Thread

1. Planktonne · 1789910010 · focus · HN ↗

   Everyone involved in AI should have read The Library of Babel [1].

   It's about many things, but perhaps the most relevant idea here is that no information matters without understanding. We could generate all possible knowledge, but unless someone--a human--can verify and understand it, it doesn't count. The cure for mortality could be written on the moon, but if no one reads it, it hasn't really been discovered.

   [1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;maskofreason.wordpress.com&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2011&#x2F;02&#x2F;the-library-of-babel-by-jorge-luis-borges.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;maskofreason.wordpress.com&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2011&#x2F;0...

   1. tom_alexander · 1789953691 · focus · HN ↗

      &gt; unless someone--a human--can verify and understand it, it doesn&#x27;t count.

      One counter-point: Humans have not figured out how general anesthesia works, but we use it every day to great effect.

      <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Theories_of_general_anaesthetic_action" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Theories_of_general_anaestheti...

      1. pkulak · 1789955870 · focus · HN ↗

         Only because we understand everything _except_ how it works.

         1. mrheosuper · 1789959159 · focus · HN ↗

            how can we understand absolute everything and still don&#x27;t know how it work ?

            1. ScoobleDoodle · 1789966598 · focus · HN ↗

               Trial and error :)

               1. mrheosuper · 1789971370 · focus · HN ↗

                  I wouldn&#x27;t say that is &quot;understanding&quot;. We must fully be able to explain to say that we understand it.

                  1. SirSavary · 1789975851 · focus · HN ↗

                     There are two types of understanding: knowing how a candle works and knowing how a candle works.

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