of the Jaan Tallinn lists artificial humanoid Atlas model and a intelligence as one of his top four-legged model called three long-term existential fears Spot), dancing to the for the world, along with syn Contours’ “Do You Love Me.” thetic biology and “unknown It gave a playful vision of unknowns” (i.e. “things that we robots and artificial intelli can’t perhaps think about right gence, a sharp contrast to the now”). So what are the real bleak vision cultivated in so risks created by artificial intelli many works of fiction, such as gence, whether it has a physical Phillip K. Dick’s novel Do form or not? Androids Dream of Electric In 2012, Tallinn, along with Sheep? Huw Price and Martin Rees, The video was well con founded the Centre for the ceived, because dancing is pre Study of Existential Risk cisely the kind of action that we (CSER) at the University of do not associate with robots. In Cambridge. Among CSER’s many ways, dancing is play. primary messaging, they de The word “robot” – invented by scribe how breakthroughs in Czech artist Josef Čapek and image and speech recognition, introduced to the world by his autonomous robotics, language brother, writer Karel Čapek – is tasks, and game playing will derived from the Czech “robo bring about “new scientific ta”, meaning “forced labour.” discoveries, cheaper and better As such, humans envision ro goods and services, [and] medi bots doing work; not the cal advances.” However, they Mashed Potato or the twist. But also raise concerns around “pri no matter how many jokes we vacy, bias, inequality, safety and crack about the Atlas robot security.” For instance, AI dancing better than some of us labour in industrial settings ever will, the concept of non- could fail to react to conditions biological entities expanding that cause accidents. The centre their capabilities is controversial. also alludes to AI becoming a Further reactions to the dancing competitive weapon used by video ranged from disbelief to military powers. For this risk, despondence (“We’re doomed.”) Tallinn has argued that hu Are fears of robots and artifi manity would benefit from cial intelligence just paranoia? delaying the use of AI entirely This has been one of the pri in the military. mary focuses of Jaan Tallinn, Another common concern co-founder of Skype, who has about the continued develop most recently split his time ment of artificial intelligence is between philanthropy and in its ability to replace humans in vesting. In a conversation with an increasing number of jobs, the Future of Life Institute, just like factories with machines Tallinn said, “most of my sup replaced cottage industries port goes to organizations and during the Industrial Revo lu people who are trying to think tion. Indeed, if artificial intelli about ‘how can I do AI safely?’ gence can exceed the output of In some ways [doing] the human labourers in terms of homework for people who are quantity and quality, or ma developing AI capabilities.” By chines are imparted with much investing in AI companies, he greater strength and physical has endeavoured to inform ability, what is the incentive to companies of the risks involved keep employing those humans? and to bring together people Any of these risks becomes developing AI with those who amplified when these entities are skeptical of it. can think and act on their own, To be clear, a robot doesn’t without our species directly necessarily possess artificial operating or programming them. This kind of fear and con intelligence; it can function on the direct commands of engi cern is not always appreciated. neers alone. Likewise, artificial As reported by CNBC in 2020,
Vincent Teetsov
A still from Boston Dynamics’ “Do You Love Me?” video.
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A review… (Continued from page 9)
Ukraine leading to Ukraine’s capitulation. For the “Contra Team” McFaul noted that the world has been witness to over a 1000 years of empires and unending wars due to “power spheres” and it’s time for the world to “get off this path of destruc tion” and to genuinely pursue dignity, freedoms and justice. The continued support of Ukraine by the west and the collective sanctions on the Russian regime are the right approach for achieving a just end to the war with McFaul reiterating the theme of “Right is might”. McFaul opined that nuclear war is unlikely and is a longstanding bluff by Russia, noting again, that NATO has no intention of violating Russia’s own territory. Sikorski added that a long-shot and yet viable scenario is that Russia with draws from its invaded territo ries and that the Russian people come to a realization that their best future is one that accepts true democracy in their own country and pursues an econo mic collaboration with Europe rather than increasing isolation. With that, the Munk Debates moderator thanked the debate teams and repolled the audience with their take on the outcome of the debate. Rather surprising ly, the audience had been moved considerably to being against the Debate proposition, with the tally now showing that the audience was now 65% against the “need to consider Russia’s security interests” in achieving peace in the conflict. It can be noted that the Estonian Central Council of Canada (EKN) has expressed its strong opposition to the “inter national realists” positions, noting that their views and recommendations amount to an ongoing acquiescence to totali tarian regimes and an unwitting acceptance of the war crimes and atrocities committed by Putin and other autocrats.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO (and also a CSER adviser) Elon Musk has irritated a number of researchers in the field by stating how AI is “potentially more dangerous than nukes.” Pondering worst-case-sce narios and risks may delay the engineers who advance AI and robotics, but it’s the colliding of altering viewpoints that will increase the likelihood of ethical, secure AI developments. This is to say that caution and progress are not incompa tible. Jaan Tallinn has expressed that as we introduce new non-human entities into society, “our job is to make them care about the rest of civilization...” If humanity can make artificial intelligence feel as well as it can program robots to dance, we’ll gain much more than solely enlisting AI to do work.
Photo: Rei Carcani
KESKUS construction update
Construction on the KESKUS site continues Construction on the KESKUS site continues, though largely underground. As noted in the 17th Community Engagement Session (read more here), the first of the three phases construction is mostly under ground and not particularly visible. This phase will conti nue well into the summer and early fall, as per schedule. Ceremonial groundbreaking was held on April 8, (read more here: www.estoniancentre.ca/ post/groundbreaking). No sooner was the engineered pad in stalled to bear the weight of boring machines, and the first micropiles drilled, that the con struction schedule shifted by an unexpected turn of events. Crane operators, carpenters and other trades were in a strike position and did go on strike, leaving all Toronto construction sites at a standstill for their trades. Fortunately, the crane operators have now ratified their contract and are scheduled to return to construction sites and will be back at the KESKUS site on June 13 to continue with the underground deep foundation work. The first micropiles have been tested and some adjust ments to the engineering is ongoing so that materials orders can be finalized to ensure struc tural stability. In the meantime, during the lull caused by the strike, atten tion was turned to the heritage house at 11 Madison, as the exterior remediation has to be undertaken while the site is not filling with dust and debris. The heritage architect retained by KESKUS has recommended a paint removal technique that does not require sandblasting but instead uses chemical peels. This is a much gentler methodo logy and reduces the amount of dust impacting neighbouring properties. Once the paint analysis is completed the work will be underway by the end of next week. Other matters underway in clude vibration monitoring – this is both for the TTC tunnels to monitor any stress on the
subway tunnels from the ma chines on site, as well as in neighbouring properties. Moni toring equipment was installed at Tartu College, the United Church property and is sche duled for the installation at the neighbouring 13 Madison pro perty. Further, site services such as water, sewer and storm locates, site dewatering (waste water discharge control and settlement tanks) and the relocation of interfering utilities such as telephone and internet cabling infrastructure all continue as work progresses. The award-winning KES KUS will be a dynamic hub showcasing our rich heritage and promoting Estonian innova tion. It will be a vibrant gather ing place for Estonians of all generations and backgrounds to connect, celebrate, and share our culture and achievements with each other and the world. Doors open 2023. Get involved and support KESKUS Please join our growing list of capital campaign donors. The KESKUS International Estonian Centre’s donor categories are Kalevipoja laud for gifts over $100,000 (including naming rights for specific areas), Koidula gild, which is from $50,000-99,999, Viru vanemad for gifts of $10,000-$49,999, and Kungla rahvas for gifts up to $10,000. To make a donation, please call +1.647.250.7136 or email donations@estoniancentre.ca. Donations may be made as a family gift, or in honour of an individual or family. All Canadian and U.S. donations will be issued a tax receipt. KESKUS leadership donors are recognized here: https://www. estoniancentre.ca/capital-cam paign To follow the construction journey and for KESKUS updates: • Visit the KESKUS website and subscribe to the monthly newsletter: • Facebook @EestiKeskus, Twitter @keskus, Instagram @ keskus.iec
