humans become 'pets' in the rise of the machines: apple co-founder

[bcbm]

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/humans-become-pets-in-rise-of-the-machines-apple-cofounder-20110603-1fkq0.html

[Summerspeaker]

That's rather presumptuous, I'd say. Artificial intelligence cannot obviate politics. Even assuming the most extreme predictions of hard take-off, we squishy fleshbags still have to build the damn thing. Technology sure ain't autonomous at the moment - to the contrary, it requires a vast system of coercion and the labor of millions. With ye old social revolution, we can achieve the easy life Wozniak mentions alongside meaningful decision-making power.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Machines have won the war and the human race is destined to become little more than house pets.

If our machine overlords treat us anything like my parents treat their dog, then this is great news. The only time his long naps by the woodstove are interrupted is when he's being lavished with affection or fed leftover food from the table.

[Dunk]

If our machine overlords treat us anything like my parents treat their dog, then this is great news. The only time his long naps by the woodstove are interrupted is when he's being lavished with affection or fed leftover food from the table.

[/COLOR][/LEFT]

Did your parents neuter their dog?

[Os Cangaceiros]

Nah.

[black magick hustla]

everytime some geek talks about the terminator apocalypse take it with a barrel of salt, its the other side of the coin of computer scientist phds going off about the singularity. fuckkkk, i supposedly have a bs in physics and math i can come up with some crazy ass story about mako energy and cloud strife being real

[Dr Mindbender]

That's rather presumptuous, I'd say. Artificial intelligence cannot obviate politics. Even assuming the most extreme predictions of hard take-off, we squishy fleshbags still have to build the damn thing. Technology sure ain't autonomous at the moment - to the contrary, it requires a vast system of coercion and the labor of millions.

I am by no means in concurrence with the article but i suspect the school of thinking here is that all it takes is for one autonomous AI being to start a chain reaction to manufacture numbers more.

I really don't see sentient cyborgs or computers appearing within our lifetime. AI is still very much in its infancy and cannot cope with serious, critical or complicated thought processes. I dont see that changing for the time that any of us are drawing breath. I'm old enough to remember futurologist speculations from the 80's. They were convinced that by the early 21st century we would have wonderful gadgets like flying cars and x ray glasses. All of which were way off the mark. This article is more of the same.

By all means we need to keep the singularity at bay, and keep AI in check but by no means should we regress back to a lower tech society. The ideal scenario is when we have a level of AI that is sub par but no less to human intelligence, which is ready and willing to provide menial labour or even companionship.

[Decolonize The Left]

I have a difficult time seeing this machine overlord future happen before we commit self-extinction.

- August

[Dr Mindbender]

I have a difficult time seeing this machine overlord future happen before we commit self-extinction.

- August

I could see it POSSIBLY happening (by which i mean distant distant future) , i just dont think its anything that you or i should lose sleep over.

[piet11111]

I would be more concerned about the high level of automation of the global financial system where computers are programmed to buy/sell at preset market conditions.
If something unexpected happens a market crash could happen in mere moments.

[JustMovement]

I eagerly look foward to humbly serving our silicon overlords.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

That's rather presumptuous, I'd say. Artificial intelligence cannot obviate politics. Even assuming the most extreme predictions of hard take-off, we squishy fleshbags still have to build the damn thing. Technology sure ain't autonomous at the moment - to the contrary, it requires a vast system of coercion and the labor of millions.

Last time I checked, automation was continuing apace and increasing, not decreasing or remaining level.

Even then, total automation isn't necessary for machines to take over. Imagine you're a factory supervisor, and you recieve an order. There's nothing unusual about it as far as you can tell, except that it's from an AI on the other side of the world, and the order is part of eir plan to Rule The World(TM). But you don't know this, because you rarely if ever meet your customers face to face. You've become an unwitting pawn in a plan you're barely aware of. Hey, that reminds me of something...


By all means we need to keep the singularity at bay,

Why?

[Queercommie Girl]

I wouldn't be excessively optimistic about the prospect of AIs ruling over us.

[piet11111]

I wouldn't be excessively optimistic about the prospect of AIs ruling over us.

I would not start fearing for the coming of the terminators either.

An AI would not have the same motivations to do things like we do (emotions instinct) if we program it with the purpose to make out lives better it would pursue that with the same dedication we have to breathing.

[Tablo]

Yeah, I'm not concerned about the creation of strong AI. Terminator is a movie and irobot is a book(and a shitty movie). At this point in time these are works of fiction and they portray worst case scenarios. Why would an AI destroy humanity? Why would it be motivated to do something like that?

[Zealot]

Obviously Wozniak meant it in a satirical sort of way, but as for it becoming a literal reality it is a delusion at best. The only way I ever see anything coming remotely close to this would be if there were some sort of hybrid, man and machine, who felt themselves superior to humans as we know them today. Some scientists believe Neanderthals were completely wiped out due to humanities superiority complex, so I could see this scenario maybe (very big maybe) happening.

[Queercommie Girl]

I would not start fearing for the coming of the terminators either.

An AI would not have the same motivations to do things like we do (emotions instinct) if we program it with the purpose to make out lives better it would pursue that with the same dedication we have to breathing.

That's not the point. One should realise that even if humans develop very high living standards and great happiness living as "pets" for the machines, we would have lost independent agency.

Socialism isn't just about social welfare. It's also about freedom. Where is freedom when one is merely a "pet"?

[Royce Gracie Of Communism]

Being a pet is the life, my cat gets fed whenever it meows for chow, lies around getting fat and goes out having sex all night, I am the schmook in the situation.

[Jose Gracchus]

Ever heard of puppy mills? Or putting down the ones no one wants? Or animal abuse?

[piet11111]

That's not the point. One should realise that even if humans develop very high living standards and great happiness living as "pets" for the machines, we would have lost independent agency.

Socialism isn't just about social welfare. It's also about freedom. Where is freedom when one is merely a "pet"?

What motivation would an AI have to limit our freedom ?
I can see it saying that maybe we should not be doing X but actively stopping us is something i would not see happening.

[Queercommie Girl]

What motivation would an AI have to limit our freedom ?
I can see it saying that maybe we should not be doing X but actively stopping us is something i would not see happening.

Pets don't have a lot of freedom.

I suppose it depends on the pet, but my goldfish basically goes wherever I want them to go, and stays inside their tank all the time. What if they want to swim for a kilometre in a river or a lake? They can't do it.

If humans literally become like "pets" for AI, it would imply that our freedoms would be limited, even if they are not completely taken away.

[Revy]

Apple is a horrible company, they can now shut off your iPhone camera if you're at a concert. That's just 1984 style control.

[Queercommie Girl]

Apple is a horrible company, they can now shut off your iPhone camera if you're at a concert. That's just 1984 style control.


I agree. In fact I think it's one of the most exploitative corporations in the world at the moment, given the Foxconn suicides in China.

[Queercommie Girl]

As for the central topic of this thread, I will however say that I think an (benevolent) AI will make a much better ruler for humanity than the current capitalist class.

Obviously ideally I prefer worker's self-rule the most, but relatively speaking I'd much rather be ruled by an AI than by the likes of the Apple Corporation.

Pets may not be completely free, but I'd much rather be a pet for an AI master than a livestock animal for human capitalists.

If the only two choices are between being ruled by (benevolent) machines and being ruled by the human bourgeois, then I would "betray" humanity without a second thought and bow down to the authority of AI and do all I can to aid them in their "conquest" of the human race.