While more progress is being made all the time in Artificial Intelligence (AI), some scientists and philosophers warn of the dangers of an uncontrollable superintelligent AI. Using theoretical calculations, an international team of researchers, including scientists from the Center for Humans and Machines at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, shows that it would not be possible to control a superintelligent AI.

Computer Scientists: We Wouldn’t Be Able to Control Superintelligent Machines

While more progress is being made all the time in Artificial Intelligence (AI), some scientists and philosophers warn of the dangers of an uncontrollable superintelligent AI. Using theoretical calculations, an international team of researchers, including scientists from the Center for Humans and Machines at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, shows that it would not be possible to control a superintelligent AI.

How can we best communicate information about the new COVID-19 vaccines to inform as many people as possible and prevent the spread of misinformation? This question has been addressed by an international team of more than 25 scientists, including Stefan Herzog from the Center for Adaptive Rationality. Their results have been published in The COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Handbook. 

COVID-19 vaccines: Scientists develop guidelines for effective communication

How can we best communicate information about the new COVID-19 vaccines to inform as many people as possible and prevent the spread of misinformation? This question has been addressed by an international team of more than 25 scientists, including Stefan Herzog from the Center for Adaptive Rationality. Their results have been published in The COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Handbook. 

What role can and should psychological research play in addressing the challenges of the digital world? What would the digital world need to be like for people to make good and informed decisions in it? A new paper provides an overview of the research field, outlines the main challenges, and describes cognitive tools that could help people and policymakers address these challenges.

Human behavior and decision making in the digital world

What role can and should psychological research play in addressing the challenges of the digital world? What would the digital world need to be like for people to make good and informed decisions in it? A new paper provides an overview of the research field, outlines the main challenges, and describes cognitive tools that could help people and policymakers address these challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the uncertainty inherent in science. The results of a Germany-wide study conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin show that most Germans want to be openly informed about this uncertainty.

No false certainty: Germans want open communication of uncertainty in the coronavirus pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the uncertainty inherent in science. The results of a Germany-wide study conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin show that most Germans want to be openly informed about this uncertainty.

Citizens of East Germany wanted to use music and lyrical forms to propagate hopes, desires, and visions of socialist Germany’s future and to influence the coming generation on an emotional level. Writing of the GDR as a “modern time regime”, Juliane Brauer tells the story of a promised future and the results of its failure to be realized. The certainty and belief in progress that characterized the beginnings were replaced with mistrust and disappointment over shattered dreams.

Feeling Time - How the GDR Sang its Future. A History of Emotions

Citizens of East Germany wanted to use music and lyrical forms to propagate hopes, desires, and visions of socialist Germany’s future and to influence the coming generation on an emotional level. Writing of the GDR as a “modern time regime”, Juliane Brauer tells the story of a promised future and the results of its failure to be realized. The certainty and belief in progress that characterized the beginnings were replaced with mistrust and disappointment over shattered dreams.

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The Max Planck Institute for Human Development is dedicated to the study of human development and educational processes across the lifespan and historical time. Researchers from diverse disciplines—including psychology, sociology, history, computer and information science, medicine, mathematics, and economics—work together on interdisciplinary projects. An overview of all research centers and groups can be found here.

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Computer Scientists: We Wouldn’t Be Able to Control Superintelligent Machines

January 11, 2021

We are fascinated by machines that can control cars, compose symphonies, or defeat people at chess, Go, or Jeopardy ...

No false certainty: Germans want open communication of uncertainty in the coronavirus pandemic

December 10, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the uncertainty inherent in science. The results of a Germany-wide ...

Forming beliefs in a world of filter bubbles

November 25, 2020

Why do so many Republicans still believe that the recent US presidential election was fraudulent? Is it possible to ...

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1 Doctoral Position on Risk Preference | Center for Adaptive Rationality

January 20, 2021

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The MPI for Human Development provides several working opportunities for Predocs.
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