I think intelligence is best understood as an entity that has the ability to improve a metric through repeated exposure over time. By that definition, machine learning algorithms are learning systems — they get better with more data and more exposures. A dog is a learning system. A cat is a learning system — you teach it a trick, reward it a few times, and it just does it from there on. And humans, of course, are the ultimate example of a learning system.
— Hon Weng Chong“He was a powerful figure who amassed considerable wealth for a select few—if they were fortunate and early enough in his scheme. Despite the exorbitant returns that should have raised eyebrows, those benefitting often turned a blind eye, choosing not to question the source of their profits. Yes, there were individuals who asked probing questions, but Madoff had crafted such an aura of invulnerability around himself that any questioning was met with swift exclusion from his investment circle. He was effectively untouchable.”— Bernie Madoff
Perpetrator of Largest Ponzi Scheme in US History
The quote archive
Philosophy
A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.
Consequentialism is a philosophical approach to morality which says that actions themselves don't have intrinsic value, rather- the value of actions is determined by their consequences. We should therefore should be aware of the effects and side effects of actions when establishing their value.
— Jaan TallinnCo-Founder of Skype & Estonian Entrepreneur & Technologist
Humanity has always been concerned with the end of the world!
— Jaan TallinnCo-Founder of Skype & Estonian Entrepreneur & Technologist
By definition, existential risks are those which- by definition- could terminate the species, or permanently limit the long term potential of our civilisation. Martin Rees, the distinguished scientist, said that the difference between killing 90% of humanity, and 100% of humanity is not 10%. The difference is huge. By killing 100% of humanity, you are also killing all future generations.
— Jaan TallinnCo-Founder of Skype & Estonian Entrepreneur & Technologist
There's an interesting over-representation of physicists within the existentialist community. Physicists, especially astronomers and cosmologists have had a glimpse of how vast the universe is, and the potential value of it, versus our planet.
— Jaan TallinnCo-Founder of Skype & Estonian Entrepreneur & Technologist
Every child should free to be a child. Every child should be free to cry and laugh. Every child should be free to learn and grow. Every child should be free to play and enjoy his or her childhood. Freedom is the key to childhood, and we must protect that.
— Kailash SatyarthiNobel Peace Prize Winner & Child Rights Activist Against Child Labor
We have taught them they are American, Indian or African. Children have never created borders, religions, faiths or caste systems. Children have not been responsible for wars and divisions in society- we did that… and now we're imposing on our children, from their birth, a divisive image of who they are. We need to learn from children, and learn simplicity, forgiveness and the beauty of life.
— Kailash SatyarthiNobel Peace Prize Winner & Child Rights Activist Against Child Labor
We have come to consider children as either being exploited or subject to charity; we hardly ever consider them as the equal human beings they are, born with certain inalienable rights.
— Kailash SatyarthiNobel Peace Prize Winner & Child Rights Activist Against Child Labor
What failure really means is that you are trying to live life, and the fact that you fail means that you are trying. As soon as you try to avoid failure, you are facing the wrong direction.
— Ed CatmullCo-Founder of Pixar & Pioneer in Computer Graphics
For us, for our people, who were under communist domination, we were comfortable and happy to take on a European identity when we gained independence. Identity is something incredibly personal; and how the individual combines their national and European identity is something they do themselves.
— Toomas Hendrik IlvesFormer President of Estonia & Cybersecurity Pioneer
A child doesn't even question their situation- I was thrown into a situation and had to respond to it; if I needed food, I had to get food… If I needed shelter, I had to find shelter.
— Mario CapecchiNobel Prize Winner for Gene Targeting in Mice
I never had an ethical dilemma with what was going on as a child, it was about pure survival. The kids that survived were the ones who were clever enough to continually get a meal.
— Mario CapecchiNobel Prize Winner for Gene Targeting in Mice
If you want to understand the mainsprings of human-action, then understanding the remembering self is more important than the experiencing self.
— Daniel KahnemanNobel Prize Winner in Economics for Behavioral Economics Research
There is a proverb in Hebrew that says that there used to be prophecy, but prophecy is now left for fools. I am not enthusiastic about forecasting anything.
— Daniel KahnemanNobel Prize Winner in Economics for Behavioral Economics Research
Bias means your mind, your experiences, and your knowledge is too narrow to take in and truly appreciate the person standing in front of you.
— May-Britt MoserNeuroscientist; Nobel Prize for discovering brain's positioning system cells
Our culture is one of compensation, it's bullshit. We have so many cars, so many houses and so much sex, we lose track of who we are. We need to get back to the core. Through removing stimulation, we've disconnected ourselves from nature, from our innate capacities, and we have to reawaken ourselves.
— Wim HofExtreme athlete known for ice exposure & breathing technique methods