Michael T. Bennett - Can Intelligence Want Anything?

We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Timothy Bennett, the author of one of our previously discussed papers, as he joins us in person! This marks a unique opportunity to engage with the author of one of our featured texts directly, allowing us to question, challenge, and expand upon his arguments.

We will dive into two thought-provoking texts by Bennett and Nick Bostrom, both addressing a critical question: Can intelligence exist independently of values? Do the body, environment, and actions of an intelligent system influence the goals it is capable of pursuing?

The contrasting perspectives include:

• In “The Superintelligent Will,” Nick Bostrom posits that intelligence and ultimate goals can vary independently, suggesting a highly intelligent entity could potentially pursue almost any objective.
• Conversely, in “Lies, Damned Lies, and the Orthogonality Thesis,” Michael Timothy Bennett challenges this view, highlighting that it treats intelligence as merely a disembodied software property, neglecting the crucial role of the body and environment in shaping intelligent action.

Dive deeper into the texts here: Bennett's Paper and Bostrom's Paper

📍 Location: 3359 26th St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
💼 Join the discussion: Register on Meetup — the venue may charge a fee for no-shows.