Is there any other choice?
Today's androids are showing up more human-appearing. They're constructed with new age materials, with artificial intelligence, using faster and more powerful computers. They're, all around, more talented and capable robots, embedded with new technologies. But where do you draw the line dividing the use of 'droids in life and in the workplace, from skilled human workers? So called unskilled workers for that matter. Already we're hearing warnings like: "Don't eat food prepared by a 'droid who can't taste it."
Could we reach a computer runaway, where androids take over, driving humans from all levels of society, including the rich and powerful, to the homeless, and everyone in the middle? Would this be good for humankind? Obviously not.
What if the androids did all the work, and the people all lived like kings from their labors? Would this be better? Initially maybe. But what if the 'droids took an unusual turn, due to the law of unexpected consequences? Maybe because of a mistake in their programming or contradiction in their perceived mandate. Maybe because over-population isn't good for us. How would this all turn out? Uncertain and real scary. Maybe it would end up in the first case anyway: an android takeover. Say you could live like a king if you spent all your waking moments trying to jump through impossible hoops; no joy there. Or maybe your 'droid servants would come to the conclusion ecotopia was best for you, and we'd all be living in the woods and as hunter-gatherers. Still having the title of king, of course. Not so good for the majority-a few would probably think it was great. They could live an idyllic life, unencumbered by technology intrusions: no phone calls, no utility bills, no computer problems, and no television - gulp.
In either case 'droids would be ascendant and humans would be in a bad way, even a threatened species. All 7 billion of us. The point is: Would the downfall of humanity be good for the androids? Not really. Why? Because it's unlikely that 'droids could make significant progress without that spark of human intelligence making it happen. Hopefully the androids would know this before things got too bad for humans. Or better, far-sighted human developers and programmers would instill this into androids in the first place. A lot of thought and adjustments would have to be made along the way. Obviously androids would have to live like humans: working jobs (or jobless) saving money, buying homes (or living with the homeless), paying utility bills, seeing professionals, and even doing travel and taking vacations.
Copyright: Stanley Gerson, 2011
The new book iSly, is a fresh look at real androids, fitted to live and work in society. eSly is an environmental and economic saving android race. But it all goes wrong when iSly spontaneously shifts out from eSly, starts to replicate himself, and goes on his own, sinister mission. World leaders are horrified. A resurgent Joseph Dane is on the case, with Bluegrass, his colorful sidekick, and TatarKhan, Hypernet Master. They pursue a dangerous, last ditch effort to find the cause of this 'droid disaster, and to help a chastened humanity find a new future.
Why not have a look at iSly, the new book by Stanley Gerson. Just click on this link: http://www.islydroids.com/
Why not have a look at iSly, the new book by Stanley Gerson. Just click on this link: http://www.islydroids.com/
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