As a science fiction fan I remember reading stories about Smart Homes and digital assistants that kept track of things for you and spoke to you as if they were a sort of computer Butler

Somehow I forgot about that type of story, since I haven't seen anything like that for several years,  but now that I think about it it seems that real life has caught up to science fiction without me even noticing

I have Alexa in the house, but it doesn't really have a personality, it's more like a vacuum cleaner or something. This, on the other hand....

Why am I feeling mildly uncomfortable?

And where is this going?

 

I was far more impressed with innovations through the 60s 70s and 80s, since then not so much the future they dreamed of back then was a massive let down 🤣

Waifu = wife. Just say the word, and it quiets down and stops talking...

All in The Family: (Archie) "Stifle, Edith"!

7 hours ago, HiFlyer said:

Why am I feeling mildly uncomfortable?

And where is this going?

 

Somewhere the human race has not gone before. Some will like that destination and some won't, but we can't stop it.

It won't be long before Optimus robots and numerous other options are available at an affordable price. It won't be long before the software advances to the level that's indistinguishable from an interaction with a human being.

The question is, will there be safeguards in place or will our new intelligent companions have a free reign?

I forsee great benefits and some potential dangers. But a time will come when "robot rights" are a real and valid concept.

 

Edited August 6, 2025Aug 6 by martin-w

On 8/5/2025 at 5:30 PM, HiFlyer said:

Why am I feeling mildly uncomfortable?

And where is this going?

I don't know but I can make an educated guess which would make me not only uncomfortable but also afraid.

I can guess where this is going and somewhat relieved that I am near the end of my journey.

There is saying we in the old folks home have.  "We lived in the best of times and are now entering the worst of times."  But what do we old geezers know?

Noel

Evryone hold on to yer butts!

I guess you could argue it as part of a logically expanded evolutionary process, that at a certain point, various civilizations, perhaps inevitably, create thier own replacement,  either via manipulated biology, or by electronic means.

Perhaps some species out there avoid that fate, but to me,  humans appear quite willing to race down that path with little to no coherant and binding safety guidelines.

If we can't stop this, then we will probably all die. There is a reason that there is no civilizations contacting us from space. A very reasonable hypothesis is that the more advanced civilizations all tend destroy themselves as science increases and thereby creates very dangerous and deadly tools.

If scientific advancements produce 99 good outcomes, and but 1 fatal outcome, then the result is very very bad.

Science is like a mailbox that brings you good news day by day. And then one day you get a letter from your medical doctor saying that you have an incurable disease. 99 good letters, 1 bad letter.