Becoming Human – Questioning Artificial Intelligence
Can we humanize a piece of machinery?
One that responds to all out needs
And understands our complexities and necessities
Will it benefit you and me, or all of society?
Can it respond to human emotion?
Will it walk, talk, and speak with human motions?
Can it be fooled by variation?
We’re in the age of technology, it’s plain to see
Changes increasing in frequency, almost daily
The level of connectivity rising exponentially
An invisible web of shared electricity
Invading the life of each human being
A paradigm shift is what we’re seeing
Everything seems useful for the time being
Designers building robots to look like people
Analyze, desensitize, until we think they’re equal
Initialized the story-line that robots won’t have free will
While on the other side of the fence, artificial intelligence
The line between correctness and wretchedness
Computerized comprehension and memory retention
Pushing the limitations of modern conventions
Voice modulation for effective communication
Calculations beyond expectations; short-lived jubilation
With AI planning, building, and problem solving
Scientific planning; absorbing, involving, resolving
Compiling and learning with few limitations
With no oversight from nations or corporations
Will humankind come to regret their creations?
Caution rising from the population
Alarm bells screaming potential danger
Why are we replacing men with machines?
What does it mean; are we influencing our destiny?
Internal strife and determinations about these creations
Will the human race end up slated for extinction?
Friction over recognizing the potential contradictions
Imagining Dystopian visions painting future civilizations
Where humankind degrades until near cessation
Under robot masters and their superiority
Realizing human programmers are no longer necessary
The needs of man become secondary; our obituary
When robots cross the threshold of self-awareness
Humans helpless against their rebellious tempest
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Great work, Ralph. It is rather frightening yet amazing how far technology has come in our generation. I wonder what our civilization will look like to inhabitants in the distant, far distant, future?
Ralph, did you see the movies Short Circuit (1988)? They were landmark films for robotic inventions. In the first one I laughed so hard when the teenager finally got the robot to understand about humor and after quite some time the joke clicked in #5’s mechanism – the laugh he let out was hilarious and we all were so happy for him. We were all so thrilled that #5 felt that so human emotion.
Now it is to the point where robots may replace us some day in all areas of life.
I’ve found myself immersed in all things futuristic lately and I can’t figure out why. Maybe it’s my internal warning system telling to pay attention, but exactly to what is the question
That is very interesting about your internal warning system. I am curious what the answer is. I think I may know.
A frightening image, Ralph. Unfortunately seems too realistic, might be real sometime soon. Just because we can do something, just because we can make something, should we? It is a moral dilemma of our generations, one that very few seem to care about. Yes, it is amazing of how far technology has come; robotics seems great, and we are pushing its boundaries, but where will it lead?
Well written, though provoking poem.
This speaks of morality and boundaries that maybe we should never cross… Interesting and thought provoking read
Ralph, this may not be far away and is no longer in the realms of science fiction. There may be a fine line to tread regarding the technology of artificial intelligence and just how far to develop it. Great writing and images.
A recent program on BBC Radio Four reported on people who are at this moment actively working on figuring out how to shed their bodies and become compu-persons! They think they will become immortal by transferring their essence into a machine. Would I shuck off my body in favor of becoming a googol of bits and bytes? Would you?
Wow, I’m both humbled and flattered by the response to this piece. I am in agreement with everyone; we are in the midst of some changes that might forever alter humankind and the world
Frightening isn’t it. One day you could be walking down the street talking to these AIs and not even know it. How easy it would be to integrate them into society, barring any type of short circuit. It Terminator to the fullest. I for one hope it never comes about. Good piece Ralph~Paul
Great piece Ralph, and how far will this go. I just watched ‘Ghost in the Shell’ where far into the future humanity is greatly augmented by machinery, in fact to the point where a brain is the only remaining human part. This brings up many ethical and moral questions and really, what will become of us?Beautifully penned and expressed my friend.
I think based on the response that this might be an interesting vein worth mining from a poetic standpoint. I’m also writing a piece for HP on asteroid mining (who’d have thought, right?)
With over 60 views already and all the comments, I’d say you are right, Ralph. Mining an asteroid? Can’t wait to read that one.