Blog 3 for Computer Mediated Communications

As I began reading the article based on Harvard and MIT's research into artificial intelligence and making it less artificial, I started to think back to all of the science fiction that I have read or seen (on screen) based on these ideas. Then I also started to think about other things going on in the world of science that apply here, and it made me question the things that were in the assignment, and here is the overall reaction that I have:

Humans are ever evolving.

Within the last hundred years we have gone from hand plowing the fields to using mechanized vehicles that do it a tenth of the time. Not only do we have people trying to translate / transmit human thought processes onto an AI being of sorts, but there are nano bots being used to treat cancer. We have evolved so rapidly that I'm curious as to whether or not there is a stopping point that we could logically come to. If there is, where is the hand brake and can we just stop evolution at the drop of a hat or are we going to have to wait for the next great collapse?

Also, what are we trading for these technologies? Better advances in the treatment of the Earth, yes. Chances for the human mind to expand rapidly and think faster than ever before? Yes. At what cost though?

We've all seen the science fiction stories of how technology is going to ruin us. From Terminators to Tron, they say we're all doomed. Even in our everyday lives we are giving in to put technologies above ourselves. But are we really? Yes, it is possible that we are getting a tad over zealous by thinking that we can put human thought into an artificial brain in five years. At the same time, I do not believe this is going too fast.

However, holding on to the idea like nothing can go wrong is never the smart way to go. Yes, there needs to be caution, and should the money be put else where on problems that we're facing now? Almost definitely, but who are we to question those with crazy amounts of money that want to see AIs doing their dishes? Not I. Curing the world of hunger and poverty would be nice, but I'm not the one throwing my cash either. Are we already seeing some of the "doom" playing out already? Sure we are. Look at the NSA (AKA Big Brother 2.0), Wiki-leaks, and the older generations complaining about how the younger is so much more lazy.

With any new advances there comes a price, from freedom depletion to lazier students, we saw it coming eventually. Hopefully we are smart enough to figure out when we've given too much for an easier lifestyle though. I'm not saying technology is bad, probably the last thing I'm saying, but I am saying caution needs to be used.