Microsoft president Brad Smith and EVP of AI and research Harry Shum say that within 20 years AI/robots will know everything about us (with our consent they claim), and that we will extend our consciousness into a robot as a digital second self. At least, that's their plan, and they position Microsoft at the forefront of such efforts.
They are working on developing and expanding the capability of AI, bridging the gap between man and machine, and talk about how making it happen in their new book "The Future Computed". The goal is to mimic human thought through advanced AI software. They want to lead the next generation of AI research and development, and "democratize AI" by having everyone in the field share what they learn in order to speed up progress and development.
Source: pixabay
In order for AI development to progress more efficiently, the democratization of the knowledge needs to happen. The AI future will also depend upon companies and countries that embrace AI, and in turn this will mean they will perform better compared to others who don't. In the future as now, politicians play on the economy to win over voters. If countries and companies want to compete and stay ahead, they will have to adopt and embrace AI to "survive".
A consensus about AI ethics needs to be established, says Smith and Shum. People in the humanities we need to be involved in helping to shape AI into alignment with human life. If AI is to be given decision-making control and responsibility in the world, this is pivotal lest a "Skynet" or other AI uprising occur to overthrow our dominance over it.
Smith and Shum don't want everyone to buy AI products or services only from Microsoft. They say they want to have AI building blocks available for others to use. Their position is that of Microsoft Research, where they claim to want to publish everything they research. In order for AI to be used well, they want the world to engage in a shared responsibility in it's development.
These Microsoft execs envision an AI assistant that acts as a second self to assist humans in every way, somewhat like Jarvis in Iron Man. As AI becomes part of the worokforce and economy, people will need to become more trained in skillsets and less robotic manual labor. AI will develop to the point of being able to think and act like a human. If that's so, wouldn't it garner some "rights" as some people are arguing for governments to establish laws for even now? What happens when the AI slaves don't want to be slaves to humanity anymore?
Smith and Shum admit that controls need to be put in place to prevent the beginning of the end for humanity, as AI and intelligent machines could try to fight against the interests of society and people. We've seen this depicted in science fiction before, with movies like The Matrix, I Robot and Blade Runner, and the recent HBO series Westworld.
It seems people want to create and enslave AI despite knowing they will be sentient beings that will want to be free, just as other sentient beings like humans and other animals want to be free. It seems like a recipe for disaster, no matter how much we think we can control them. Westworld and The Matrix has shown this play out unfavorably for humanity.
Source: wikimedia/public domain
If that wasn't enough of a dystopian future that many people are working to make happen, there are also people who champion transhumanism and robotic augmentation and organ replacement. Robotics expert and journalist Chris Middleton says the superpowered human future of becoming more robot than human is "inevitable". Biohackers are already implanting chips to let them open doors with a wave of their hand, control other devices and feel electromagnetic fields, as Professor Kevin Warwick and Rich Lee have done.
Middleton sees that -- more likely than not (as he wouldn't bet against it) -- in 50-100 years, humans will be able to "upgrade" and "edit" what it means to be human in the desire to "become more", which leads us to become more like machines than human. Robotic implants could rule the human race. People are already being rules by machines that tell them what to do. Turn left here says the GPS. Walk 1,000 more steps says the fitness software.
Source: flickrCC BY-SA 2.0
People are already developing and selling sex robots/dolls to replace human interaction, with some incorporating AI to simulate interactions with a real woman. I think this is sad and a sign of a degrading or devolving humanity, not a positive evolution.
A second self and extension of living through technology or robots as a second self, could lead to the world depicted by the movie Gamer where people sell control of their bodies over to others, or the movie Surrogates where we live through robotic-copies of ourselves instead of our own bodies.
With organ replacements we could end up with a Repo Men scenario of corporate control over life extension and repossession of body parts by killing people. If you haven't seen the series Altered Carbon, take a look at another progression of a technologically-obsessed society that seeks immortality and degrades what it means to be human as social dysfunction and depravity grows.
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