The most significant results from this project so far are: We came up with a preliminary list of 6 seemingly-important ways in which a historical case could be analogous to the future invention of…

There has been much speculation about the future of humanity in the face of super-humanly intelligent machines. Most of the dystopian scenarios seem to be driven by plain fear that entities arise that could…

The winner of the 2013 unorthodox prize is: Evidence Aid An effort to provide resources to decision-makers and responders before, during, and after disasters and other humanitarian emergencies. Congratulations to Evidence Aid! Giving policy…

Exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution has been associated with increased risk of cardiopulmonary and lung cancer morbidity and mortality, suggesting that sustained reductions in pollution exposure should result in improved life expectancy….

Though popular with athletes for its ability to help build muscle mass, new studies have shown that whey protein has impressive longevity benefits that can mimic those of calorie restriction. New research tracks closely…

In late 2008, economist Robin Hanson and AI theorist Eliezer Yudkowsky conducted an online debate about the future of artificial intelligence, and in particular about whether generally intelligent AIs will be able to improve…

A few deceptively prim-looking machines represent an even greater technological leap, the biggest advance in automated gambling since Charles Fey introduced the one-armed bandit in 1895. They owe the way they play to artificial…

The billionaire will be supporting the new effort both intellectually and financially. Exact dollar amounts for the new center — to be called the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence or AI2 for short —…

This is why the world needs unemployed brilliant people. [TRIGGER WARNING: Violence, Kidnapping, Time Travel] See on www.awsm.com

A beautiful and interactive resource to explore negative aspects of the Bible. Visually scan through over 450 contradictions and simple graphs showing the prevelence of violence, inaccuracy, misogyny, and homophobia. News Flash: The bible…

Make damn sure you’re not slowly compromising yourself into a life where you serve nothing and no one, and never stick your neck out. See on zenpencils.com

Research shows it’s pretty hard to be creative in a quiet space. And a loud workplace can be frustrating and distracting. But, the mix of calm and commotion in an environment like a coffee house…

“Utilitarianism” can most generally be described as the doctrine that states that the rightness or wrongness of actions is determined by the goodness and badness of their consequences. This general definition can be made…

From November 23-29, MIRI will host another Workshop on Logic, Probability, and Reflection, for the first time in Oxford, UK. This workshop will focus on reflective agents, probabilistic logic, and the intersection of logic and probability more generally….

“In the study, two groups of six subjects each, comprising a total sample of 12 experienced programers, debugged two types of programs under online and offline conditions in accordance with a Latin-Square experimental design.”…

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him [functional programming].” -Abraham Lincoln [improved by Louie Helm] PS – This is how I learned Haskell. See…

How should autonomous systems be analyzed? In particular, we describe how the confluence of developments in two areas—autonomous systems architectures and formal verification for rational agents—can provide the basis for the formal verification of autonomous systems behaviors. New research shows…

At first sight, stupidity is a characteristic that is expected in natural selection processes to suffer and to become extinct. After all, stupid persons by definition act in ways that tend to yield no…

I have been intending to write this essay for months. Why am I finally doing it? Because I finally found some uncommitted time? Wrong. I have papers to grade, textbook orders to fill out,…

Many scientists believe that a large asteroid impact caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. Could humans face the same fate? It’s a possibility. NASA has tracked most of the large nearby asteroids and many…