At the weekend, I listened to a very interesting video podcast with the German AI pioneer Jürgen Schmidhuber, who researches and works in Switzerland. Schmidhuber, often referred to as the “father of artificial intelligence”, offers a unique perspective on the universe and AI. Although some of his ideas sound like science fiction, they are nevertheless thought-provoking.
The universe as a calculable entity
In his famous research paper“A Computer Scientist’s View of Life, the Universe, and Everything” from 1999, Schmidhuber already investigated the concept that our universe could possibly be calculated by a short algorithm.
He introduces the concept of the “Great Programmer”, a hypothetical being who could have written a program that simulates all possible universes on a colossal computer. These considerations open a door to a world in which classical philosophical questions may have to be reinterpreted.
Historical development of AI algorithms and the role of hardware
The algorithms that make up the success of generative AI today are the result of decades of research, especially his academic research and that of his doctoral students. This began in the 1980s, with concepts based on research dating back to the 1940s.
The actual breakthrough of AI came with the current availability of considerable computing power, supported by specialized hardware. Companies such as Nvidia have made a decisive contribution by developing GPUs that are optimized for AI applications. These processors are ideal for the massive matrix operations required in modern neural networks.
The importance of the TU Munich for the development of AI
As an educational and research institution, the Technical University of Munich (TU Munich) has played a central role in the development of AI in Germany. Schmidhuber studied there and it was there that he repeatedly received relevant impulses for AI research.
The university has produced many talented individuals who are making significant contributions to AI in both academia and industry. Schmidhuber knows almost all the relevant players, with the exception of Sam Altman.
Practical applications of AI
And he is very optimistic about the developments and achievements of AI to date. The revolution has started and he hopes that he will live to see AI take over creative potential. When asked when AI will completely overtake our human minds, he answers, apparently for years:
In a few months, or perhaps even a few years.
Schmidhuber cites the use of AI in the creation of images that are almost indistinguishable from real ones and in overcoming language barriers through real-time translations as examples of positive developments. These applications demonstrate the potential of AI to recognize and learn complex patterns, underlining his view of the world as a predictable entity.
But isn’t he also worried about what AI could do? No, not really. AI is already bringing people together across borders, and why should it have an interest in wiping us humans out?
Philosophical implications and the future of work and education
From a philosophical point of view, Schmidhuber suggests that seemingly random events could in fact be calculated by an algorithm, which calls into question our notion of free will. Yes, it gets a bit crazy here.
In the work context, this means that AI will potentially transform or replace many professions, requiring the education system to adapt to prepare for these new realities. In doing so, he relies on the creative power of people, who have always come up with more or less meaningful activities that keep the economic cycle going.
Nevertheless, he is in favor of an unconditional basic income as the goal of free people, which could be refinanced via levies on AI-generated work.
The future of Germany
Schmidhuber believes that Germany has a great opportunity in the field of AI due to its strong tradition in mechanical engineering and training. There is still a lot to do in robotics and Germany could definitely make a difference here.
However, he is concerned that the country’s best talent is migrating to the USA. And calls for better policies to provide these talents with adequate research and employment opportunities.
Conclusions
Jürgen Schmidhuber’s perspectives on AI and the universe are deeply interwoven and offer a disturbing outlook on the predictability of the universe and the possibilities and future of AI.
His belief in the power and potential of AI shapes his ideas about the evolution of work and education in an increasingly digitalized world. With this in mind, we simply want to believe the “father of AI” and hope for a fair calculation of the algorithm 😉