In class today we looked at what the future could hold for technological advances and many people have very different opinions on this matter. How far is too far and would you want to reach singularity, which is when computers can start to think at the same rate that humans can. They believe that Singularity could occur in the next 19 years, by 2029 they believe that this will occur, and within the next 20 years, computers will be able to process information at the same rate as the entire human race.
Many people have different opinions on whether or not this is a good idea, for robots and computer to be able to act functionally as humans do, just like the move Irobots. There are advantages and disadvantages to both sides. I believe the main advantages to these advances is efficiency, you will be able to get more things done in a day if you had an extra pair of hands to do small things in your life. A disadvantage to having something like this would be the increase of laziness, and you would have to rely on the machine's to do simple tasks, and if there was a problem, you might not know how or feel comfortable doing these small tasks.
This is a very interesting and distressing subject. To think that one day computers and machines will be able to think and function independently truly shows amazing advances in technology. However, I believe that this may become an example of history repeating itself. For example, the creation of the atomic bomb was deemed necessary to end WWII. The US government funded the creation of a weapon that they truly did not understand. Since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the US and the world have prevented the further use of nuclear weapons.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the development of A.I. and machines being able to perform tasks independently could be a problem that designers do not fully understand. Man has not been dominated by machines because man controls machines. But what happens when man gives a faster thinking, efficient machine, the ability to think? Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not predicting anything like the Terminator movies but at the same time....is it that crazy to think about?
A kind of advance where computers can think at the same rate as a human is scary to me. It's like aliens are going to take over. Yes, they may be more efficient and helpful in the work place. These computers could start taking away jobs from us, and people will more than likely become over dependent on them. People are already computer crazy, attached to there phones, mp3s and computers, next they will just have a robot as their best friend.
ReplyDeleteMore and more I am becoming more concerned with what PEOPLE will do with this technology. If computers, "will be able to process information at the same rate as the entire human race," can you imagine what people could accomplish with these tools? While people can use it to benefit their lives and the lives of others, I am worried about the people who have selfish and malicious intentions. With this technological power, they could wreak all sorts of havoc. Just imagine the type of identity theft that will be possible in the future. Developers will really have to work on building safety measures and protection programs for these future programs.
ReplyDeleteMy main concern is that technology seems to be advancing at a quicker pace than our understanding of that technology. The creators of the atomic bombs regretted their creation. Now that technology has progressed as far as it has, and is continuing to progress ever faster, will there come an even bigger oops that we will have to face? I think that there needs to be more focus put on ethics as it relates to our technological advancements.
ReplyDeleteSingularity is a scary but neat thought. I do think it is great that we as humans are able to make something so advanced but I think it is a little weird to thing about. I just can't think how life would be with things like robots. I'm sure that by the time they are everywhere people will wonder how we lived without them.
ReplyDelete