Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, Noam Chomsky, Steve Wozniak call for ban on autonomous weapons & military AI

Credit: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems/Akamai Technologies

An open letter was presented at the opening of the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) on 28 July. It warns of the dangers inherent in autonomous weapons & military artificial intelligence (AI). Signatories included Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, Noam Chomsky, Steve Wozniak & 1,000 artificial intelligence researchers. Read it at:

http://futureoflife.org/AI/open_letter_autonomous_weapons

Now the number of signatories has expanded to over 16,000:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/30/opposition-autonomous-warfare-artificial-intelliegence / Artificial intelligence community comes together in unprecedented numbers to call for a ban on AI-controlled weaponry open letter artificial intelligence AI researchers urging ban offensive autonomous weapons reached 16,000 signatories signed by more than 15,000 people in the three days released letter AI technology reached a point deployment autonomous weapons practically legal legally feasible within years initially signed Tesla’s Elon Musk Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak Google DeepMind chief executive Demis Hassabis professor Stephen Hawking over 2,000 experts another 14,000 individuals outside the AI community warns: stakes are high autonomous weapons described third revolution in warfare after gunpowder nuclear arms endpoint technological trajectory autonomous weapons become Kalashnikovs of tomorrow key question humanity start global AI arms race prevent it from starting Toby Walsh AI professor University of New South Wales Australia launched in Buenos Aires momentum gathered entirely through word of mouth huge support means universal AI community issues black and white arguments both sides opinion thousands of colleagues balance of arguments favours a ban before next arms race arguments against a ban robots more precise able minimise civilian casualties risk human lives robots can take their place fear of an arms race weapons falling into the hands of terrorist organisations impetus for a ban hypothetical robots available today capabilities build autonomous weapons Google autonomous car high level goal make a plan how to achieve that goal sense computer vision radar executing that plan identify when the plan breaks find a new plan start executing take evasive action identify when it has reached goal essentially the capabilities build an autonomous weapon system find locate track target terrorists means or capabilities build a Google-like car technology is smaller cheaper better computing killer robots fear most small ones swarms of tens or hundreds of robots hard to defend against such an opponent small robots cheap easy to replicate AIs explicit go-ahead to murder ethical challenges ahead challenging important ethical decisions AI life or death decision car on the wrong side of the road UN conference in Geneva future of weaponry killer robots ban development of autonomous weapons Campaign to Stop Killer Robots /

Dammed if you do, damned if you don’t — using Apple Pay on London transport (video)

Credit: Apple Inc/appadvice.com

Apple Pay is a system allowing users to make payments for goods & services using selected Apple mobile devices.



It launched in Britain on 14 July¹. Transport for London (TfL) will accept payment via Apple Pay². In common with other automated payment systems for public transport, users have to “tap on & tap off”. This allows the transport provider to know the length of the user’s journey, & so, how much to charge. A user who doesn’t “tap off” is charged the maximum fare.

If the phone battery runs out during the journey, or the device becomes inoperative for any other reason, the user will be unable to “tap off” & will be charged the maximum fare.

TfL carriages have power points fitted. A few minutes of charging could give enough charge to "tap off". Not worth it, as Robin Lee, found, when he was arrested for charging his phone on a London train.

Like the Robin Lee story, using Apple Pay on TfL gets worse.

If a ticket inspector boards the train, & the device is inoperative (i.e. unable to provide evidence of having "tapped on"), the user is also liable to be charged a penalty.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/apple-pay-tfl-says-users-will-face-penalty-charges-if-their-battery-runs-out-on-the-tube-10394417.html

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/16/tfl-cautions-pitfalls-apple-pay

Lessons learnt:
● don’t use Apple Pay on TfL

● don’t use Apple Pay for public transport in other places unless you are aware of the possible consequences

If you decide to ignore the advice above:

● before you decide to use a power point on public transport, make sure you understand the applicable rules (see the Robin Lee story, linked above)

● always carry a backup battery
__________

¹ “Apple Pay Now LIVE In UK! HSBC & First Direct Join The Party”, http://www.knowyourmobile.com/ios/apple-pay/23175/apple-pay-now-live-in-uk-how-it-works-setting-up-card

² “Apple Pay UK: how to get it & how to use it in shops & on the Tube”, http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/apple-pay-how-to-get-it-and-how-to-use-it-10386268.html

/ Apple Pay TfL Transport for London users face penalty charges battery runs out on the Tube users Apple Pay face hefty charges phone runs out goes flat battery discharges on the Tube newly-released technology users pay for things journeys tube TfL network iPhone phone tap on unable to tap out tap off pay the maximum fare slapped with a penalty charge iPhone Apple Watch must be switched on use it to travel TfL warns official Apple Pay page check that you have enough battery iPhone Apple Watch complete your journey traveller travellers run out of battery station can’t tap out charged a maximum fare inspector users touch phone on the reader liable penalty fare TfL running out of charge train plug it into any available outlets arrested charging phone Overground journey accused abstracting electricity running out of battery warnings TfL using Apple Pay journeys warns use the same device Apple Watch iPhone iPad tap in and out card clash phone other contactless cards Apple Pay Transport for London users face penalty charges battery runs out on the Tube /

How to watch Web videos after uninstalling Flash

Credit: Adobe/How-To Geek

Adobe Flash has been largely abandoned by mobile devices. As a security measure, some users are uninstalling it from their laptops & desktops. This can present problems viewing videos on some websites.

Some sites, including Netflix & YouTube will present videos in HTML5 to modern browsers.

Some other websites have been updated to present video in non-Flash format to mobile devices, but continue to serve Flash to other devices.

If you unistalled Flash from your laptop or desktop, & a web page asks that you install Flash before playing a video, How-to Geek has a solution:

http://www.howtogeek.com/223338/how-to-watch-web-videos-after-uninstalling-flash/ / mobile Web Flash iPads iPhones iOS modern Android devices don’t support Flash web developers offer HTML5 videos serve devices desktop browsers default uninstall Flash Uninstalling Flash Web uninstall Flash enable click-to-play plug-ins anti-exploit program block nasty Flash zero-day exploits pretend mobile browser Flash websites mobile-friendly iPad iPhone Android device users mobile-friendly websites websites Flash video players HTML5 video players your web browser work on most modern websites modern browsers HTML5 video player Flash ask you to install YouTube Netflix switched to HTML5 video modern browsers no longer require Flash Silverlight websites normally use Flash automatically offer HTML5 video change your user agent identity reports to web servers web browser web server connects connects Web servers send different web pages different devices mobile-optimized web pages HTML5 videos play without Flash impersonate iPad impersonate Android tablet iPads are more likely to be supported modern browsers integrated user agent switchers install a browser extension User Agent Switcher for Chrome User Agent Switcher for Firefox how to enable Safari’s user agent switcher user agent switcher extensions set up a list of websites your browser automatically use a specific user agent switch your user agent to see videos Safari assign a keyboard shortcut user agent switcher open the System Preferences window select Keyboard select Shortcuts App Shortcuts click + button add a new shortcut select Safari application enter exact title of the menu option Chrome browser /

Man arrested for charging phone on London train

Credit: Guardian composite/Hannah Jane Parkinson

Unfortunately, this isn’t one of those stories where a startling headline appears above a story that explains why it was all reasonable & fair.

Actually, it gets worse.

Robin Lee plugged his iPhone into an outlet in a London train. A police community support officer took exception to, “abstraction of electricity”, & Robin Lee was arrested. Subsequently, in a blinding flash of reasonableness, he was released from arrest.

Thereafter he was re-arrested because of, “unacceptable behaviour”, & “becoming aggressive”.

People aren’t at their best when they have been arrested on specious grounds.

Lessons learnt:

1. In the UK, there is an offence known as “abstracting electricity”, with a maximum custodial sentence of five years, although this is, presumably, aimed at cases of, “abstraction”, of hundreds or thousands of pounds worth of electricity.
2. It is hard to see arrest as necessary for “abstraction” of, at most, pennies worth of electricity.
3. Power surges due to the vagaries of power supply in electric trains mean that the financial risk to Robin Lee’s phone may have been greater than the risk to the public purse.
4. Without wanting to pre-judge anyone’s behaviour, no matter how petty, unreasonable, or officious an official may be, it is prudent to deal with them in a calm & considered way. This applies no matter how minor the official. Less important officials may feel a need to over-compensate for their lack of status, & their egos more easily bruised. Such traits are sometimes the reason why some officials remain, “minor”.
5. Point 4 shouldn’t be taken to imply that meeting petty, unreasonable &/or officious behaviour calmly & with consideration, is easy :)
6. Always carry a backup battery.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/13/man-arrested-charging-iphone-london-overground-train

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2015/07/man-arrested-for-charging-iphone-on-london-train/ / accused British Transport police overzealous ridiculous arrest arrested charging his iPhone socket London Overground train Robin Lee 45-year-old artist Islington handcuffed British Transport Police station Caledonian Road arrest abstracting electricity arrested second offence unacceptable behaviour becoming aggressive objecting to his prior arrest police spokesman decision further action made in due course confronted police community support officer overground train Hackney Wick Camden Road Overground Transport London’s wider network London Underground buses abstracting electricity it’s a crime four police officers platform abstracting electricity arrested abstracting electricity offence under section 13 Theft Act 1968 carries a maximum custodial sentence of five years tweeted incident posted arrest sheet incredulous overzealous community support officer ridiculous ridiculous de-arrested offence statement Camden Road London Overground station report man becoming aggressive challenged PCSO use of a plug socket onboard Overground train suspicion of abstracting electricity de-arrested further arrested unacceptable behaviour reported offence electricity sockets Overground trains clearly marked cleaners use only not for public use forum dedicated to the London Underground plug sockets trains cleaning equipment when trains are in depots recommend not charging electronic equipment risk of power surge directly plugged damaged section gaps power supply changes from one substation to another /

ZNAPS — magnetic, reversible, self connecting charge & sync for Android & iOS

1. Plug connector into phone charge socket
2. Plug charge cable into adapter
3. Connect magnetically to charge
Lightning shown, micro USB available too
Credit: ZNAPS

Why is ZNAPS better than how you're charging/synchronising your phone now?
● reversible
● safer — if you kick, or otherwise apply unexpected forces to the cable while charging, the phone won't go flying across the room, nor will any destructive forces be applied to the phone socket or cable
● connect one-handed
● even in the dark
● LED connection indicator



ZNAPS has been funded to more than 10 times its goal with 19 days to go!

Kickstarter project:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1041610927/znaps-the-9-magnetic-adapter-for-your-mobile-devic/description / ZNAPS design designed magnetic connection adapter cell mobile phone iPhone iOS Android device connection snap adapter pledge charge charging easier ZNAPS prevent frayed charging cables trip tripping over cable smashed phone fiddling plug in cable in the dark water damage charging outlet magnetic charging adapter more convenient pledge Magsafe connector quicker synchronization designed Lightning cable iPhone Micro-USB cable Android device waterproof USB C pledge reward support supporter back backer backing /

Where is everybody? — If there is intelligent life out there, why hasn’t it contacted us?

Credit: Bill Watterson, “The Complete Calvin and Hobbes”

There are many Earth-like planets. Most Earth-like of all (so far), Kepler 452b, was discovered just a few days ago¹. It is thought that there are 1 billion Earth-like planets in our galaxy, 100,000 of them with intelligent civilizations.

With so many intelligent civilizations, why haven't we heard from any of them? Some possibilities:
● there are many technically advanced civilizations out there, but they all subscribe to a Star Trek-like "prime directive" which prevents them from making contact with civilizations which haven't mastered space travel
● technologically advance civilizations obliterate themselves early in their history — as we seemed poised to do during the cold war — climate change — pollution
● we are the first — maybe there are many intelligent civilizations, but none more technically advanced than us
● intelligent life is uncommon
● technological, intelligent life is uncommon
● life itself is uncommon

More discussion at:

http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html

http://listverse.com/2014/09/30/10-reasons-that-we-still-havent-found-aliens/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3112426/Where-aliens-Video-explores-paradox-haven-t-contact-civilisation-yet.html
__________

¹ "Discovery of ‘Habitable’ Earth-Like Planet Announced", http://observer.com/2015/07/breaking-discovery-of-habitable-earth-like-planet-announced/ / starry place good starry night scale of the universe physicist Enrico Fermi where is everybody starry sky vast very local neighborhood 2,500 stars our galaxy less than 1,000 light years away 1% of the diameter of the Milky Way stars galaxies humans intelligent life out there stars galaxy 100 – 400 billion galaxies observable universe star colossal Milky Way galaxy every grain of sand on every beach on Earth 10,000 stars stars are sun-like similar in size temperature luminosity number of total stars 500 quintillion 500 billion billion sun-like stars orbited by Earth-like planet similar temperature conditions liquid water potentially support life similar to that on Earth recent PNAS study Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences potentially-habitable Earth-like total stars in the universe 100 billion billion Earth-like planets beach after billions of years in existence Earth-like planets develop life life advances intelligent level Earth 10 quadrillion 10 million billion intelligent civilizations observable universe our galaxy lowest estimate stars in the Milky Way100 billion estimate 1 billion Earth-like planets 100,000 intelligent civilizations in our galaxy SETI Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence listening for signals other intelligent life 100,000 or more intelligent civilizations our galaxy sending out radio waves laser beams attempting to contact others SETI’s satellite array signals our sun relatively young lifespan of the universe far older stars far older Earth-like planets civilizations far more advanced 4.54 billion-year-old Earth hypothetical 8 billion-year-old Planet X civilization technology knowledge civilization 1,000 years ahead of us civilization 1 million years ahead of us human culture chimpanzees Kardashev Scale intelligent civilizations amount of energy they use Type I Civilization Carl Sagan formula Type 0.7 Civilization Type II Civilization harness energy host star Type I brains Dyson Sphere Type III Civilization accessing power mastered inter-stellar travel colonizing galaxy hypothesis galactic colonization creating machinery travel to other planets self-replicating raw materials new planet replicas speed of light colonize colonize speculate intelligent life survives galaxy-colonizing Fermi Paradox Fermi Paradox scientists humans possible explanations Fermi Paradox higher civilizations no higher civilizations in existence non-exclusivity problem higher civilizations contact with us exception to the rule become aware of their existence Group 1 explanations no super-advanced civilizations mathematics math our own galaxy The Great Filter The Great Filter theory pre-life to Type III intelligence long evolutionary process The Great Filter timeline where The Great Filter We’re rare, we’re first, or we’re fucked We’re Rare The Great Filter is Behind Us hope we have we managed to surpass it extremely rare life our level of intelligence no Type III Civilizations few exceptions Earth is the center of the universe we’re special scientists observation selection effect pondering their own rarity is inherently part of an intelligent life success story rare or quite common being special which step it might be incredibly unusual for life to begin at all tried replicate The Great Filter intelligent life there may be no other life at all jump from the simple prokaryote cell complex eukaryote cell prokaryotes evolutionary jump being complex having a nucleus The Great Filter universe is teeming with simple prokaryote cells almost nothing beyond that other possibilities most recent leap we’ve made our current intelligence semi-intelligent life chimps intelligent life humans miraculous step inevitable climb upward evolution evolution does not strive for a goal Earth technological intelligence natural selection rare evolution tree of life because it has occurred as many as fossilized eukaryote Mars Rare Earth Hypothesis, Universe Big Bang intelligent life develop gamma-ray bursts astrobiological phase transition future search extraterrestrial intelligence /

Just when you think you have politics figured out ...

Mike Baird, Premier of New South Wales, Australia
Credit: The Daily Telegraph

Mike Baird, Premier of New South Wales, Australia, was stopped by a policeman for performing an illegal U-turn, but let off with a warning. Subsequently, he contacted police, confessed, & was fined $311 & three demerit points.

Almost like an honest politician …

http://www.pressreader.com/australia/the-daily-telegraph-sydney/20150723/281479275107931/TextView / Baird performed illegal U-turn pulling on seatbelt South Curl Curl stopped young a Highway Patrol officer let off with a warning Baird phoned called senior Manly officer dobbed himself in police assesed in-car video fined Premier $311three demerit points Premier Mike Baird let off young Highway ­Patrol officer performing illegal U-turn not wearing a seatbelt contacted police later dobbed himself asked to be fined $311 fine lost three ­demerit points illegal manoeuvre South Curl Curl June 8 reporting himself senior police officer I was pulled over for a traffic offence June long weekend Mr Baird said officer issued me with a warning contacted police issue fine ensure absolutely no suggestion of special treatment warning driving while not wearing a seatbelt offence cost $311 fine six demerit points offence occurred June long weekend double demerit period paid the fine unbroken double centre center line /