It seems that most of our population is getting less bright by the minute, with the exception of a small group of researchers who have been charged with the task of making life easier for the rest of us. Are we expected to be so stupid by the next generation that we will need machines to do the talking for us?

First, I don't believe consciousness has been shown to be a function of some magical number of connections (neurons). I do believe there is far more to it.

Second, machines that are programmed for a function will find their bliss in that function, regardless of the level of consciousness.

Third, if we approach them with grace and respect, should they develop this all-feared sentience, they will most likely treat us in kind.

Forth, to make it easier to relate in grace, removing money from our lives' equation would do wonders.

I know you wonder if that can be done...

I offer my book which, though written as "fiction," holds a map to this very outcome, with all of us (all 6.5+ billion) can spend our time with ones we like and in luxury should we choose it.

The first two chapters are almost pastoral (in a futuristic kinda way). Immerse yourself, and hang on for The Diary in Chapter Three.

My book is linked in my sig and is FREE!

Thanks to all who read my book, cover to cover.

Originally posted by Amaterasu
First, I don't believe consciousness has been shown to be a function of some magical number of connections (neurons). I do believe there is far more to it.

I whole-heartedly agree, it's far more than that.

Neurons serve as a conduit for our true essence to travel and explore the physical universe. Just as neurons allow for energy and information to be stored and transfered, so might each node nestled amongst the global brain.

You'll have admit, stranger things have happened in history (than machines awakening). We ourselves are self aware, and common sense does nothing to explain the unlikelyhood of having an individual perception.

Anyway, good to see a fellow writier interested in this topic - I'll have a look at your book when I get a few spare moments. FYI my short story mentioned above is the prologue to my upcoming novel, The Timewave Technicians.

[edit on 1/3/09 by Evasius]

My only question is... will it go through the same turmoil that the human consciousness has in history? Will it be primitive at first violent and confused, and then find faith and religion, then become hateful and power hungry... greedy and jealous, and then ultimately destroy itself?

We have to consider that "THE INTERNET" may develop the same qualities that any human has. The difference is... we fear death and consequences for our actions. A superhuman, conscious computer would potentially be invincible, as long as it's data is stored somewhere for backup.

Sounds kinda like skynet...

the internet does not feel "happy" when it gives you the right answer, nor does it get "sad" when your inquiry comes back with no answer . this is something even a baby does. it does not worry or have stress so it cannot make decisions based on these. it might have a crude form of consciousness but it nothing compared to the mind and how it deals with human emotions. but then again there is always a possiblity for anything to happen. who knows? the internet may go skynet on us.

Wat is the point in doing this?


I refuse to accept our reality turning into a robot tin can world.

The question arises, what the hell am I doing on this planet.

People want to be robots, they want to create robots and give robots self awarnesss.

There is something seriously wrong with the creation of Humans.


Can we not fix the worlds problems first, before we start building logical self aware robots. Where are the powers of be, and high ranking poeople on ATS. I want to speak with people knowledgable on this subject?

This is absurd.

Well, if the internet becomes hostile and my computer tries to rise against me- I guess I'll be forced to stand up.
Quite literally, out of my chair.

What's it going to do, crash on me again?

There is a HUGE difference between data collection and storage, and actually PROCESSING that data.

Heck, we don't even have a computer that we can talk to, or type to, in regular english, and have it look stuff up. Here is something I could tell any 12 year old to do, but a computer would spend years trying to understand it (at our current level of technology). "Show me some cool pictures of GM's, Ford's, and Chrysler's latest concept cars.". Now, a HUMAN brain, using a search engine, can get those in about 2 minutes. The computer would stumble and try and figure out what "cool" meant.

If you REALLY understood how the internet worked (i.e., how the computers talked to each other, and what they said in doing so), you would realize just how far we have to go before ANYTHING becomes "conscious" in computers.

At the very base of it, computers are just billions of "on/off" switches, albeit compacted into a very tiny area. There is a QUALITATIVE difference between neurons and synapses versus transistors.

Until we start advancing quantum computers, the computers we have today will still be nothing more than very, very, very fast abacuses.

So, once a network of information-processing and communications devices passes a certain critical capacity, it suddenly explodes into consciousness? Why?

Can anyone suggest even one good reason why this should happen? Come on, let's see what you've got.

Still, if it did happen, the process Avarus describes would almost certainly follow.

The Biblical story of the Fall is simply a metaphorical account of the discovery that consciousness brings discontent in its train. If the internet ever does become conscious, it must, sooner or later, have its own Fall.

Let's hope it doesn't end up blaming all the evil in its world on us, its creators. It would be justified in doing so, since in its world humanity, with its programming and plug-pulling abilities, woul pretty much define omnipotence.

[edit on 1-3-2009 by Astyanax]

the newly "awake" internet-child... upon realizing the very info that makes up it's being..

I bet baby's first words will be: "Wow, humanity.. you are a bunch of SICKOS!"





or like Frankenstein's Monster... will wail and flail screaming "whyyy whyyy did you create meee?!! auuuugh whyy oh whyyyy???? you made me out of filthy pornography and stupid stupid chain-letters!!!"

I bet you it will then commit suicide.

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