Post by alissacm on Jul 22, 2016 7:39:18 GMT
1. Do you think artificial intelligence will be a significant problem in the future?
There are few things that scare me more than the seemingly impending sense of doom I associate with artificial intelligence. As much as I love technology, and as much as I can recognize the potential benefits of artificial intelligence, I cannot ignore the feeling of being obsolete that arises in me when thinking of a world where machines can “feel” like we as conscious humans can. After reading Einstein’s Wastebasket, I saw more clearly the extent to which people are going to go to reverse-engineer the human mind, and with it, the human consciousness. Some parts of the brain could potentially be replaced with machinery if a degenerating disease like Alzheimer’s develops. This, of course, is a huge benefit, but I can still compare AI with nuclear fission. A benefit of nuclear fission is the access to an almost unlimited source of clean (if handled correctly) energy. But the downside? Nuclear weaponry – the power to kill thousands of people instantly. AI’s benefits are potentially life-altering, but the downsides – purposeless existence, being outnumbered by sentient machinery – are staggering to think of. For example, if someone influential in the future were to say, “if machines can feel for us, what is the point in feeling for ourselves?”, would people agree? Would people opt for the sensationless existence that machines of today now have? Does this mean that humanity and machine will eventually switch places? Perhaps it is our fate, or in some way the ultimate form of human evolution; leaving real humanity behind.
2. How has technology impacted your life?
My life is what it is because of technology. I grew up experiencing the rise of portable electronics and the beginning of the information age, and I absolutely love that. As I type this response, I am able to use information that I accessed digitally to produce a thoughtful response with almost no turn-around time. And today, as silly as this example might seem, the game/cultural phenomenon that is Pokémon GO widespread success shows exactly how accessible and deeply-ingrained technology is in our society. As mentioned in the film Global Positioning Intelligence, our daily lives are now constantly permeated by “intelligent device”. I was using my family’s computer at the age of 2, and because of that I’ve reached a high level of comfort with technology. This level of comfort has led to creative school projects, the ability to go above and beyond in my work, and has also helped me develop my current love of learning. While there are many terrifying implications of where technology may head in the future, I can certainly say that my present has been shaped well by it.
There are few things that scare me more than the seemingly impending sense of doom I associate with artificial intelligence. As much as I love technology, and as much as I can recognize the potential benefits of artificial intelligence, I cannot ignore the feeling of being obsolete that arises in me when thinking of a world where machines can “feel” like we as conscious humans can. After reading Einstein’s Wastebasket, I saw more clearly the extent to which people are going to go to reverse-engineer the human mind, and with it, the human consciousness. Some parts of the brain could potentially be replaced with machinery if a degenerating disease like Alzheimer’s develops. This, of course, is a huge benefit, but I can still compare AI with nuclear fission. A benefit of nuclear fission is the access to an almost unlimited source of clean (if handled correctly) energy. But the downside? Nuclear weaponry – the power to kill thousands of people instantly. AI’s benefits are potentially life-altering, but the downsides – purposeless existence, being outnumbered by sentient machinery – are staggering to think of. For example, if someone influential in the future were to say, “if machines can feel for us, what is the point in feeling for ourselves?”, would people agree? Would people opt for the sensationless existence that machines of today now have? Does this mean that humanity and machine will eventually switch places? Perhaps it is our fate, or in some way the ultimate form of human evolution; leaving real humanity behind.
2. How has technology impacted your life?
My life is what it is because of technology. I grew up experiencing the rise of portable electronics and the beginning of the information age, and I absolutely love that. As I type this response, I am able to use information that I accessed digitally to produce a thoughtful response with almost no turn-around time. And today, as silly as this example might seem, the game/cultural phenomenon that is Pokémon GO widespread success shows exactly how accessible and deeply-ingrained technology is in our society. As mentioned in the film Global Positioning Intelligence, our daily lives are now constantly permeated by “intelligent device”. I was using my family’s computer at the age of 2, and because of that I’ve reached a high level of comfort with technology. This level of comfort has led to creative school projects, the ability to go above and beyond in my work, and has also helped me develop my current love of learning. While there are many terrifying implications of where technology may head in the future, I can certainly say that my present has been shaped well by it.