Robots Will Kill Us All

[Dislogic]

ok well im not sure if this was stated earlier but if anyone here is into science fiction writing then i think you should take out a few of Isaac Asimov's works... But in pertaining to this subject about robots he has a few novels about robots that are very very interesting so i would check them out... though im much to lazy to find a link right now

[Dislogic]

By the way Stephen Hawking is the coolest man in the universe!

[[ÄK]LËGÖLÄS]

I would be more corcened with how the military plans to use robots. the military in this country will be the first to discover any new technologies. Thanks to programs like Darpa.......I wouldn't be surprised if pretty soon they start talking about nanoaugmented soldiers fighting wars for us.

Originally posted by Jim@Sep 1 2003, 01:43 AM Marshall Brain wrote this article about how he believes that sometime around 2050, robots will have become so advanced as to replace 50% of the workforce in America (mostly menial, minimum-wage jobs). He also wrote two other somewhat-redundant articles about Robots in 2015, and about solving the problems created by 50% unemployment in an industrialized society. While his timescale may be off, his conclusion isn't: robots are going to drastically change the global economy. His article on solving the problems caused by a robotic workforce called Robotic Freedom is unfortunately horrible. Marshall Brain is no economist, and it shows. He is also writing a novel called Manna about a computer system that increases worker efficiency, but over time turns into a strict control device that makes employees work in conditions similar to the 1920s. It's so focused on this fictional system that he ignores the possibility that the future could be drastically different, and that the problems inherent in Manna might not happen in a real-life version. I wouldn't have a problem with this normally, if it were a good-ol' science fiction novel, but it's being touted as if it's his honest analysis of future occurances. What are your thoughts on a robotic workforce? On his articles?

well, in texas, the mexicans have already taken all of the menial jobs, so we're used to it.

what will robots take down here? the mexicans' jobs? i guess they'll have to go back to mexico.

[GreatWyrm of Babylon]

Pooeypants
Respect? Respect is to pretend that the man is able to do things he cannot? Are we to claim that Ghandi was the first man to visit the moon because we think we owe him something more???

[Jim]

I wonder at what "IQ" level, a computer will gain self awareness. Perhaps it never will. But we really can't tell these days with technology advancing at such a rapid rate.

This reminded me of an episode of The Andy Griffith Show where Andy asks someone else, "Do you ever think we'll go to the moon?"

[Gwala]

Actually, something becomes sentient at an IQ of 1. The turing tests are designed to measure sentience, however no non-sentient machine would be capable of answering a proper MENSA IQ test, as there are at least a few questions that require abstract and adaptive thinking. I wrote an article on my personal effort at AI programming (you can read it here)

But basically, there are some other points that I have previously not expressed on this issue.
a) AI systems dont have a pre programmed urge to terminate lifeforms deemed 'inefficiant'.
b) AI != Robots
c) Robot efficiency could lead to a golden age, as farms and other food and manufacturing industries could be operated 24/7 for minimal cost. Depends really on how people react to it, if systems are setup to minimise the possibility of greed influencing it, then capatalism's natural urge to force competitive pricing, and the lower costs of manufacturing would be a massive boon to the race.

-Gwala

[Um Yeah]

All I know that if we ever invent PersoCons civilization is done for, If I had one id never leave my house.

[Pooeypants]

Originally posted by GreatWyrm of Babylon@Sep 3 2003, 02:41 AM Pooeypants Respect? Respect is to pretend that the man is able to do things he cannot? Are we to claim that Ghandi was the first man to visit the moon because we think we owe him something more???

Stephen Hawkings is a scientist who specialises in Cosmology. However, it does not mean his other opinions and comments on other sciences are complete nonsense as you suggest. If thats the case, then anything you have to comment on say the electronics and robots are irrelavent because you don't have a robotics degree etc. You wouldn't like that now then would you?

[Pooeypants]

I was thinking, with robots taking over more of the menial jobs it means more of the population will be "forced" into doing skilled worked...I think having a society with mainly skilled workers who are more educated will help to benefit civilisation.
Although we might become too dependent on the machines, but then we already are now...

[G. Adams]

Originally posted by Pooeypants@Sep 4 2003, 05:15 PM I was thinking, with robots taking over more of the menial jobs it means more of the population will be "forced" into doing skilled worked...I think having a society with mainly skilled workers who are more educated will help to benefit civilisation. Although we might become too dependent on the machines, but then we already are now...

I don't think it would happen like that. People would be forced to try and 'keep up with the times', but most would still lose out. Then all who didn't get the few jobs going would have poor families. They wouldn't be able to afford University for their kids, so they wouldn't get jobs. But those who did get jobs could send their kids, and they would get jobs. We would have an even more polarised society of wealthy and underclass. Good for me mind, makes socialist revolution more possible.

[Pooeypants]

Originally posted by G. Adams+Sep 4 2003, 10:30 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (G. Adams @ Sep 4 2003, 10:30 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Pooeypants@Sep 4 2003, 05:15 PM I was thinking, with robots taking over more of the menial jobs it means more of the population will be "forced" into doing skilled worked...I think having a society with mainly skilled workers who are more educated will help to benefit civilisation. Although we might become too dependent on the machines, but then we already are now...

I don't think it would happen like that. People would be forced to try and 'keep up with the times', but most would still lose out. Then all who didn't get the few jobs going would have poor families. They wouldn't be able to afford University for their kids, so they wouldn't get jobs. But those who did get jobs could send their kids, and they would get jobs. We would have an even more polarised society of wealthy and underclass. Good for me mind, makes socialist revolution more possible. [/b][/quote]
well if our gov't (in europe at least) were more socialistic democrats they'd give grants or loans (as current UK is doing after Labour cut grants, the bastards), I'm sure then most students will be able to carry on to Uni level education.
However, there is the culture problem of that most kids these days are not interested with further education, if any at all. But ofc that'll change when unskilled jobs start getting taken over by machines.
hmm, luddites revived but happen though...

[G. Adams]

Originally posted by Pooeypants+Sep 4 2003, 06:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Pooeypants @ Sep 4 2003, 06:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Originally posted by G. Adams@Sep 4 2003, 10:30 PM <!--QuoteBegin-Pooeypants @Sep 4 2003, 05:15 PM I was thinking, with robots taking over more of the menial jobs it means more of the population will be "forced" into doing skilled worked...I think having a society with mainly skilled workers who are more educated will help to benefit civilisation. Although we might become too dependent on the machines, but then we already are now... I don't think it would happen like that. People would be forced to try and 'keep up with the times', but most would still lose out. Then all who didn't get the few jobs going would have poor families. They wouldn't be able to afford University for their kids, so they wouldn't get jobs. But those who did get jobs could send their kids, and they would get jobs. We would have an even more polarised society of wealthy and underclass. Good for me mind, makes socialist revolution more possible.

well if our gov't (in europe at least) were more socialistic democrats they'd give grants or loans (as current UK is doing after Labour cut grants, the bastards), I'm sure then most students will be able to carry on to Uni level education.
However, there is the culture problem of that most kids these days are not interested with further education, if any at all. But ofc that'll change when unskilled jobs start getting taken over by machines.
hmm, luddites revived but happen though... [/b][/quote]
Ahh come on, its not most kids. I live in Grangetown, famous for Roy Chubby Brown, Paul Daniels and being the sixth most deprived ward in GB, and even here most still want to go to uni, if just for the first year of booze and sex. Not that most go, but most still went to further edu. if not higher edu.

The LibDems may be oppurtunists but as long as they keep promising to reintroduce grants I'll vote for em.

You know if you english or welsh you don't get any grants to go to UK uni's, but if your scottish, irish or anywhere from the EU the gov gives you grants? Why are they screwing over there own populous while still helping others from the EU?

[Jim]

hmm, luddites revived but happen though...

I wonder if they would be called Luddites v2.0

[Pooeypants]

Originally posted by G. Adams@Sep 5 2003, 03:29 AM Ahh come on, its not most kids. I live in Grangetown, famous for Roy Chubby Brown, Paul Daniels and being the sixth most deprived ward in GB, and even here most still want to go to uni, if just for the first year of booze and sex. Not that most go, but most still went to further edu. if not higher edu. The LibDems may be oppurtunists but as long as they keep promising to reintroduce grants I'll vote for em. You know if you english or welsh you don't get any grants to go to UK uni's, but if your scottish, irish or anywhere from the EU the gov gives you grants? Why are they screwing over there own populous while still helping others from the EU?

It's the majority of kids, they've got plenty of vacancies at Unis but without the grants you ain't gonna get more students. Freaking Labour party must die!!

[GreatWyrm of Babylon]

So, someone want to explain their slant on the European parties??

[G. Adams]

Originally posted by GreatWyrm of Babylon@Sep 5 2003, 07:19 PM So, someone want to explain their slant on the European parties??

Will do, but only for UK parties. Will put it into politics section.

[blasto]

I have a couple points to add..

First, I bet robots already replaced at least that percentage of the workforce. Look at farming, industry, data manipulation... its all done by machine. People are just kept today as token button pushers. (as I type this)..tap tap

Second, the biggest threat is machines created to make machines more effiencent, especially on the nano-scale. At some point, changes will be happening so fast, a point of no return will fly by us with out us knowing. Then it'll be Terminator for real.

[Pooeypants]

Originally posted by blasto@Sep 11 2003, 09:17 PM I have a couple points to add.. First, I bet robots already replaced at least that percentage of the workforce. Look at farming, industry, data manipulation... its all done by machine. People are just kept today as token button pushers. (as I type this)..tap tap Second, the biggest threat is machines created to make machines more effiencent, especially on the nano-scale. At some point, changes will be happening so fast, a point of no return will fly by us with out us knowing. Then it'll be Terminator for real.

If there were nanobots on the loose it'll do more damage than almost anything else we can create...

[GreatWyrm of Babylon]

I wonder about people that are afraid of being replaced by an inanimate object that cannot think...just an observation.