The swarm intelligence system known as UNU, which recently did a Reddit AMA about politics, returned to conduct one about futurism. Human extinction, Brexit, driverless cars, Mars colonization, technological unemployment and marijuana legalization were among the topics. The question isn’t whether all of the answers are correct–they wont be–but whether such systems can get to the point where they outperform groups of humans educated on a topic. A few exchanges below.
Question:
What are the chances that humanity will go extinct before we become an interplanetary species?
UNU:
UNU SAYS: “1%”
COMMENTARY: UNU expressed a high level of faith in humanity. Or, maybe he expects us to reach Mars pretty soon. Either way, it seems we will reach another planet before we wipe ourselves out.
Question:
What will be the average human life-span in 2050?
UNU:
UNU SAYS: “98 years old”
COMMENTARY: UNU expressed high conviction on this point.
It’s worth pointing out that people who live to 98 years old in 2050 will have lived most of their life under current technology. It would be interesting to ask UNU what the lifespan of people BORN in 2050 would be.
Question:
How long until we can hail autonomous taxis?
UNU:
UNU says: 7 years.
Let’s check back on this one in 2023.
Question:
Will Space X hit their target to put people on Mars in 2025?
UNU:
UNU SAYS: “I’m Torn”
COMMENTARY: UNU was highly conflicted on this question. In fact, it took two tries to reach an answer.
Question:
Will the UK vote to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum
UNU:
UNU SAYS: “I DOUBT IT”
COMMENTARY: UNU expressed high certainty around this answer, but did not go for the stronger answers of “I don’t believe”
Question:
Do you think robots will take our jobs?
UNU:
UNU SAYS: “Yes”
COMMENTARY: UNU was surprisingly certain about this fact.
Question:
When will universal basic income be implemented in Europe?
UNU:
UNU says: 5 years
Europe is way ahead of the US on this one, according to UNU.
Question:
The first permanent settlement on Mars will be in __ years?
UNU:
UNU SAYS: “60 YEARS”
Question:
Is the first person to live 200 years already born?
UNU:
UNU says: totally disagree
Note: except for Peter Thiel, of course.
Question:
How many years until cannabis is federally legal in the US?
UNU:
UNU SAYS: Cannabis will be federally legal in the US within 10 years.
Question:
When will artificial/lab grown meat be as common as traditional meat?
UNU:
UNU SAYS: 25 YEARS
Question:
Will artificial intelligence eventually overthrow the human race as the dominant lifeforms on Earth? Yes, no, possibly, or unlikely?
UNU:
UNU says: i doubt it
Let’s call that “unlikely?”•