Synthetic Minds | The Smartest Thing We Can Do About AI

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The Smartest Thing We Can Do About AI Is Pause

𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 Future of Life Institute (FLI) 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁.

In recent posts, I have argued that we are not inventing AI, we are discovering it. A crucial distinction that many do not see. Because, if discovery is the right metaphor, then the question becomes not how fast we can move, but how carefully we should proceed.

Human intelligence evolved slowly, through hunger, mutation, and chance. It was nature’s long experiment; beautiful, flawed, bounded by biology.

AI, on the other hand, knows no such restraint. It doesn’t eat, sleep, or rest. It scales at the speed of code, not the rhythm of cells. It is evolution on fast-forward, and that is precisely why we must pause.

As I discussed in my latest book, Now What?, For the first time in history, intelligence is no longer confined to the human skull.

We are crossing a threshold into cognitive territory that biology never prepared us for. And the truth is, we don’t fully understand what we are unleashing. or how to contain it once we do.

This isn’t fear. It’s responsibility.

Intelligence, once set free, will not ask permission to evolve.

So I signed. Because slowing down isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom.

If AI is discovery, not invention, then maybe the bravest act right now is to stop digging and start understanding what we’ve already found.

𝗦𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝘀: What if the real test of intelligence isn’t how fast we advance, but whether we know when to pause?

'Synthetic Minds' continues to reflect the synthetic forces reshaping our world. Quick, curated insights to feed your quest for a better understanding of our evolving synthetic future, powered by Futurwise:

1. Talking about a dystopian future. Samsung's smart fridges are now showing ads, which will be displayed on the fridge's integrated screen. So you pay $3499 and still get ads in your kitchen! but you can opt out! (Ars Technica)

2. Scientists just built a computer memory out of shiitake mushrooms! Could this be the future of computing? (Science Alert)

3. Be cautious when using AI-powered browsers, as they can pose significant security risks, including prompt injection, data leakage, and LLM misuse. (XDA)

4. In a world where technology is constantly evolving, the advertising industry is no exception. Generative AI is transforming the way agencies, publishers, and platforms approach advertising, and it's time to take a closer look. (Digiday)

5. RAG is dead, long live context engineering! In the age of agentic AI, retrieval is evolving into a broader discipline that includes writing, compressing, isolating, and selecting context. (Towards Data Science)

If you are interested in more insights, grab my latest book Now What? How to Ride the Tsunami of Change and learn how to embrace a mindset that can deal with exponential change.

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Thank you.
Mark