Will AI Destroy Humankind?

Will artificial intelligence, or AI, destroy humankind?

That’s the very serious and eminently fascinating discussion I had with my friend, computer scientist, investor and fellow Renaissance Man, Robert Deadman (and yes, that is his real last name).

Robert is one of those rare individuals who possesses a breadth of knowledge that he can eloquently translate into casual conversation, even about such advanced and interesting topics as the rise of AI and the potential benefits and dangers of this technology.

In the new episode of the Way of the Renaissance Man podcast, Robert and I discuss the current state of AI and what the future holds for what is increasingly becoming a ubiquitous technology that most of us don’t even know is operating on us at all times.

Topics in this conversation include such questions as…

At what point will AI begin making its own decisions?

How far away is this circumstance?

What is the role of quantum computing in this question?

Will AI actually have “free will”?

When will “artificial intelligence” become “artificial sentience”?

Can we solve the so-called “Alignment” problem of AI, and how can we really understand this concept?

If you are familiar with the subject of AI, then you will undoubtedly find this conversation interesting, as I think Robert approaches the subject in a unique way. And if you aren’t familiar with the issues surrounding AI, including the benefits and dangers of this technology, then you really must acquaint yourself with the topic — and this podcast is a great way to do just that.

Exclusive ETF Talk: Tapping into the Power of Language with This Communications ETF

I absolutely loved this conversation with the fascinating Robert Deadman, and at the risk of alienating my other guests, I must say that this was my favorite podcast yet — and I hope you think so as well.

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Eating Software

“Software is eating the world, but AI is going to eat software.”

— Jensen Huang

Sticking with our theme of this issue, I uncovered this quote from Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of semiconductor maker NVIDIA Corp. You see, it’s not just the scientists that know AI is a game changer, it’s also those who want to be sure to profit from AI’s eventual gobbling up of all things. So, let the buyer — and the investor — beware.

Wisdom about money, investing and life can be found anywhere. If you have a good quote that you’d like me to share with your fellow readers, send it to me, along with any comments, questions and suggestions you have about my newsletters, seminars or anything else. Click here to ask Jim.

Jim Woods

Jim Woods is a 20-plus-year veteran of the markets with varied experience as a broker, hedge fund trader, financial writer, author and newsletter editor. Jim is the editor of Successful Investing, the Bullseye Stock Trader, and The Deep Woods (formerly the Weekly ETF Report). His books include co-authoring, “Billion Dollar Green: Profit from the Eco Revolution,” and “The Wealth Shield: How to Invest and Protect Your Money from Another Stock Market Crash, Financial Crisis or Global Economic Collapse.” He’s also ghostwritten many books and articles, as well as edited content for some of the investment industry’s biggest luminaries. His articles have appeared on many leading financial websites, including StockInvestor.com, InvestorPlace.com, Main Street Investor, MarketWatch, Street Authority, Human Events and many others. Jim formerly worked with Investor’s Business Daily founder William J. O’Neil, helping to author training courses in the CANSLIM stock-picking methodology. The independent firm TipRanks rates Jim the No. 3 financial blogger in the world (out of more than 6,000). TipRanks calculates that, since 2012, he's made 361 successful recommendations out of 499 total, earning a success rate of 72% and a +15.3% average return per recommendation. He is known in professional and personal circles as “The Renaissance Man,” because his expertise includes such varied fields as composing and performing music; Western horsemanship, combat marksmanship, martial arts, auto racing and bodybuilding. Jim holds a BA in philosophy from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is a former U.S. Army paratrooper. A self-described “radical for capitalism,” he celebrates the virtue of making money from his Southern California horse ranch.