Discussion:
Partners or pets ...
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The Zygon
2018-08-10 01:32:00 UTC
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I think that it would be a bad idea for human beings to develop robots to the point of human-equivalent intelligence and self awareness. First, I don't see why once they have got that far they would stop there. They would be bound to surpass us, possibly to a level we are unable to even understand. And they may not be benevolent.

But even if they are benevolent, what could we be to such superior beings except pets? It seems to be that the best we can hope for in such a case is that they decide to be uninvolved in our affairs. And if they are uninvolved, why build them (the early versions, that is) in the first place?

In the Ian M Banks Culture universe, it seems to me that it would not be wholly inaccurate to consider the humanoids in the Culture society to be the pets of the Minds. But even if so, they seem to be highly indulgent masters.
Dorothy J Heydt
2018-08-10 02:59:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by The Zygon
I think that it would be a bad idea for human beings to develop robots
to the point of human-equivalent intelligence and self awareness.
First, I don't see why once they have got that far they would stop
there. They would be bound to surpass us, possibly to a level we are
unable to even understand. And they may not be benevolent.
But even if they are benevolent, what could we be to such superior
beings except pets? It seems to be that the best we can hope for in
such a case is that they decide to be uninvolved in our affairs. And if
they are uninvolved, why build them (the early versions, that is) in the
first place?
In the Ian M Banks Culture universe, it seems to me that it would not be
wholly inaccurate to consider the humanoids in the Culture society to be
the pets of the Minds. But even if so, they seem to be highly indulgent
masters.
Banks, "Farewell to the Master."

Also,

https://what-if.xkcd.com/5/
--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
t***@gmail.com
2018-08-10 11:27:23 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dorothy J Heydt
Post by The Zygon
I think that it would be a bad idea for human beings to develop robots
to the point of human-equivalent intelligence and self awareness.
First, I don't see why once they have got that far they would stop
there. They would be bound to surpass us, possibly to a level we are
unable to even understand. And they may not be benevolent.
But even if they are benevolent, what could we be to such superior
beings except pets? It seems to be that the best we can hope for in
such a case is that they decide to be uninvolved in our affairs. And if
they are uninvolved, why build them (the early versions, that is) in the
first place?
In the Ian M Banks Culture universe, it seems to me that it would not be
wholly inaccurate to consider the humanoids in the Culture society to be
the pets of the Minds. But even if so, they seem to be highly indulgent
masters.
Banks, "Farewell to the Master."
By which you mean Bates - Harry Bates. I think the entire text of the
story can be found online, and it also appears in the super wonderful
anthology Adventures in Time and Space ed by Healy & McComas.

Tony
Dorothy J Heydt
2018-08-10 14:57:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by t***@gmail.com
Post by Dorothy J Heydt
Post by The Zygon
I think that it would be a bad idea for human beings to develop robots
to the point of human-equivalent intelligence and self awareness.
First, I don't see why once they have got that far they would stop
there. They would be bound to surpass us, possibly to a level we are
unable to even understand. And they may not be benevolent.
But even if they are benevolent, what could we be to such superior
beings except pets? It seems to be that the best we can hope for in
such a case is that they decide to be uninvolved in our affairs. And if
they are uninvolved, why build them (the early versions, that is) in the
first place?
In the Ian M Banks Culture universe, it seems to me that it would not be
wholly inaccurate to consider the humanoids in the Culture society to be
the pets of the Minds. But even if so, they seem to be highly indulgent
masters.
Banks, "Farewell to the Master."
By which you mean Bates - Harry Bates. I think the entire text of the
story can be found online, and it also appears in the super wonderful
anthology Adventures in Time and Space ed by Healy & McComas.
Yes. I sit corrected. I don't own a copy.
--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
J. Clarke
2018-08-11 01:56:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dorothy J Heydt
Post by The Zygon
I think that it would be a bad idea for human beings to develop robots
to the point of human-equivalent intelligence and self awareness.
First, I don't see why once they have got that far they would stop
there. They would be bound to surpass us, possibly to a level we are
unable to even understand. And they may not be benevolent.
But even if they are benevolent, what could we be to such superior
beings except pets? It seems to be that the best we can hope for in
such a case is that they decide to be uninvolved in our affairs. And if
they are uninvolved, why build them (the early versions, that is) in the
first place?
In the Ian M Banks Culture universe, it seems to me that it would not be
wholly inaccurate to consider the humanoids in the Culture society to be
the pets of the Minds. But even if so, they seem to be highly indulgent
masters.
Banks, "Farewell to the Master."
Also,
https://what-if.xkcd.com/5/
While that xkd is cute, consider


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