Virtual worlds are a natural setting for experimenting and testing various AI applications and appear especially suited for “general” intelligence development because of their broadness, openness and theoretical lack of limitations and rules. Ben Goertzel and his company, Novamente, have been working on virtual pets and the results are pretty interesting. So while projects such as these are something to get excited about, it’s hard not to dismiss bigheaded goals as worthless hype without seeing the real work that has gone into specific planning and execution – at least something that does not recall the infamous Underpants Gnome plan of 1)Collect underpants 2)??? 3)Profit. So while I don’t think much will come out of this, I have to issue the small warning that the distinction between “virtual” and “real” is pretty nonexistent. All that data is comprised of real code stored on real servers with real physical locations managed by real people… And again while I do remain skeptical of anyone achieving anything close to sentient intelligence anytime soon, I am also a bit concerned about singular commercial entities working secretly on a closed AGI system. Not involving all stakeholders – that is, ALL OF US – raises some ethical quandaries that at least need to be debated.

I would put someone like Philip Rosedale (proven record, visionary thinker, deep pockets and connections) pretty high on the list of people that could make some serious headway in the field, especially in potential commercial applications; he certainly tackles the big issues. Let’s just hope Philip Rosedale doesn’t resemble Watchmen’s Ozymandias…

[New World Notes - Philip Rosedale Attempting to Create Sentient Artificial Intelligence That Thinks and Dreams in Second Life!]

I dug up this is discussion from Fortune Brainstorm titled “2018: Life on the Net,” featuring Lawrence Lessig (professor of Law at Stanford Law School), Joichi Ito (CEO of Creative Commons and Chairman of Six Apart Japan), and Philip Rosedale (founder and chairman of Linden Lab, who operate Second Life). It’s from July ‘08, which in internet age can make it almost irrelevant. In this case, however, the conversation remains fresh and interesting. The funniest moment: an attendee with a Southern accent calling Joi Ito, who has 24(!) current positions on LinkedIn, a ‘venture communist.’

Topics covered include: law stifling media technology, open source, venture capital trends and ethics, the internet requiring ‘environmental protection’, 2D/3D interface hybrids, producer-driven culture, and an “internet 9/11.”

[Google Video - 2018: Life on the Net]

PS: If you don’t know about TED; check out TED.com — Inspiration at it’s core.