If machines are capable of doing almost any work humans can do, what will humans do?
Another interesting visionary view by Moshe Y. Vardi (The Atlantic – October 2012) on the consequences of automation, robotisation, artificial intelligence, exponential technologies and digital transformation driven to the extreme: “The question of what happens when machines get to be as intelligent as and even more intelligent than people seems to occupy many science-fiction writers.”
Moshe mentions in his article, another – even more visionary article – written in 2000 by Bill Joy, entitled “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us“. “Our most powerful 21st-century technologies — robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotech — are threatening to make humans an endangered species,” he wrote.
After establishing his reputation as a co-founder of Sun Microsystems, in 2000 Bill Joy published this landmark cover story for Wired Magazine. In it he raises a number of questions about the ethical dimensions and unintended consequences of technology and his concern that, along the accelerating path of technological progress, people such as Ray Kurzweil are underestimating enormously the probability of disaster for humanity. Joy’s conclusion at the time was:
“The only realistic alternative I see is relinquishment: to limit development of the technologies that are too dangerous, by limiting our pursuit of certain kinds of knowledge.”
Check also this TED video below from Bill Joy from 2010 on “What I’m worried about, what I’m excited about”.
Read also about the important AI & Robotics trend influencing our future workforce and society: “Robot revolution: rise of ‘thinking’ machines could exacerbate inequality.”
Related:
Deep Shift: Technology Tipping Points and Societal Impact (WEF Report)
Interview with Futurist Glen Hiemstra: The Future of Atlanta
These Technologies Will Shift the Global Balance of Power in the Next 20 Years
Check out ‘Redefining the relationship of man and machine’ – an audio-visual meditation by Gerd Leonhard.
In this unique film, Futurist Gerd Leonhard reads his chapter in the 2015 book ‘The Future of Business’, entitled ‘Redefining the relationship of man and machine’. In his piece, Gerd addresses the key issues and opportunities that will arise from an increasing convergence of humanity and technology, touching on related topics such as AI, Digital Ethics, reductionism, technological unemployment and machine-thinking.
Posted by Rudy de Waele aka @mtrends / shift2020.com