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Apocalyptic AI: Visions of Heaven in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality ReviewHaving had a long standing interest in the concepts of artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual existence, and mind uploading, and extremely intrigued by the possibilities that may be opening up within the next fifty years as technology continues its exponential curve of advancement, I was very excited to get my hands on this book.
Mr. Keraci delivers the goods in a succinctly written, exhaustively researched volume that examines in great detail the many different facets of the cultural, scientific, economic, and religious (yes, religious) movement that the author has termed "Apocalyptic AI". Being scientifically inclined as well as a professional analyst, I am very leery of "pop science" books that rely heavily on theorizing and daydreaming and lightly on fact. This book is a refreshing reversal of that disturbing trend, offering a wonderfully detailed analysis of Apocalyptic AI, the true original meaning of the concept of "apocalypse", and balanced, logical explanations of other supporting concepts, as well as superbly researched and elucidated discussions and explanations of modern Apocalyptic AI ideology and culture.
The basic definition of Apocalyptic AI (according to my understanding of this book, and any errors in explanation fall squarely on me as the reviewer) is that it is a movement that:
1. Incorporates the apocalyptic elements of Judaic/Christian theology, including:
A. A belief that there will be an irreversible event on a massive scale (global) after which nothing will ever be the same (in traditional apocalypses, the apocalypse itself; in Apocalyptic AI ideology, an event known as "the singularity")
B. A belief that after the apocalypse/singularity, rewards will be granted to followers/adherents/believers that completely transform the experience of life as we know it
2. Makes the promise of these fantastical rewards becoming available within the near future via the exponentially advancing progress curve of technological innovation, thereby claiming that after the apocalypse/singularity, concepts currently the provision of science fiction will become actual fact, including:
A. The ability to fully upload an individual's personality into a virtual world, thereby granting the uploaded individual an endless lifespan within a synthetic environment
B. Biological immortality
C. Other technological innovations currently far beyond our ability (creation of actual sentient artificial intelligences, simulations of reality indistinguishable from actual existence, etc)
3. Fills the void in many modern peoples' lives that religion formerly occupied in our social consciousness by providing:
A. A "scientific" replacement for religion
B. A new theology of belief revering and, indeed, elevating, the mechanical/virtual to the level of the spiritual
My personal fascination with all of the concepts involved dates back many years. Upon first discovering what the word "transhumanist" means (Wikipedia defines it as: Transhumanism is an international intellectual and cultural movement supporting the use of science and technology to improve human mental and physical characteristics and capacities. The movement regards aspects of the human condition, such as disability, suffering, disease, aging, and involuntary death as unnecessary and undesirable), I remember literally rushing into the living room to tell my wife "There are other people like me!"
I have been extremely interested in the possibilities of the transhumanist movement for some time now. To be fair, this book deals with Apocalyptic AI ideology, and while the transhumanist movement does include some Apocalyptic AI adherents among its members, there are also many rational and logical transhumanists doing important work that I do not wish to erroneously discount. In regards to the currently published books on this subject matter, however, I have to say that to date I have not found (at least to me) satisfactory hard scientific evidence that technological immortality is coming anytime soon. To the contrary, often I find instead too much "gushing" about "where technology can take us" and not enough "this is precisely what level of advancement we are at and why we will be able to do X, Y, Z by 2020". If I want speculation, I will pick up a sci fi book.
The author of this volume, however, instead of lumping himself in with the speculators, offers a beautifully lucid account of the Apocalyptic AI movement as a whole. Starting with an explanation of precisely what "apocalyptic" REALLY means (and it's not what you probably think it does) and then branching out into exhaustively detailed and logically presented examples of the different facets of the movement, Keraci repeatedly shows himself to be that most rare and precious of scientific voices - the truly neutral and rigorously factual observer. The obvious aspects are discussed, such as the stereotypes of online gamers as geeks incapable of social interaction (proven to be incorrect with stunning simplicity and logic) and the economic undercurrents of Apocalyptic AI and virtual worlds (such as the disturbing incursion of real world companies like Coca Cola and Honda into virtual worlds like the game Second Life, or the sly but effective "hooks" of promises of a better future planted like seeds in the public consciousness which, when fertilized, grow into repeated funding for research necessary for Apocalyptic AI/futurist technologies to advance closer to reality), to name a few.
The author also examines those even more valuable and elusive creatures, the "spaces between the notes" that really define why these subjects interest us so much - such as:
1. Why are we so obsessed with continuing our existence beyond biological death?
2. What does that say about us as a species? As individuals?
3. If we can achieve these lofty goals, where will that take us - morally, religiously, psychologically?
4. If and when artificial intelligences that are truly self-aware become existent, what kind of rights will they be entitled to? What kind of morals will they be programmed with?
I do not usually take the time to review individual books, but Mr. Keraci's excellent work in an area far too often ignored by serious scholars and with such far-reaching implications in the areas of sociology, technology, economics, religion, modern psychology, and culture simply demanded I reciprocate in kind to express just how great this book is. I now have a much better understanding of not only the Apocalyptic AI but also the transhumanist and futurist movements after reading this book.
If you are even remotely interested in any of the concepts I outlined in this review, take my advice:
1. Spend the money and buy the book
2. Take the time to read it
3. You will be glad you did
No, I don't know the author and am not affiliated with him in any way - I just think groundbreaking work like this demands to be recognized.
Apocalyptic AI: Visions of Heaven in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality OverviewApocalyptic AI, the hope that we might one day upload our minds into machines or cyberspace and live forever, is a surprisingly wide-spread and influential idea, affecting everything from the world view of online gamers to government research funding and philosophical thought. In Apocalyptic AI, Robert Geraci offers the first serious account of this "cyber-theology" and the people who promote it. Drawing on interviews with roboticists and AI researchers and with devotees of the online game Second Life, among others, Geraci illuminates the ideas of such advocates of Apocalyptic AI as Hans Moravec and Ray Kurzweil. He reveals that the rhetoric of Apocalyptic AI is strikingly similar to that of the apocalyptic traditions of Judaism and Christianity. In both systems, the believer is trapped in a dualistic universe and expects a resolution in which he or she will be translated to a transcendent new world and live forever in a glorified new body. Equally important, Geraci shows how this worldview shapes our culture. For instance, Apocalyptic AI has influenced funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation, helping to prioritize robotics and AI research. It has become the ideology of choice for online gamers, such as those involved in Second Life; it has had a profound impact on the study of the mind; and it has inspired scientists and theologians alike to wonder about the super robots of the future. Should we think of robots as persons? What kind of morality would intelligent robots espouse?Apocalyptic AI has become a powerful force in modern culture. In this superb volume, Robert Geraci shines a light on this belief system, revealing what it is and how it is changing society.
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