Self-described autodidact and co-founder of the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Eliezer Yudkowsky discussed the technological creation of the first smarter-than-human intelligence-what he calls the Singularity-its role in the coming decades and implications for humanity.

While some estimate the arrival of powerful artificial intelligence (AI) sometime in the 2020-2030 time frame, Yudkowsky is skeptical about such claims. He said we currently lack an understanding of the human mind necessary to create smarter-than-human technology. When that day does come, however, Yudkowsky expects that AI entities will be ethical, self-aware and capable of making themselves smarter. He further predicted that such AIs will help humanity evolve and develop new capabilities as well.

Yudkowsky will be a featured speaker at the Singularity Summit 2007, a two-day conference on 'AI and the Future of Humanity' at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 8-9.

Psychic Spies

In the first hour, Ian talked with author Jim Marrs about his new book, PSI Spies, which documents the US military's once top-secret psychic (remote viewing) warfare program. Marrs also commented briefly on the North American Union and the NAFTA superhighway at the beginning of the interview.