Start Career in AI & Transhumanism: Steps to Take

[gammahead]

Does anyone have any ideas on what steps I should take to get involved in AI and/or other transhuman research? Basically, I want to be Ray Kurzweil

 

[digitman]

If you're only interested in AI programming, you should study computer science and then do a PhD related to AI, and that will help you get involved into further research later on.

If you're interested in building fully fledge robotics, mechatronics engineering seems to be the right field for that since it involves mechanics, electronics, control systems, and computer knowledge. After a bachelor's degree you could then get into a PhD in a subject that interests you.

Just my 2 cents

 

[fasterthanjoao]

Does anyone have any ideas on what steps I should take to get involved in AI and/or other transhuman research? Basically, I want to be Ray Kurzweil

You have to have a good bit of knowledge in a wide array of subjects and have experience. You should also be weary of romanticising particular careers: reading books is one thing, but try to consider what you would be doing on a day-to-day basis. If you ended up in AI programming, for instance, the big picture might be very cool and attractive - making an artificial intelligence! Robots are awesome. But can you see yourself managing the day-to-day work of sitting at a computer all day busting out code, fixing bugs and constantly re-writing the same piece of work? That's what I do, and I like it (though, nothing to do with AI). Not everyone does.

Anyway, if you want to work on AI then you're looking for a degree that has quite a bit of programming. I've seen computer scientists, mathematicians and physicists (from undergraduate) work on AI at graduate level. I'm sure other fields can as well. If, however, you want to build robots then electrical engineering or mechatronics. If you're interested in the engineering/biological interface side of things, then perhaps something like bioengineering where you'll learn principals of mechanical and electrical engineering in the context of the human body. I know people in bioengineering working on artificial limbs and artificial organs among other things that might be relevant to your interests.

 

[TaylorRatliff]

What do you want to accomplish? As a fellow transhumanist its my opinion that developing human/machine interfaces is the biggest problem. Maybe you should look into bio-physics, specifically regarding the nervous system. In the next 10 years you could be working on making robotic arms or legs for amputees interface with the nervous system, but in 50 that kind of research might lead to real brain/computer interfaces.

 

[twofish-quant]

But can you see yourself managing the day-to-day work of sitting at a computer all day busting out code, fixing bugs and constantly re-writing the same piece of work? That's what I do, and I like it (though, nothing to do with AI). Not everyone does.

Same here, and I also like fixing bugs. One thing that you need to do in college is to explore as much as you can and not focus too quickly. Things you thought you would like, you may turn out to hate, and vice versa. Get yourself in some research program or internship and then see what you like and don't like.

 

[fasterthanjoao]

One thing that you need to do in college is to explore as much as you can and not focus too quickly. Things you thought you would like, you may turn out to hate, and vice versa.

Definitely. This is one thing that worries me a lot about undergraduates nowadays. Popular science has done us good as well as a bit of harm: I feel that many undergraduates keep a closed-mind about what they want to do. Many people will read something about a subject they think is fascinating before they're at the level where it's possible to properly understand that, but end up using it as a method of choosing courses. "Why choose solid state physics when I know I want to study LQG?"

Obviously one needs to find some way to wittle down course and career choices, but in whatever type of study you choose try to keep an open mind about the skills you learn rather than having both eyes on what you think your final destination will be. I myself did something similar to what I note above - late on in my final year I realized that I have other priorities that are important to me that I had never considered throughout my education. It meant I ended up taking quite a different direction when all said and done, but I was really just lucky that I still had ample time to make the change.