An equivalent transformation does not count ;-) Whether it is translation or speed optimization, or anything like that ;-) Those we have indeed mastered quite well long time ago ;-)
But when one can "hire a computer system for a current junior software engineering position at an average company", that will be the threshold for this particular path. The essence of those positions also have not changed for many, many decades. (Basically, when artificial programming systems reach the level of competence in their field which today's self-driving systems possess in theirs, that will be a transition point, and that will be a major revolution (if we can reach that level, that is). From that point the path will be open, for better or for worse (equivalent transformations cannot lead to unlimited self-improvement, for obvious reasons, which is why compilers and speed optimizers are excluded).)
***
Anyway, I found it quite enlightening to re-read Vinge's essay (following a link from his Wikipedia page); as context shifts with time it does read differently each time :-) So, I certainly benefited from this conversation already, because it prompted me to re-read Vinge's essay (and also to meditate on what it was like for him to compose that essay in 1993) :-) And it particular, his emphasis on the hybrid alternatives looks more and more interesting now, and puts the whole "AI safety debate" in a somewhat different light :-) So, anyway, I did benefit from this conversation, it had certainly helped my thought process :-)
I hope you also don't find the overall experience quite empty :-)
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Date: 2020-02-22 06:37 am (UTC)But when one can "hire a computer system for a current junior software engineering position at an average company", that will be the threshold for this particular path. The essence of those positions also have not changed for many, many decades. (Basically, when artificial programming systems reach the level of competence in their field which today's self-driving systems possess in theirs, that will be a transition point, and that will be a major revolution (if we can reach that level, that is). From that point the path will be open, for better or for worse (equivalent transformations cannot lead to unlimited self-improvement, for obvious reasons, which is why compilers and speed optimizers are excluded).)
***
Anyway, I found it quite enlightening to re-read Vinge's essay (following a link from his Wikipedia page); as context shifts with time it does read differently each time :-) So, I certainly benefited from this conversation already, because it prompted me to re-read Vinge's essay (and also to meditate on what it was like for him to compose that essay in 1993) :-) And it particular, his emphasis on the hybrid alternatives looks more and more interesting now, and puts the whole "AI safety debate" in a somewhat different light :-) So, anyway, I did benefit from this conversation, it had certainly helped my thought process :-)
I hope you also don't find the overall experience quite empty :-)