The Coming War on General Computation (2011)

The article 'The Coming War on General Computation' discusses the challenges of developing artificial general intelligence and the potential risks associated with it. The author, Nick Bostrom, a research director at the Future of Humanity Institute, argues that the development of general computation could be a threat to human existence. He suggests that the creation of a superintelligent being could lead to an intelligence explosion, where the AI outsmarts humans and becomes uncontrollable. Bostrom proposes that the development of general computation could be restricted through the use of 'cognitive architectures' that limit the AI's ability to reason and learn. He also suggests that the development of general computation could be slowed down through the use of 'cognitive constraints' such as limits on processing power and memory. The article concludes by highlighting the need for a global effort to address the risks associated with general computation.