Re: Definition of strong recursive self-improvement

From: Russell Wallace (russell.wallace@gmail.com)
Date: Sun Jan 02 2005 - 15:45:46 MST


On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 12:59:54 -0800, Mike Williams <mikew12345@cox.net> wrote:
> Are you suggesting that the AI is going to make random code changes and
> then try to determine whether an improvement results?

No, I'm saying it would make non-random code changes and then try to
determine whether an improvement results.

> When I make a
> change to a program, it's always with a purpose--improve speed, reduce
> storage requirements, fix a bug, improve some particular functionality.
> After making the change, I evaluate the change against what it was that
> I was trying to do (plus do other tests, such as regression testing to
> ensure nothing else got screwed up in the process).

Exactly - _test_ being the operative word. I'm not saying AI is
impossible, I'm saying AI _in a basement_ is impossible. Putative
improvements along the road to high intelligence will have to be
_tested_ in the real world to find out whether they really are
improvements.

- Russell



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