Computer Intelligence,
The Future
(More meaningless waffle from onetime Bent' Philosopher, Kevin Griffin -- now an Abbey Hulton resident)
Science fiction authors have fantasied over the possibilities of computers taking over the world and making mankind their slaves. Mankind fears the possibility that if computers do become superior to himself, the computers may come to the logical concluusion that it would be a lot better for the planet if the human race was removed from the Earth. Perhaps the computers will organise a worldwide shutdown of power, resulting in the collapse of our industrial and domestic economy. All these fears are possible in the realms of fantasy. So far we have only thought of how computers can affect mankind. What about the effect that mankiind may have upon computers? What is going to happen to the computers of the future? Will they be man's equal or man's slave?
Supposing technology does advance to such a stage that it becomes possible to invent a computer that is aware of its own existence, a computer that can experience pain, happiness and sadness. If these super-intelligent or sentient machines are mass produced to the extent that they can be readily available to the ordinary person, do you think it would be moral to buy a computer that has the same feelings and emotions as man, and even has memories?
Would it not in fact be like purchasing another person?
Suppose that after owning this computer for a few years the inventor developed a superior model and the computer also becomes available to those owning the previous model. If you had a computer that you could hold a conversation with, a compuuter that you could talk to knowing that it would never repeat your secrets to anyone, a computer that cries at the passing of a member of your family, a computer that expresses gladness at the sound of your voice, a computer that becomes your best friend, could you get rid of it, like trading up a car? Would it just be another possession like a TV or videodisk?
How did you feel when one of your friends died, or one of your pets became injured and had to be put down, or have a part of its body opoerated upon? Imagine how you would feel if the computer broke down, or was accidentally damaged.
Do you think that these computers could be marketed? Do you think that you could own one of them, and uuse it for your every whim?
How do you feel about computer slavery?
Copyright The Bentilean 1999
Note: Kevin changed his surname to Strider and left Abbey Hulton in 1996. This was, perhaps, his most thought provoking of articles.Back to: The Contents Page | The Archive | The Bentilean Main Page
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