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Forward-looking: SingularityNET's initiative to create a global network of supercomputers aims to develop a system that surpasses human intelligence. As these advancements unfold, it will be fascinating to observe how society addresses the ethical and regulatory challenges posed by such advanced computing intelligence.
A significant effort is underway, led by SingularityNET, to construct a global network of supercomputers aimed at developing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). AGI is anticipated to be a groundbreaking system that not only matches but exceeds human intelligence across a wide array of disciplines, with the ability to learn and evolve independently.
AGI is a topic of significant interest and debate within the computing community. Recent thinking, including an essay by Leopold Aschenbrenner, a former safety researcher at OpenAI, suggests that this milestone could be achieved in the next decade.
SingularityNET is determined to turn this prediction into reality. The project is set to launch with a new supercomputer coming online in September, and the entire network is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024 or early 2025.
These supercomputers will be equipped with cutting-edge technology, including Nvidia L40S GPUs, AMD Instinct and Genoa processors, and Tenstorrent Wormhole server racks with Nvidia H200 GPUs – all of which represent some of the most advanced AI hardware available today.
The network will leverage sophisticated AI systems, such as deep neural networks, large language models, and multimodal systems that integrate human behaviors with multimedia outputs. The goal of this approach is to transition from traditional data-heavy learning to advanced machine thinking, utilizing multi-step reasoning algorithms and dynamic world modeling.
SingularityNET CEO Ben Goertzel emphasized the groundbreaking nature of this endeavor, telling LiveScience, "The mission of the computing machine we are creating is to ensure a phase transition from learning on big data and subsequent reproduction of contexts from the semantic memory of the neural network to non-imitative machine thinking based on multi-step reasoning algorithms and dynamic world modeling based on cross-domain pattern matching and iterative knowledge distillation."
To manage this complex system, SingularityNET is developing software to oversee a federated compute cluster, with the OpenCog Hyperon framework playing a crucial role in supporting the AI architecture and AGI ecosystem. Access to this supercomputer network will be facilitated through a tokenized system, akin to arcade game tokens, allowing users to contribute to and utilize data for AGI experimentation and deployment.
While the primary focus is on AGI development, the supercomputer network's immense computational capabilities could theoretically be applied to a wide range of fields, from scientific research and engineering to national security.
For instance, supercomputers are instrumental in testing mathematical models for complex physical phenomena, such as climate and weather modeling, cosmic evolution, and subatomic particle studies. They are also pivotal in designing and testing new chemical compounds, particularly in pharmaceuticals, as well as in the automotive and aerospace industries. And historically, supercomputers have played a vital role in national security, including nuclear weapons design.