Week 3 Post

 An idea which intrigued me since I was a teenager is the concept of the technological singularity which was explored by Ray Kurzweil. He acted almost as a modern day scientific prophet in his insistence that one day AI and robotics would improve to the point that it would be able to refine itself. At this point, an exponential increase in progress and technology would occur, enabling improvements that would be totally beyond our comprehension and understanding. In writing on the destructive nature of war, Benjamin explains "that society has not been mature enough to incorporate technology as its organ" (Benjamin 6). If the singularity were to occur, technology would be totally, beautifully incorporated in a way which would make improvement possible and perfect. This sentiment is reflected also in Davis' insistence to "leave us alone" (Davis 385) and not let beauracratic mechanisms interfere with this process of gradual perfection as technology reaches its point of ultimate progression.



 

Frank Weiringa's Exoskeleton represents a physical actualization of the ways that AI might be able to physically interface with the exterior world once the technological singularity occurs. This is significant because this phenomenon would not be strictly relegated to data.




 An odd, slightly disturbing artistic representation comes from "Self Portrait as the Center of the Universe" by Ken Feingold, who programmed a set of dolls to converse with themselves. This goal of self awareness is a key aspect of what will make the technological singularity possible.


 Lastly, Gijs Van Bon's "Street Rover" represents another manifestation of this issue of technology interfacing with the exterior world independently, as it is a machine which is capable of writing its own patterns onto the pavement outdoors. Tools like this which are essentially "arms" for AI will be how this phenomenon will impact the modern world. 


Works Cited: 

Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction: An Influential Essay of Cultural Criticism ; the History and Theory of Art. Adansonia Press, 2018. 

Douglas, Davis. The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction: 1995.

Feingold, Ken. Self Portrait as the Center of the Universe: 2001.

Gijs, Bon. Streetrover: 2014

Weiringa, Freerk. Exoskeleton: 2016.

Comments

  1. asha_agarwal_desma9April 17, 2022 at 1:59 PM

    I was intrigued by your expression of the idea that AI and robotics are advancing exponentially to the point where they can actually improve themselves. It brings up an interesting question of how humanlike are robots really? Great job articulating this claim and tying in personal experiences on the issue!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Myles Misener-DaleyApril 23, 2023 at 11:10 PM

    Hi John,

    I was interested in your point on AI possibly becoming so advanced in the future maybe one day it will advance to a point where we become imprisoned by it. Similar to your point, Will Smith's film "iRobot" explores the idea of robots becoming so advanced they can program themselves, disobey human command, and even have their own conscious. Even earlier this year, due to fear for humanity, AI researchers (including names like Elon Musk) agreed to pause development of large-scale AI systems, citing fears over the “profound risks to society and humanity" (Vincent 2023).

    Vincent, J. (2023, March 29). Elon Musk and top AI researchers call for pause on 'giant AI experiments'. The Verge. Retrieved April 2023, from https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/29/23661374/elon-musk-ai-researchers-pause-research-open-letter

    ReplyDelete

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