Google is looking to eventually create a "fully reasoning" artificial intelligence (AI), claiming the development of the technology is inevitable.
The topic of creating such an AI was brought up during a discussion between the search giant's co-founder Sergey Brin and its CEO Larry Page, according to Viral Global News. Executives from Google claim that not only is the technology an eventuality, but that it will allow machines to think and accomplish tasks better than humans can.
Google's prototype of self-driving cars is viewed by many as the first step toward creating a fully functioning AI. The company's goal of creating the AI can also be found in its research in the Singularity, a term that refers to the moment in time when an AI becomes completely self-aware, as well as much smarter than any living human. Singularity may allow the AI to self-replicate with no assistance from humans.
Brin spoke to moderator Vinod Khosla in an interview, which included Page, about the efficiency of self-driving cars, saying that cars could eventually be used by more than one person. Brin added that the development of these vehicles would satisfy the manufacturers that would produce them, and that Google would work with different automakers and service providers on the vehicles, according to PC Magazine.
Brin and Page said in the interview that Google is looking to expand on projects, such as the fully reasoning AI, not related to its main focus Internet search. Page stated his belief that a company with a large number of employees should offer a large number of tasks, rather than just a few, to make the work experience more exciting.
"If you do something less related, you can actually handle more things," Page said.
While talking about the effects of technology on jobs, Page suggested new machines could help bring unemployment down, as well as provide human workers with shorter work weeks and extra vacation time.
In a discussion about the protests in San Francisco regarding Google's effect on increasing rent and housing prices, Page said the main sources of the problem are "governance," along with the city being unable to provide enough housing.
