01: What AI Teaches Us About Evolution with Dr. Nigel Greenwood

The Global Affair with Nicole Gibson

Is AI reworking our understanding of evolution? Today on The Global Affair, Dr. Nigel Greenwood brings decades of experience to determine the future of AI technology. He is an applied mathematician with particular expertise in novel forms of artificial intelligence, and former senior analyst at the Department of Climate Change. In this episode, he dives into the history of debate, robotics, and evolutionary algorithms.

Our attention spans are shrinking, and sadly our ability to form compelling arguments, justify our beliefs, and defend our principles is deteriorating. Dr. Nigel speaks to the Enlightenment period and how we have fallen from a point of complex communication to an emotionally driven state. We dissect the logical fallacy of safe spaces, tribalism and Dr. Greenwood offers his unique perspective on the human condition.

As human beings, we strive to make things in our own image, but Dr. Greenwood suggests that creating AI with a neural network is counterintuitive to the goals of this technology. He breaks down the principles of Evolutionary Algorithms and how they are revealing a nuanced understanding of evolution itself. Join us as we explore this fascinating field of technology and decipher the future unfolding at this very moment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• [2:00] Dr. Greenwood’s innate curiosity
• [6:00] Shaped by a diverse spectrum of belief
• [10:00] Openminded cognitive agility
• [12:30] The failure of safe spaces
• [17:00] Shrinking attention spans
• [25:00] History doesn't repeat it echos
• [29:00] The reality of climate change policies
• [35:30] The Winter of AI
• [41:00] Beauty is mathematically correct
• [43:00] Shifting to the study of disease
• [47:00] AI versus neural networks
• [50:00] Evolutionary algorithms
• [56:00] Creating parameter values
• [66:00] The underline structure of life
• [59:00] The phenomenon of predation

RESOURCES

MachineGenes.com

LinkedIn

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“How tribal people are is quite extraordinary. I always used to believe that universities were there to try to break down that tribalism. I’m not so optimistic anymore, but that’s what I used to believe, that universities were there to break down the tribalism and expose people to lots of different perspectives.” [6:30] -Dr.Greenwood

“I have a nasty feeling, unless we return to the actual ideals of the enlightenment and the importance of discourse with people we don’t agree with, we’ll end up reenacting that particular painting, in terms of a society that just destroys all of its leading figured because they aren't convenient.” [17:08] -Dr. Greenwood

“What if the landscape, for example, is not simply something to be survived? What if the landscape is actually part of the algorithm? I argue it is, but of course, the traditional Darwinian view of evolution insists the landscape is something to be survived.” [50:56] -Dr.Greenwood

“The predators aren’t just survival of the fittest they are actually encouraging the emergence of new structures, which yes, it ties into survival of the fittest again, but it’s a whole lot more than that.” [61:00] -Dr.Greenwood

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