Yesterday I sat down with Lukeprog for a few hours and we produced this ten-page interview for the Singularity Institute blog. This interview contains information about the Singularity Institute's technical research program and recent staff changes that hasn't been announced anywhere else! We hope you find it informative.
I would consider it one form of such progress, yes.
EDIT:
That was a genuine question, incidentally. I really want to know your answer.
Can you taboo what you mean by a person's utility function?