Lesson for techies

Re: Entertaining future — June 2

It seems to me that those who are on the cutting edge of computer technology and artificial intelligence are surprisingly unfamiliar with two giants of science fiction literature: Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov.

In a prescient 1963 article, Clarke mentions a future situation where a scientist creates the ultimate computer. He powers the machine up and asks it a question humans have been asking since the dawn of creation: “Is there a God?” The computer, after checking that its power source is independent of human controls, replies, “There is now.”

Isaac Asimov in a landmark book mentions the three laws of robotics: 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm; 2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law; 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict the First or Second Law.

Subsequently, Asimov added what he called “A Zeroth Law: A robot may not harm humanity or by inaction allow humanity to come to harm.

Perhaps techies need to add to their curriculum vitae a knowledge of science fiction. They might be surprised what they might learn.

John R. Wright

Waterloo