“Up to now, computers have obeyed Moore’s law, which says that computers double their speed and memory capacity every two years. Human intelligence may also increase because of genetic engineering, but not so fast. The result is that computers are likely to overtake humans in intelligence at some point in the next 100 years.”
This distinctive robotic voice with a touch of a US/Scandinavian accent was a trademark of Professor Stephen Hawking. Named the “Perfect Paul,” the voice was created by Dr. Dennis Klatt, a pioneering researcher in speech and hearing science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
After losing his ability to speak in 1985, Professor Hawking adopted a speech-generating device to communicate.
Professor Hawking: I communicate with a computer system in a box in the back of my wheelchair. This system was put together for me by David Mason of Cambridge Adaptive Communications. On the computer, I run a program called Equalizer. A cursor moves across the upper part of the screen. I can stop it by pressing a switch in my hand. In this way, I can select words which are printed on the lower part of the screen. When I have built up a sentence, I can send it to a speech synthesizer. I use a separate synthesizer made by Speech Plus, a division of Sentagram Communications Corporation.
Later, when Professor Hawking could no longer use his hand, he sent signals by twitching his cheeks, and the subtle movements were detected by an infrared sensor mounted on his glasses. Over the years, as his condition deteriorated, his computer system went through several changes and upgrades, allowing him to continue writing, lecturing, and researching all the way until his final days.
As someone who relied heavily on technological devices for daily living and working, Professor Hawking recognized the benefits of technology, especially to the disabled.
Professor Hawking: If you don’t recognize my voice, my name is Stephen Hawking. I am the guy who made black holes cool. I would like to talk about a topic very personal to me. How science and technology can help people with disabilities. I’ve lived my life on the edge, pushing the boundaries of not just science, but what my body can do. Medicine can’t cure me, so I rely on technology. It lets me interface with the world that propels me. That is how I’m speaking with you now.
I would like to thank Intel for their technological support to me over several decades and for their vision in providing it free as open source to the benefit of many other disabled users around the world.
Intel’s Assistive Context-Aware Toolkit (ACAT) is just one of many computerized systems that help people with various physical challenges. The development of AI in recent years has significantly advanced these tools, bringing more convenience and well-being to the lives of those in need.
“I live in a life for the most part that is completely dependent, so anywhere that I can get independence, I’m going to go get.
And that’s where assistive technology like Apple’s HomeKit comes in.
Hey, Siri, arriving home. I use voice recognition, you know, on my iPhone pretty much every day, all day, and now I would go and open the garage door for Karen.
HomeKit is a home automator that connects smart accessories like door locks, window shades, and lights.
Hey, Siri, arriving home. In our house, definitely, the assistance of technology is everywhere.
Combined with Siri and what Apple calls switch control, Todd can navigate his iPhone and control his smart home, using external switches and voice commands.
Hey Siri, lock the front door. Between Siri and switch control, I can use my phone just as good as anybody with 10 working fingers.”
“UK musician re-establishes his voice with help of artificial intelligence (AI) despite motor neuron disease. Bristol musician, Patrick Darling, regained the ability to express his voice with the help of AI after being diagnosed with motor neuron disease at age 29, which left him able to speak only a few words. Patrick, a band’s lead singer and composer, worked with ElevenLabs to generate a singing voice closely matching his original by training the AI system to transform past recordings into virtually indistinguishable vocal model. This allowed Patrick to continue to compose and perform during a live show in London alongside former bandmates, where the audience witnessed him singing again for the first time since his condition worsened. The breakthrough illustrates how AI-generated voice technology can help restore creativity, participation, and identity for people living with degenerative neurological diseases.”
Looking ahead, Professor Hawking saw the huge transformative potential of AI-powered tools.
Professor Hawking: The potential benefits are huge. Everything that civilization has to offer is a product of human intelligence. We cannot predict what we might achieve when this intelligence is amplified by the tools AI may provide, but the eradication of war, disease, and poverty would be high on anyone’s list.
While Professor Hawking envisioned AI accelerating scientific discovery, solving medical challenges, improving global productivity, and reducing inequality, he cautioned that we must consider the long-term impact of AI.
Professor Hawking: Up to now, computers have obeyed Moore’s law, which says that computers double their speed and memory capacity every two years. Human intelligence may also increase because of genetic engineering, but not so fast. The result is that computers are likely to overtake humans in intelligence at some point in the next 100 years. When that happens, we will need to ensure that our computers have goals aligned with ours. It’s tempting to dismiss the notion of highly intelligent machines as mere science fiction, but this would be a mistake, and potentially our worst mistake ever.
The primitive forms of artificial intelligence we already have, have proved very useful. But I think the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.
Professor Hawking was deeply alarmed by military applications of AI, calling for an immediate stop to the autonomous weapons arms race before it took off.
Professor Hawking: Given concerns about long-term controllability of evermore advanced AI systems, should we arm them and turn over our defence to them? In 2010, computerised trading systems created a stock market flash crash. What would a computer-triggered crash look like in the defence arena? The best time to stop the autonomous weapons arms race is now.
In January 2015, Professor Hawking joined Elon Musk and many other AI experts and researchers in signing an open letter urging serious research into AI’s societal impact and advocating safeguards against misuse.
The letter concluded with the following statement: “In summary, success in the quest for artificial intelligence has the potential to bring unprecedented benefits to humanity, and it is therefore worthwhile to research how to maximize these benefits while avoiding potential pitfalls. The research agenda outlined in this paper, and the concerns that motivate it, have been called anti-AI, but we vigorously contest this characterization. It seems self-evident that the growing capabilities of AI are leading to an increased potential for impact on human society. It is the duty of AI researchers to ensure that the future impact is beneficial. We believe that this is possible, and hope that this research agenda provides a helpful step in the right direction.”
It is precisely the human motivation behind AI development that determines its direction and fate. If the people developing it pursue only self-serving agendas, such as maximizing their personal gains and profit, then the end product will mirror that thought pattern. If the people creating it aim to serve others and better the lives of all, then AI will do as directed and continue on this path.
After all, AI, a product of human intellect, is meant to serve humanity, not vice versa. If we focus solely on intellectual development at the cost of other qualities, we can lose more than we can afford.
Our Most Beloved Supreme Master Chin
g Hai (vegan) reminds us of the most important quality that human beings should strive to preserve and develop.
Master: If humans have lost this love within themselves, they lose everything already. They have no more humane quality. You understand me? (Yes, Master.) Not worthy to be humans anymore. And that’s why Heavens want to destroy them, because they’re not up to the standard even to be a human.
Even if you want to be a human again and not go to hell, or not go into a different other species like animal-people or lower animal-people, or vicious animal-people, something like that, then you have to adhere to the principles, the Five Precepts or the Ten Commandments. (Yes, Master.)
Then you can be reborn as human again. Maybe you could even have a quick visit or rest in Heavens and then come back, be human again. (Yes, Master.) But if you don’t, then you’re finished. You can be in hell or become animal-people, suffering.
Supreme Master Ching Hai answered a fundamental question of modern society – what is the defining quality of a human being? It’s not our intellect, or intellectual achievement, or how fast we can process data or solve a problem, but rather our Compassion from the Divine Spark.
Master shared Her insights on the next phase of human evolution when technological development is in harmony with our compassionate lifestyle.
Master: The world is getting better all the time. It’s just that the world’s people have to catch up with it, and then it will be even better and better all the time. You have to step on one ladder step first and then you can go up and up and up and up and up. That’s the logical thing to do. So, if they became vegan, our lives would be more comfortable. We will have more and more extraordinary high-tech. We will have less or no more disease. We will not have to mourn early the death of our relatives, friends, or loved ones. We will live happily, healthy long lives, and connected with the Divine even, because Heaven will be able to show us some expressive signs of Their love and Their connection with us.
May all scientists take the next step on the ladder of evolution – becoming vegan and developing the quality of compassion, thus leading technology and AI advancement to a positive future.
