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The Hanson-Yudkowsky AI-Foom Debate

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In late 2008, an extensive and long-awaited debate about the Technological Singularity occurred on Overcoming Bias, mainly between Robin Hanson and Eliezer Yudkowsky. It focused on the likelihood of hard AI takeoff ("FOOM"), the need for a theory of Friendliness, and the future of AGI, whole brain emulation, and recursive self-improvement in general. A stand-up debate on the same themes took place at Jane Street Capital on Wednesday June 30 2011. A full transcript of the debate is available here.

An incomplete summary and analysis of the text debate is available here.

The posts constituting this debate have been collected here to make it easier to follow for future audiences, alongside links to the Jane Street debate.

Contents

Prologue

Main sequence

Conclusion

Postscript

Jane Street debate

See also