Hi Dan—finally pre-ordered the book after I couldn't stop reading old posts here. Megan Stevenson's "Cause, Effect, and the Structure of the Social World"[1], was strongly recommended by another analyst of state capacity, and it seems right up your alley. Cheers,
Fascinating read! The Cube-Turning Society analogy really struck a chord with me, especially the tale of the Rubik's Cube faction. It got me thinking about the journey of those intrigued by the multifaceted puzzles that complex systems present. Fast forward from the dissolution of the original club, it seems to me that the Rubik's Cube enthusiasts, after wandering through the wilderness of unstructured inquiry, might find a new home amidst the burgeoning fields of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The parallels between the challenges faced by the Rubik's Cube group and the current research in ML/AI are striking. Both realms are grappling with understanding, modeling, and influencing systems of immense complexity and interconnectedness. The initial promise of cybernetics to comprehend and manage such systems seems to echo in the aspirations of modern AI/ML research. Just as the Rubik's group sought a deeper understanding beyond mere alignment of cubes, today's ML/AI researchers delve into the "puzzles" of data, algorithms, and neural networks, aiming to unlock patterns and principles that govern not just digital spaces but potentially our very cognition and societal organization.
As someone only starting my forays into the rich landscape of cybernetics, I'm intrigued by how its foundational ideas resonate with the challenges and approaches of AI/ML. The cybernetic principle of managing complex systems through matching the variety of the system with the variety of control mechanisms seems particularly relevant. AI/ML, in its quest to create systems capable of navigating and making sense of complex data environments, might be seen as a continuation of the cybernetic ambition, albeit with advanced tools and a broader canvas.
I'm curious to hear your thoughts, Dan. Do you see the exploration of AI/ML as a renaissance of cybernetic principles? Could the metaphorical descendants of the Rubik's Cube faction in the Cube-Turning Society find a parallel in today's ML/AI researchers, who strive to solve the "puzzles" of complex systems and intelligence?
Look forward to reading the book. In case you are unaware, just a heads up that on the US version of Amazon, only the Kindle version is available for pre-order. The hardcover edition is available on the UK site, but not the US site.
yes, I know, sorry - this is a publishing rights thing. there will be a US physical version at some point when we sell the rights but I can't say when. (tbh, pre orders and sales of the Kindle version probably inject a bit more urgency into the process)
Hi Dan—finally pre-ordered the book after I couldn't stop reading old posts here. Megan Stevenson's "Cause, Effect, and the Structure of the Social World"[1], was strongly recommended by another analyst of state capacity, and it seems right up your alley. Cheers,
Sam
[1] https://www.bu.edu/bulawreview/files/2023/12/STEVENSON.pdf
Twenty pages in and really enjoying your book—thanks so much!
Wonderful and useful information Dan. Pre-ordering today.
thanks very much! I hope you like it
Pre-ordered. Not to blow smoke, etc but all of the book extracts and related digressions have been really interesting.
thanks very much!
I pre-ordered some time ago!
thanks so much!
Fascinating read! The Cube-Turning Society analogy really struck a chord with me, especially the tale of the Rubik's Cube faction. It got me thinking about the journey of those intrigued by the multifaceted puzzles that complex systems present. Fast forward from the dissolution of the original club, it seems to me that the Rubik's Cube enthusiasts, after wandering through the wilderness of unstructured inquiry, might find a new home amidst the burgeoning fields of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The parallels between the challenges faced by the Rubik's Cube group and the current research in ML/AI are striking. Both realms are grappling with understanding, modeling, and influencing systems of immense complexity and interconnectedness. The initial promise of cybernetics to comprehend and manage such systems seems to echo in the aspirations of modern AI/ML research. Just as the Rubik's group sought a deeper understanding beyond mere alignment of cubes, today's ML/AI researchers delve into the "puzzles" of data, algorithms, and neural networks, aiming to unlock patterns and principles that govern not just digital spaces but potentially our very cognition and societal organization.
As someone only starting my forays into the rich landscape of cybernetics, I'm intrigued by how its foundational ideas resonate with the challenges and approaches of AI/ML. The cybernetic principle of managing complex systems through matching the variety of the system with the variety of control mechanisms seems particularly relevant. AI/ML, in its quest to create systems capable of navigating and making sense of complex data environments, might be seen as a continuation of the cybernetic ambition, albeit with advanced tools and a broader canvas.
I'm curious to hear your thoughts, Dan. Do you see the exploration of AI/ML as a renaissance of cybernetic principles? Could the metaphorical descendants of the Rubik's Cube faction in the Cube-Turning Society find a parallel in today's ML/AI researchers, who strive to solve the "puzzles" of complex systems and intelligence?
PS pre-ordered through my local bookstore!
I got briefly excited by this title, because I am a backgammon player. Alas!
Look forward to reading the book. In case you are unaware, just a heads up that on the US version of Amazon, only the Kindle version is available for pre-order. The hardcover edition is available on the UK site, but not the US site.
yes, I know, sorry - this is a publishing rights thing. there will be a US physical version at some point when we sell the rights but I can't say when. (tbh, pre orders and sales of the Kindle version probably inject a bit more urgency into the process)
Instant pre-order! Great little anecdote to explain divisions and goals in early cybernetics, can't wait to read the whole that it's part of