Epochs of an AI cosmology

Abstract

We began the discussion about the educational benefits to the general public of a standard AI Cosmology in Volume 4 Issue 2 of "AI Matters". But the mere notion of such a standard immediately raises lots of questions. In this column, we only focus on a very narrow set of those questions: First and foremost: Is there an AI Cosmology? If in fact the notion of cosmology applies to AI, is there only one valid AI Cosmology or are there competing valid cosmologies? If there is only one valid cosmology, what is its structure? How far can we take an AI Cosmology analogy? Like our Universe, did AI have the equivalent of a Big Bang? Is the field or structure of AI expanding or contracting? In an interview with Nikola Danaylov, podcaster of Singularity.FM, the late Marvin Minsky, one of the early AI pioneers, suggested that the evolution of AI in the 21st century maybe be contracting or even stalled! We posit that an AI Cosmology would help to educate the general public about our research and work, and its impact on society. Internally, it would help us to fix the objects, structure, and dynamics of the field. A standard cosmological model would help us all distinguish spurious AI mythos, pseudo science, hype, and fake news from the genuine article. A true cosmology of Artificial Intelligence would help us fix its origins, understand its trajectory, and predict its fate.