Warning Signs!

- Purusharth Sharma

One of the most common themes in sci-fimovies and literature is that of a dysto-pian world, where humans have been enslaved by robots controlled by an all knowing super smart artificially intelligent entity. We all enjoy watching these movies and maybe have had a nightmare or two about such a future. But we’re here to tell you it might be possible!

We are trying to create something that is better and smarter than us. We are still far away from creating an AI that is conscious about itself, but sooner or later we will succeed. And once the AI realizes that it is better and smarter than us, and doesn’t need us – what will stop it from eliminating us and taking over the world? After all, isn’t it about ‘survival of the fittest’?

Over the ages a lot of smart people have warned us about this fate. Even pop culture has been trying to warn us about the impending doom that is coming when AI goes rogue. Take a look at some of these predictions and warnings and decide for yourself whether this is a serious problem or not. After all, it is you who will have to run for survival when it happens, for by then, your friendly Siri and Google Assistant won’t really be helpful.

MOVIES

2001: A Space Odyssey

Touted as one of the greatest movies of all time, 2001: A Space Odyssey was an amazing sci-fispace adventure with an AI computer onboard a spaceship taking 5 astronauts and scientists to Jupiter. The AI goes rogue and starts trying to kill all of them. They somehow survive and reach Jupiter. There’s a whole lot more in the movie and you should watch it if you haven’t. But this was a classic case of handing your life over to an AI, and then realising that it wants to kill you.

Matrix