Nick Bostrom to speak about Superintelligence at UC Berkeley

September 12, 2014

MIRI has arranged for Nick Bostrom to discuss his new book — Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies — on the UC Berkeley campus on September 12th.

Bostrom is the director of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University, and is a frequent collaborator with MIRI researchers (e.g. see “The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence“). He is the author of some 200 publications, and is best known for his work in five areas:  (1) existential risk; (2) the simulation argument; (3) anthropics; (4) the impacts of future technology; and (5) the implications of consequentialism for global strategy. Earlier this year he was included on Prospectmagazine’s World Thinkers list, the youngest person in the top 15 from all fields and the highest-ranked analytic philosopher.

Bostrom will be introduced by UC Berkeley professor Stuart Russell, co-author of the world’s leading AI textbook. Russell’s blurb for Superintelligence reads:

Nick Bostrom makes a persuasive case that the future impact of AI is perhaps the most important issue the human race has ever faced. Instead of passively drifting, we need to steer a course.Superintelligence charts the submerged rocks of the future with unprecedented detail. It marks the beginning of a new era.

The talk will begin at 7pm at room 310 (Banatao Auditorium) in Sutardja Dai Hall (map) on the UC Berkeley campus.

If you live nearby, we hope to see you there! The room seats 150 people, on a first-come basis.

There will also be copies of Superintelligence available for purchase.