Uncertainty — Variables, Weekly.
Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle is one of my favorite scientific theories, mostly because it tells us about our limits without using absolutes; instead it does so in probabilities. Generally, uncertainty places epistemological constraints on science. It puts a limit on what we can (and do) observe, how far we can observe and what we can infer. We get working theories that give way, when more elegant and exact ones come by. Tough luck!
With the future of Artificial intelligence, big data and all that stuff on the horizon, most people contemplating these questions think they pose existential risks. I think they might be right, though to varying degrees. I also think that in an effort to chase castles in the sky, we should not forget about the contraptions we have on ground. This is some Pete Edochie level wisdom, please don’t argue with me. My favorite answer, when people ask me to predict the future of tech is — I don’t know. Maybe more of the punditry should follow my Socratic proclamation. I admit there are patterns but nothing is set in stone, at least not yet.
I don’t have a lot for you this week but what I do have, I present to you with the enthusiasm of a toddler who just figured out how two lego block pieces fit together. Enjoy.
With Technology becoming increasingly ubiquitous, this article raises some pretty interesting questions and also offers solutions. It’s a long read, read it when you have nothing else to do, literally ~ Will Democracy Survive Big Data and AI? — Link
Can you intuitively tell the difference between say 100,000 and 10,000,000,000? Well this article takes a look ~ How to Understand Extreme Numbers — Link
In a story about the battle for our attention, I have mixed feelings about this ~ Instagram Stories is stealing Snapchat’s users — Link
How can Deep Learning achieve innovation? Also talks about things like ‘the adjacent possible’ which means exactly what you think it does ~ Intuition, Innovation and the Limits of Deep Learning Generalization — Link
Read NASA’s statement about the TRAPPIST-1 exoplanet debacle ~ NASA Telescope Reveals Largest Batch of Earth-Size, Habitable-Zone Planets Around Single Star — Link
I thought this was interesting ~ SJW Behaviors That Hurt Social Justice — Link
Watch this interesting interview with Yuval Noah Harari author of Sapiens: A brief history of humankind.
That’s all I have this week. See you next time.
