From: Adrian Tymes (wingcat@pacbell.net)
Date: Mon Apr 21 2003 - 14:17:45 MDT
--- Mike Lorrey <mlorrey@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Putting aside comical comments about Dominionites
> hunting out of season
> or bagging more than their limit, or even killing
> endangered species, I
> ask the list: Who is your favorite AI? Everybody
> knows about HAL,
> probably the most famous AI, but there have been
> plenty of others
> portrayed in movies, television, and literature.
Mine would be those that act mostly human, especially
in contrast to explicitly human characters displaying
the various character flaws usually attributed to AIs.
One example that comes to mind is C-3PO, vs. the
ruthless, cold, and calculating - but most definitely
organic (in brain, anyway) and human - Darth Vader and
his Emperor.
Why? Because they promote the idea that the
particular encapsulation of intelligence does not
matter so much as the sentience inside. AIs raised
without socialization may well be hostile to the human
race; witness the same traits in human beings raised
under similar circumstances (and which is so abhorrent
to most societies, in large part because of this very
result, that they term it neglect or abuse, and act to
prevent it). AIs without access to emotional
heuristics may suffer the same problems as humans who,
whether by birth defect, post-birth accident, or
deliberate abuse, either literally or effectively lack
the same. And so forth. OTOH, the mechanics of
upgrading the basic physical encapsulation of an AI
are far better understood than the same mechanics for
organic intelligence, although there is some basic
understanding for the organic side too.
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