One might complain that the word ‘takeoff’ for the progression from human-level intelligence to superintelligence biases the discussion toward supposing that this progress will be fast, or in some other way resemble the launch of an airplane or rocketship.
One might complain that the word ‘takeoff’ for the progression from human-level intelligence to superintelligence biases the discussion toward supposing that this progress will be fast, or in some other way resemble the launch of an airplane or rocketship.
For a Dornier DO-X it took 5 km to reach takeoff speed in 1929. To me many mental connections match the intended sense:
high tech required (aircraft)
high power needed to accelerate
long distance to reach takeoff speed
losing contact to ground in soft transition
steep rising and gaining further speed
switching to rocket drive
… and travel to Mars...
Other suggestions welcome! Foom is ok for a closed LW community but looks strange to outsiders.