Introduction

Superintelligence is a hypothetical agent that has intelligent characteristics that surpass that
of the brightest human minds. It can be defined as a property of problem solving systems.
Intelligence can be generally referred to as the ability to perceive information and retain knowledge
gained from the information so as to apply towards adaptive behaviors within a given context.
Artificial intelligence is intelligence in machines which is implemented in computer systems using
software programs. It was first formulated by Alan Turing [1]
According to Nick Bostrom,super inteligence is an intellect that is much smarter than the
best human brains in practically every field including scientific creativity, general wisdom and
social skills.[2]Bostrom tends to treat super intelligence as dominance at goal-oriented behavior.
Some researchers tend to have different opinions as to how these advancement in
technology would affect the world today. Others argue that since they are programed to have
human-like characteristics, they would then mind and care for the human beings whereas others say
that the machines would want to wipe out humans either out of revenge or intrinsic desire to
survive. Some also believe that the machines would probably result to machines with no general
reasoning, systems that would lack human cognitive limitations whereas others view it like humans
would evolve so as to achieve greater intelligence.
A great number of scientists and forecasters argue for the prioritization of early research to
considering the possible benefits and risks of human and machine cognitive enhancements. This is
because of the possible damage these technologies may bring to the society. [2]

The dawn of Artificial intelligence

The history of Artificial Intelligence began in antiquity, with myths, stories and rumors of
artificial beings being endowed with intelligence [3].The seeds of modern AI were planted by
classical philosophers who attempted to describe human thinking as manipulation of symbols,
hence led to invention of programmable digital computer.
This device inspired scientists to think of possibility of coming up with an electronic brain.
Allan Turing is believed to be the father of computer science and AI. He used complicated machines
known as bombes which eliminated enormous numbers of incorrect solutions to the codes so as to
arrive at the correct solutions. He is famous for inventing a test for artificial consciousness called
the Turing Test. [1]
During a conference in the summer of 1956 at Dartmouth college some AI researcher, who
attended, predicted that a machine as intelligent as a human would exist in more than a
generation .They were then given millions of dollars to make this vision come true. It later became
evident that they had underestimated the difficulty of the project after continuous criticism of James
Light Hill and after pressure from the congress, the US and the British Governments stopped
funding research into AI.The difficult years that would follow would then be referred to as AI
winter. Seven years later the Japanese government came up with a visionary initiative that inspired
governments and industries to provide AI with funding but later in the late 80s the investors
became disillusioned and withdrew funding again.

The promising future of Artificial Intelligence

In the 21st century when machine learning was successfully applied to many problems in
academia and industries, AI became interesting also to investors. In the last 15 years, there has been
a lot of progress in the functional aspect of AI.They use statistical approaches to simulate certain
aspects of human analysis. [3]
AI in the future could either make all our dreams come true or it will destroy society and the
world.
There are three different types of forms of AI:
1. Artificial Narrow Intelligence(ANI)
It is sometimes referred to as weak AI. Its the AI that specializes in one area.
2. Artificial General Intelligence(AGN)
It sometime is referred to as strong AI. Its the AI that refers to a computer that is as smart as
a human across board a machine that can perform any intellectual task that a human being
can.This is yet to be done.
3. Artificial Super Intelligence(ASI)
Super Intelligence is defined as an intellect that is much smarter than the best human brains
in practically every field including scientific creativity, general wisdom and social skills.
As of now humans have conquered the lowest caliber of AI, that is, ANI. The AI revolution
is the road from ANI through AGI to ASI, a road we may or may not survive but that everything
will change.
For movement from ANI to AGI there are certain things that need to be put into consideration:

1. Increasing computational power

2. Make it smart: To make a computer human-level intelligent
Failure of the past projects aiming at getting to super intelligence doesnt justify that super
intelligence will not be achieved. It just shows that A.I is a difficult aspect and not that easy as it
was thought by then but it doesnt show that it will forever remain infeasible.

The feasibility of super artificial intelligence.

Philosopher David Chalmers argues that artificial general intelligence is a likely path to
superhuman intelligence hence once artificial intelligence reaches human level, there will be a
positive feedback that would further boost the development. Chalmer further claims that AI can
achieve equivalence to human intelligence hence can be extended to surpass human intelligence and
further amplified to completely dominate human across tasks [3].He further states that human brain
is a mechanical system thereby it ought to be emulated by other synthetic materials. [3]
Some of the hindrances that have made it difficult to achieve super intelligent machines are
for example; limited understanding of how the brains work

The A.I anxiety

Most of scientists tend to believe that runaway artificial intelligence could pose a big threat
to humanity. For instance, Nick Bistro, tries to explain it using a machine programmed to make
paper clips. This machine constantly gets smarter but achieves no human values. It thus achieves
supper intelligence. It then converts ordinary materials to paper clips and it eventually turns
everything on earth to paper clips including human beings. [4]
Philosophers such as Stephen Hawking and also Nick Bostrom are all worried about A.I and
have thus invested a lot to research which would ensure that the creation of super computers can
only be done with great vigilance and also with safeguarding measures to ensure that the machines
do not get out of control.

According to British mathematician and code-breaker I.J Good, an ultra intelligent machine
could design even better machines hence leading to intelligence explosion and man could thus be
left behind. This could thus lead to extinction of the human race. [5].This is thus referred to as
technological singularity. This was introduced by Vernor Vinge in 1993[6]
In all these forms of anxieties shown by philosophers, futurists and A.I experts, the
academic and scientific establishment is not yet convinced that artificial intelligence is an imminent
threat.
Risks of developing super intelligent machines.
Most of the researchers agree that super intelligence is unlikely to have human emotions
hence may then evolve to be something quite dangerous.[8].Thus A.I may be considered harmful
according to the following two scenarios, according to research;
1. AI programmed to do something devastating. For example, autonomous weapons are
programmed to kill hence if they find themselves in the wrong hands they may lead
to mass destruction. Also such weapons are created in that they are difficult to turn
off hence humans trend to lose control over them.
2. AI that was programmed to do something beneficial but it develops destructive
methods for achieving its goals.
Thus a super intelligent machine may be too good at accomplishing its goals and if those
goals are not aligned with our goals we may face a bigger problem. This may be due to the fact that
the systems are designed by error prone human beings.

References
[1]. Turing Alan, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, Mind, 59, pp. 433460, (1950).
doi:10.1093/mind/LIX.236.433
[2]. Bostrom, Nick. "How long before superintelligence?." (1998).
[3]. Crevier, Daniel. AI: The tumultuous history of the search for artificial intelligence. Basic
Books, Inc., 1993.
[4]. Bostrom, Nick. Existential Risks: Analyzing Human Extinction Scenarios and Related
Hazards. Journal of Evolution and Technology 1.9 (2002).
[5]. Yudkowsky, Eliezer. "Artificial intelligence as a positive and negative factor in global
risk." Global catastrophic risks 1 (2008): 303.
[6]. Vinge Vernor, The Coming Technological Singularity, Vision-21: Interdisciplinary Science &
Engineering in the Era of CyberSpace, proceedings of a Symposium held at NASA Lewis Research
Center (NASA Conference Publication CP-10129, (1993)
[7]. Tilli, Cecilia (28 April 2016).|Killer Robots? Lost Jobs? Slate. Retrieved 15 May2016.
[8]. Norvig vs Chomsky and the Fight for the Future of AI Tor.com. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 15
May 2016