It's one of those nights...

My mind jumps around with so many thoughts (and I'm sure that yours does too) that it's a wonder we can shut it off at night in order to get the rest and restore they say our bodies need.

Here is one that is on my mind now.

DH and I watched the show '60 minutes' a while back on Artificial Intelligence. It was definitely interesting.

Apparently both Google and Microsoft are working on this (and possibly others). Microsoft recently released "Chatbot" and Google "Bard". They say that Bard has microchips more than 100-thousand time faster than the human brain.

We already have Google, Alexa, and Siri, as well as Smart phones, Smart cars, and robotic surgery. So, AI in it's early forms is already here. From what I've read, there are 3 forms; Limited, General, and Superior. 

When asked if AI could ever be sentient, at one point they said no. But it can learn and teach itself. At another point they said that it could possibly be sentient one day - but don't think it is now.

I think they're trying to see how best AI and humanity can co-exist. I understand this. I love Science and have this belief that we can't stop progress - even if it turns out to be our ultimate end. So much good could come from it... (but also so much bad). However, I do believe there's a possibility that we can get a handle on it... (but will we?).

But if it can contain the whole of human knowledge, if it can learn from us, I imagine it can learn the bad as well as the good. Could it learn to lie, to give false info, etc.? How could that be controlled? (We obviously cannot even control this now...)

Could AI be taught to know good from evil? Could we end up in a situations similar to Hal in 2001 or the scenarios similar to Star Wars/Star Trek movies? 

This is where my mind is tonight. Other nights it could be on the sad state of politics, or world population, or something more personal like family or friends' health, finances, etc. I try to avoid thinking about these things - especially those I have no control over - but the sneaky boogers creep in anyway from time to time. 

I know that I can't save the world... the only thing I can do is take care of my own and contribute in small ways to things that I think make the world a better place.  But with the knowledge that DH and I are closing in on our 80's, it's a bit scary to think that there isn't much time left to get it right.  

Sorry this post is a bit of a downer. Didn't plan on it to be, just needed to share these thoughts. And reminding myself that they are just thoughts, not truths. 

Our usual bedtime is 10 pm. Couldn't sleep. It is now 3:55 am,  I'm going to make a cup of tea and see if I can steer my mind back to happier peaceful thoughts. Thanks for reading. 

Hugs (virtual),

Rian