Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Colossus

I don't know whether you remember the 1970 movie "Colossus: The Forbin Project", but I was impressed enough to never forget it. You can read about it here, or you may be able to stream it online:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus:_The_Forbin_Project

I mention this now because Elon Musk recently constructed and activated a gigantic AI supercomputer which he named Colossus. Here is a short (8 minute) video about it:

https://youtu.be/3mGXGQKKsFg

This new Colossus may or may not equal (or exceed) the capabilities of the movie version, but if it does we could be in a heap of trouble.

Fortunately, Musk has been outspoken on the issue of AI safety, but you know how it goes: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Hope he won't let things get out of control.

FYI, the Statue of Liberty is called "The New Colossus" in that famous poem by Emma Lazarus:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46550/the-new-colossus

I'm sure most people think "the golden door" in the last line of the poem refers to the entrance to an America where the streets are paved with gold, but it could just as easily be the Gate to Hell envisioned by The Forbin Project.

Did I ever mention that I see the dark side to everything?

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