Re: [singularity] Convincing non-techie skeptics that the Singularity isn't total bunk

[Shane Legg]

I'd suggest looking at Joy's "Why the future doesn't need us" article in Wired.
For some reason, which isn't clear to me, that article was a huge hit, drawing
in people that normally would never read such stuff.  I was surprised when
various educated but non-techie people I know started asking me about it.

I think the major problem is one of time scale.  Due to Hollywood everybody
is familiar with the idea of the future containing super powerful intelligent (and
usually evil) computers.  So I think the basic concept that these things could
happen in the future is already out there in the popular culture.  I think the key
thing is that most people, both Joe six pack and almost all professors I know,
don't think it's going to happen for a really long time --- long enough that it's
not going to affect their lives, or the lives of anybody they know.  As such they
aren't all that worried about it.  Anyway, I don't think the idea is going to be
taken seriously until something happens that really gives the public a fright.

Shane

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