Please bring a potluck dinner item, finger foods, drinks, etc, but hey, please come without if you don't have time. We probably won't eat till 7:00, or so, so don't worry about being exactly on time. Your company's more important than your food. After dinner, those that wish can settle down and have some discussion.

Discussion Topic:

• Tough Questions: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity
  A number of people (e.g. Vernor Vinge, Ray Kurzweil) have suggested that in the near future we will see computer intelligence or genetically engineered intelligence increase and come to equal and then surpass human intelligence. The suggested time scale is short and in the next couple of decades we may experience artificial intelligences that equal or significantly exceed the current human standard. This subject has been a frequent topic in scientific fiction. Even if you are skeptical of the concept of artificial intelligence (AI), the idea raises many issues of what it means to be human or a living creature. Will some/all/any AI be religious or spiritual? Can an AI be a citizen? Can I marry my AI friend? What will AAI be like? How will I feel to have an AAI friend who is many times smarter than I am? These questions are endless.

  Here’s a Google search…
  http://tinyurl.com/de...

  …and videos. Pick your favorite video clip to show at the discussion.
  http://tinyurl.com/cj...

  This site has a nice collection of articles.
  http://www.spectrum.i...

  …and Scientific American weighs in
  http://www.sciam.com/....
  

• Future activities brainstorming
  

Please bring you ideas and your own tough questions.

See you there.

Cheers,
David