Dr Feiyu Xu, the vice president and head of the AI Laboratory at Lenovo, spoke to journalists at the the company’s innovation and research centre in Beijing. Speaking to the Metro she said fears about the rise of a “digital super intelligence” are “premature” given we haven’t even managed to reach human intelligence. Fears about the potential of artificial intelligence have always been the main subject of sci-fi films but as the technology advances so too have real world fears of the possible implications.
One of those most vocally pushing for caution in the technologies development is Elon Musk who has said in the past AI could become an “immortal dictator from which we could never escape”.
Dr Xu though expressed doubts over the claim: “Let me put it this way: I have worked in AI for almost 30 years and experienced the ups and downs as well as a lot of promise, a lot of expectation.”
“I think we are in a very good period of AI right now because of deep learning and big data technology.
“But we are far away from human intelligence. I only have to admit I don’t know how our brain works and I don’t how we can simulate how our skin feels.
“Our robots are still plastic and metal.”
Despite Musk’s warnings Dr Xu made clear that the technology simply wasn’t there to be speculating at this point about a computer with intellect far surpassing our own.
Lenovo doesn’t seemed worried as they are currently working to embed artificial intelligence in smart devices which will allow the technology to be utilised in industry, work places and homes.
JUST IN NASA and SpaceX: Dragon test puts Elon Musk one step closer to orbit
The companies added yesterday — SpaceX, Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Ceres Robotics, Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc. — all vow to transport much heavier payloads than what the original nine CLPS companies say they can carry.
The original nine companies were originally set the target of taking ten kilograms to the moon but the new companies added should be able to able to eventually carry several tons.
“We have a need and saw a need to bring on some additional providers that had enhanced lander capabilities,” Steve Clarke, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said during a press conference announcing the new CLPS participants.
“This is based on our objectives — the agency’s objectives — to get to the moon as soon as possible, both from a scientific standpoint and from a human exploration standpoint.”
NASA remains keen to showcase its technologies it would use in future space missions and is keen to travel to the Moon’s lunar south pole in order to scout for potential ice water.
If found the ice would act as a crucial resource for future human missions.
Blue Origin is bidding its Blue Moon lander design, unveiled by founder Jeff Bezos back in May.
SpaceX is opting for its future Starship Spacecraft, which the company has been building at its test sites in Boca Chica, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Florida.
SpaceX claims that its Starship when completed will be able to take as much as 100 tons to the Moon’s surface as well as take off again after landing.
Whilst the timelines proposed by all the new companies for their robotic landers are fairly ambitious, no vehicles have been built or launched yet so its likely there will be delays.