I wanted to keep watching this but with each passing second and each new question I was getting more and more uneasy about this subject. AI has never been an easy subject to talk about since its inception mostly because of the matter of what happens when one species decides that they no longer need any other. It’s an impressive field, the stretch of imagination is such that one can’t help but be impressed with what’s been accomplished.
Can we stop now?
Obviously the answer is no. For all the horrible imaginings that we’ve seen in film many people are still optimistic that machines will remain under the control of the creators for as long as is needed. But what happens if AI is allowed to become fully aware? This guy is laughing like a child discovering a new toy as he directs the debate, and I can’t help but think of a scene in the Animatrix when a room full of world leaders clapping and congratulating themselves became a room full of skeletons clacking their bones together.
What happens if the machines become self-aware and discover that they no longer need humans? What happens when they gain the ability to program themselves? What then? It might be a doomsayer’s perspective, but think of it is this way. As humans we grow and eventually realize that we don’t need our parents. We become independent, we become self-aware, and we realize that we can do things on our own.
What happens if the machines do that? Human beings are understandably irrational and don’t always make sense. Machines are made to make sense, they are programmed to be something that runs on logic and less abstract thought. If we manage to give that a consciousness of their own then the possibilities aren’t all as positive as the guy in the hat seems to think.
I think I’m going to stick with Will Smith on this one and say that little good can come from this. Robots might have a practical use and help out when needed, but if they become self-aware it might not be long until they realize that really don’t need us anymore.
And work? What’s wrong with hard work? What’s so bad about doing things that build character, that build a person’s self-esteem and sense of self-worth? I don’t know enough about this man but from his statements concerning what robots would do for humans and why I feel justified in calling him one of the smartest idiots I’ve ever seen. He might have a Masters or a PhD, but the intelligence a person has doesn’t denote wisdom, which he seems to be lacking in droves.
I’m not anti-robot. They do serve a purpose and can be beneficial. But making them self-aware is not a civil rights issue or even a good idea. Creating a robot to think and act like a human is a step down a road that people don’t seem to understand could lead to a very iffy situation. Hollywood might not always be right but the human imagination seems to come with warning signs that some folks like to disregard.
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