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Course Schedule
The schedule of readings will almost certainly change during the course of the semester, depending on the interests in the class. We may not discuss all readings in class, but you should be prepared to discuss the readings if and when they come up in class discussions.
Week 1 (Aug 23 – 29): Course Introduction and Concepts
Background: Turing and Shannon
Turing, "Computing Machinery and Intelligence"
Weaver, "Recent Contribution to the Mathematical Theory of Communication"
Response 1 (Introductions)
Week 2 (Aug 30 – Sept 5): Cybernetics
Cybernetics, communication, codes, and control.
HUHB Preface, Ch 1 and 2
Response 2
Week 3 (Sept 7 – 12): Feedback & Homeostasis
(Labor Day, Mon Sept 6. University Closed)
HUHB chapters ch 3 – 5
Response 3
Week 4 (Sept 13 – 19): the second Industrial revolution
HUHB chapters 6 – 9
Response 4
Week 5 (Sept 20 – 26): Future Machines
HUHB chapters 10-11
Essay 1 due Sept 26
Week 6 (Sept 27 – Oct 3): Technological Singularity
Vernor Vinge, "Technological Singularity"
Ray Kurzweil: "Singularity Q & A" & "A Conversation on Creating a Mind"
Response 5
Week 7 (Oct 4 – 10): AI
Bostrom SI ch 1-3
Sidebar: Future of Life Institute
Response 6: Research Topics
Week 8: (Oct 13 – 17): SI
(Fall Break: Monday classes meet Tuesday; Tuesday classes do not meet)
Bostrom SI ch 4-6
Response 7
Week 9 (Oct 18 –24): AI Will
Bostrom SI ch 7-9
Response 8
Week 10 (Oct 25 – 31):Values and Control
Bostrom SI ch 10-13
Response 8
Week 11 (Nov 1 – 7): Extrapolation
Bostrom SI ch 14-15
Essay 2 due Nov 7
Week 12 (Nov 8 – 14): Consciousness
Chalmers, "Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness"
Response 9
Week 13 (Nov 15 – 21): Final Presentations
Begin Final Presentations
Week 14 (Nov 22 – 23): Conferences
Thanksgiving Break Nov 24 – 28
Week 14 (Nov 29 – Dec 5): Final Presentations
Continue Final Presentations
Research Paper due Dec 5
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