my most recent book
Artificial Intelligence – The Mind of the Machine: Asking the Right Questions
"If I were paranoid I might say we need to ask questions about AI’s thorniest implications and ethical concerns before it is too late."
We are at a monumental turning point in human history as AI is reaching new levels of intelligence. The technology is getting more sophisticated by the day and AIs have beaten the strongest human competitors in chess, go, and Jeopardy! And now AI is going inside the human brain itself, attempting to augment human minds. It may even create greater-than-human-level intelligence, leading to a new generation of artificial minds―Minds 2.0. In this book on AI and the Mind of the Machine James Lynn presents some of the questions we should be asking. Many argue that these undertakings should not proceed without a richer understanding of the implications and consequences along with a better understanding of the nature of the mind and consciousness itself. An insufficient grasp of the underlying philosophical and ethical issues could undermine the use of AI and brain enhancement technology, crippling progress or even bringing about the demise or suffering of conscious beings.
Other Books
Below are some of my other books.
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Free Will in Machines
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Most of us believe we have free will. We believe that to the extent allowed by our circumstances, we each choose what we do, what we say, and what we think. This notion of freedom carries along with it the implication of personal responsibility for those actions. By being free to make our own decisions, we assume at least some responsibility for the consequences of those decisions. Is it possible for a machine to have this same free will? Are machines capable of achieving the prerequisite level of consciousness to be held accountable for their own actions? In science fiction from Asimov’s “I, Robot” to the more recent “Terminator” we have been warned of the evils of unbridled technology and its potential for the ultimate destruction of mankind. Is what governs our behavior any different than what governs the behavior of a machine? Once the exclusive province of fantasy and fiction, neuroscience has shown the cause of “good” vs. “bad” behavior to be tied to specific brain systems. As our understanding grows of this connection between mind and body, our legal and ethics theories regarding moral responsibility will need to adapt, perhaps to include machines.
haiku from the heart
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This book is about connections. It’s about the connections we make with places, it’s about the connections we make with people; it’s about the connections we make with events in our life. Traditional Japanese haiku is a short form of poetry which consists of seventeen syllables in three phrases which consist of five, seven, and five syllables. The three phrases are traditionally written on three lines and the natural rhythm falls accordingly into the three phrases as in: One two three four five One two three four, five six sev One two three four five A haiku typically has the characteristic known as kiru, or cutting. The haiku will start by reflecting one thought and then “cut” to another, often pivoting on a single word or syllable.In modern times, especially in America, haiku is defined more loosely. It may have less than seventeen syllables and is often written on one line, three, or even in a circle. I have settled on my own understanding of haiku as a form of poetry which is terse and concise, attempting to catch the essence of a feeling, mood, or situation while working within certain rules, sometimes bending them but not breaking them. .
Forest Dragon Exercises I
An Introduction to Pai Lum Kung Fu for Health and Longevity
The Forest Dragon Exercises are an approach to training in Pai Lum Kung Fu. It is a system of exercises specifically designed to promote health and well-being without requiring a large time commitment.
This book includes an introduction to breathing and meditation, stretching exercises based on yoga, and the first of five forms, or movement exercises, intended to introduce the student to techniques of self-defense used in Pai Lum Kung Fu. Many of the techniques are taken directly from the traditional sets we train. The Forest Dragon Exercises represent five phases of development in the lower levels of Pai Lum.