“I keep trying to explain to people that the archetype of intelligence is not Dustin Hoffman in 'The Rain Man;' it is a human being, period. It is squishy things that explode in a vacuum, leaving footprints on their moon.” PeopleMenTryingHumansHuman BeingsPeriodsMoonRainLeavingVacuumsKeep TryingFootprintArchetype Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“The purest case of an intelligence explosion would be an Artificial Intelligence rewriting its own source code. The key idea is that if you can improve intelligence even a little, the process accelerates. It's a tipping point. Like trying to balance a pen on one end - as soon as it tilts even a little, it quickly falls the rest of the way.” IfsWayTryingLittlesIdeasEndsWould BeFallProcessCasesSourceKeysBalanceCodePensArtificial IntelligenceArtificialExplosionsAccelerateRewritingTippingTiltTipping Point Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“If you want to maximize your expected utility, you try to save the world and the future of intergalactic civilization instead of donating your money to the society for curing rare diseases and cute puppies.” IfsWorldWantTryingCivilizationDiseaseExpectedCuteUtilityPuppySave The WorldCute PuppyRare Diseases Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“The important graphs are the ones where some things are not connected to some other things. When the unenlightened ones try to be profound, they draw endless verbal comparisons between this topic, and that topic, which is like this, which is like that; until their graph is fully connected and also totally useless.” TryingImportantDrawsProfoundConnectedEndlessUselessComparisonTopicsGraphs Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“Remember, if you succeed in everything you try in life, you're living below your full potential and you should take up more difficult or daring things.” IfsShouldTryingRememberDifficultSucceedDaringFull Potential Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“Trying and getting hurt can't possibly be worse for you than being... stuck.” TryingHurtEffortCourageStuckGetting Hurt Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“- With respect, Professor McGonagall, I'm not quite sure you understand what I'm trying to do here. - With respect, Mr. Potter, I'm quite sure I don't. Unless - this is a guess, mind - you're trying to take over the world? - No! I mean yes - well, NO! - I think i should perhaps be alarmed that you have trouble answering the question.” ThinkingWorldShouldTryingMindWellsMeanTroubleProfessorsPottersMcgonagallProfessor Mcgonagall Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
