Event Summary

For our June monthly online book discussion, Austin Forum Executive Director, Jay Boisseau, will lead us in a conversation about the book “Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, and Strategies.” With any new technology comes fears alongside the initial excitement. But more so than ever before, society has to ask ourselves if these fears are warranted when it comes to superintelligence. Author Nick Bostrom explores what exactly superintelligence is and the means by which we can (or should?) accomplish this technological feat. We will dive into the benefits superintelligence will bring to society and at what cost, how we as a society can ensure our own success in this new era, and what responsibilities we have to mitigate these dangers as we build a new form of intelligence that will change life as we know it.

Moderator

Jay Boisseau, Executive Director, Austin Forum on Technology & Society

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia.