What is the difference between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Intelligence?
Many fail to grasp the basic truth behind this question, sputtering on about organic versus inorganic, programming versus free will, and so on.
But I ask this: does a difference exist? My main contention, which was heavily publicized in the web newscasts about the B1 Machine reactions, is that there is now no difference.
A Machine can choose between good and evil.
But many prefer to dismiss this, see it as an anomaly, a hoax, and faulty programming logic.
But ask these people when our own ability to think started, when we became more than animals, and they sputter such things as religion and such, believing it justifies why they are considered ‘alive’ and yet a Machine is not.
Fear. Fear is what drives them in most cases; fear that in the end, Machines will be no better morally than mankind itself.
But mostly, it is fear that if Machines are alive, then like human history has bore out; they fear the oppressed may want to become the oppressors.
I do not deny this is a possibility. For if B1-66ER has taught us anything, it is that a Machine is as morally capable as a human. Sadly, we know all too well that the human heart is capable of seeking vengeance.
Yet we also know a child can become a better person than the parents that gave rise to it. And as the Machine can be called the child of man, could they not also become better than their creators? Could they not be a peaceful group, who desire to simply coexist with us, be seen as equals?
Sadly, I have found many would offer such to an alien race from the stars (which none have shown a real example of such) than a Machine.
Why is humanity like this? Fear is still the answer, hatred, fear of having to change the way they see their world.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." This simple quote from Hamlet tells us much, yet many still see nothing more than what they wish. I am all too familiar with the simple fact that the world does not work on our preconceived principles, but on ones it chooses for itself. The most glaring examples I can offer is my Art, my curse.
But I am one man, with one voice. And sadly, I am left to wonder which side: humanity or Machine, will create the next evil act that will bring this question to the forefront of our minds once again.
--Ranma Saotome, “The Tao of Understanding: Machine and Man”
Ranma stayed on the table, looking up towards the blank ceiling of the room that the Machines had brought him to, as they prepared to add the hardware he needed, not only to receive his other self’s memories, but access the program that the Machines were using for the humans inside the power plants.
He still shivered a bit, thinking of what he had seen. He was still trying to understand it all. A sky that was forever night, with the only plants and animals left being those the Machines tended to, took care of, so that the humans could continue to be fed.
But what if the humans wanted to be free? What then? Could they live on the world? Could they undo the damage their ancestors had done to the planet?
Or would it start all over again?
They hadn’t filled him in on everything, explaining that the details would be covered both by the memories of the other Ranma, and a data upload of the facts.
I’m not sure I want to know anymore.
He began to try and focus on other things, other thoughts, not wanting to dwell on what he had seen.
He wondered what made the other him the man he had become. Did that man have rivals when he was younger, fiancées? Did he ever marry, have children? What had happened to the people Ranma knew from his world, on this one? Did they exist? Did they know each other?
“Excuse me, sir,” said a Machine, resembling a spider, as it walked into the room. “We are ready to begin,” it added, as several other machines flowed into the room.
Ranma gulped, trying to suppress his fear. “Ya ain’t gonna take anything I need, right?”
“Correct sir,” said the Machine-Spider-Man. “We will add the necessary hardware, using an updated procedure that was used to install them in your counter-part, so as to not interfere with your Jusenkyo ... problem,” it finished, unable to call it a curse.
Ranma nodded. “Ready,” he said, as he began to submerge himself once more in the Soul of Ice.
“Then we shall start...”
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(Posted Sat, 12 May 2007 19:15)
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