Understanding the New Statistics
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Understanding the New Statistics

Geoff discusses statistics, confidence intervals, Bayesian approaches, meta-analysis, and problems with the use of ‘P’ values in significance testing. Discussion points: – Describe your background and involvement in statistics. – How have orthodox statistics helped psychology (& science)? How has it harmed the science? – What methods, models and tools do you commonly use in…

Vernor Vinge on the Turing Test, Artificial Intelligence
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Vernor Vinge on the Turing Test, Artificial Intelligence

On the coat-tails of a the blockbuster film “The Imitation Game” I saw quite a bit of buzz on the internet about Alan Turing, and the Turing Test.  The title of the movie refers to the idea of the Turing Test may someday show that machines would ostensibly be (at least in controlled circumstances) indistinguishable…

Simulating for Computational Biology – Arun Konagurthu
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Simulating for Computational Biology – Arun Konagurthu

Arun Konagurthu is a Senior Lecturer at the Clayton School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University. Between 2011-2013, Arun was additionally a Larkins Fellow at this faculty. Arun leads a small research group that researches mainly in computational biology and bioinformatics. His other research interests include data structures and…

What is Technoprogressivism?
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What is Technoprogressivism?

Rejecting the two extremes of bioconservatism and libertarian transhumanism, Hughes argues for a third way, “democratic transhumanism,” a radical form of techno-progressivism which asserts that the best possible “posthuman future” is achievable only by ensuring that human enhancement technologies are safe, made available to everyone, and respect the right of individuals to control their own…

Robin Hanson – Attitudes to the Future – Future Day Discussion 2015
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Robin Hanson – Attitudes to the Future – Future Day Discussion 2015

Topics covered: Attitudes to the future, Prediction Markets, SciCast, Blockchain currency, Quadratic Voting, Artificial Intelligence Development etc. Notes on interview: People are engaged in extreme futures – heaven or hell scenarios – are people’s attraction towards, or engagement with certain futures informed by evolved biases? Prediction Markets in contrast to narratives about the future informed…

Aubrey de Grey – SENS Therapy Delivery
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Aubrey de Grey – SENS Therapy Delivery

In this interview Aubrey discusses some of the various approaches that SENS therapy will likely be delivered. Mostly covering gene therapy. Also see this interview where Aubrey de Grey discusses using artificial organs and synthetic devices as replacement parts to aid in defeating aging. Some things that people are already looking at, for instance introducing…

Philosophy of Science – What & Why?
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Philosophy of Science – What & Why?

Interview with John Wilkins: Every so often, somebody will attack the worth, role or relevance of philosophy on the internets, as I have discussed before. Occasionally it will be a scientist, who usually conflates philosophy with theology. This is as bad as someone assuming that because I do some philosophy I must have the Meaning…

Richard Carrier – The Intelligence Explosion & Bayesian Reasoning
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Richard Carrier – The Intelligence Explosion & Bayesian Reasoning

In a wide-ranging conversation, historian and philosopher Richard Carrier explores the profound implications of artificial intelligence, Bayesian reasoning, and ethical communication. By rethinking concepts like the Singularity and technological resurrection, Carrier offers a fresh lens through which to view our rapidly evolving future. Here is the video link. Intelligence Explosion vs. The Singularity Carrier prefers…

Utopia in Exile – Interview with David Brin
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Utopia in Exile – Interview with David Brin

IEET fellow, scientist, best-selling author and tech-futurist, David Brin, sits down with Adam Ford to talk about thought experiments, the technological singularity, rationality, ethics, transhumanism, fiction / non-fiction and futurism. His novels include Earth, The Postman (filmed in 1997) and Hugo Award winners Startide Rising and The Uplift War. A leading commentator and speaker on…