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BBC World Service West and Central Africa

The Big Idea

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A big idea that shapes how we understand our place in the world - from the idea’s creator.

What are the big ideas shaping our world?  This new series from the BBC World Service picks the best ideas from economics to psychology, neuroscience to philosophy, political science to anthropology, and makes them easy to digest.

Each episode of "The Big Idea" outlines the important idea through the words of the person who’s developed the theory. In just nine minutes we offer a weekly chance to listen and feel just a little bit wiser.

The Big Idea: Super-intelligence

Super-Intelligence

05/05/2018 GMT

Super-intelligence

BBC World Service - The Big Idea, Super-intelligence

Will we be able to control computers of the future?

One day computers could far surpass human intelligence.  If and when they do, will we be able to control them?

One day – and Swedish philosopher Nick Bostrom believes it may not be far away – computers could become super-intelligent.  At that stage they’ll far surpass human intelligence.  They may be able to solve our most intractable problems – like find a cure for every disease.  But will we be able to control these computers – or will they control us? 
David Edmonds presents

(Image: Computer Code, Credit: Shutterstock)

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