Prof Stephen Hawking, one of Britain's pre-eminent scientists, has said that efforts to create thinking machines pose a threat to our very existence.

He told the BBC:"The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race."

His warning came in response to a question about a revamp of the technology he uses to communicate, which involves a basic form of AI.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30290540

I think he may have a point. What do TV members think?

its hardly a new debate.

a purely logical intelligence able to learn and devoid of emotion or sentiment is bound to decide we are unnecessary or worse, a threat.

it stands to reason.

No good asking TV members for their opinion - they're only half the equation. All artificial and no intelligence.

Present company excluded, of course.

Never happen. There is something in the human intelligence called emotion that will kill off any such threat. That emotion includes a strong will to survive.

Great article, thanks for posting the link...

While on philosophical side: If we humans create a self sufficient artificial intelligence, which trumps us, should we consider it as a huge evolutionary step from carbon based lifeforms to silicon/iron etc based life?

After all, we just passed our collective knowledge to the next generation, which in this case happened to be machines.

Dont worry. Smart AI machines in the future will go back in time to kill us in the present/past. Didn't happen so no super smart AI in the future. And we've got Arnold, so we're fine!

While on philosophical side: If we humans create a self sufficient artificial intelligence, which trumps us, should we consider it as a huge evolutionary step from carbon based lifeforms to silicon/iron etc based life?

After all, we just passed our collective knowledge to the next generation, which in this case happened to be machines.

It'll never happen.

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No danger of finding it on TV.

So when the super computer starts to think for itself and decides humanity is passe, what's it going to do, use its WIFI connection to tell air traffic control computers to crash aeroplanes? Take over the main hub at missile command?

Maybe it could cause some serious problems but they would be nothing a baseball bat couldn't fix. I think our lives would have to be somewhat more automated by technology before the machines could rise up against us. I guess the super computer could always go on a smart phone message spam spree. How awful.

Meanwhile...

While on philosophical side: If we humans create a self sufficient artificial intelligence, which trumps us, should we consider it as a huge evolutionary step from carbon based lifeforms to silicon/iron etc based life?

After all, we just passed our collective knowledge to the next generation, which in this case happened to be machines.

Finally someone has something remotely intelligent to say.

Unlike we surround ourselves with Cylons all with WIFI that are available to be taken over by the super computer, the topic is a load of far-fetched sci-fi fantasy until such time as society is vastly different; however, that intelligence or consciousness can be passed from an organic to a synthetic vessel surely would not take such a huge shift from how our society looks today.

Self fulfilling prophecy... Just look at the number of sci-fi gadgets from the past have turned into scientific fact...

Elon Musk made similar comments not long ago concerning AI...

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/27/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-ai-biggest-existential-threat

Most of TV posters are insentient to most developments

Artificial intelligence has one Achilles' heel, and that's logistics. Machines might eventually be able to close down a lot of the mechanics of civilisation, but might find it difficult to replace it and perpetuate itself unless supply lines are fully automated from go to whoa. The ability of AI to produce machinary to replicate or create an artificial world could be stumped by the simple task of being unable to extract the materials needed, as and when needed. Not every task can be carried out by a machine.

Artificial intelligence has one Achilles' heel, and that's logistics. Machines might eventually be able to close down a lot of the mechanics of civilisation, but might find it difficult to replace it and perpetuate itself unless supply lines are fully automated from go to whoa. The ability of AI to produce machinary to replicate or create an artificial world could be stumped by the simple task of being unable to extract the materials needed, as and when needed. Not every task can be carried out by a machine.

I would assume that in the future we'll or our technology will mimic nature more than we are already doing.

We'll use atmosphere's to extract carbon from CO2 as well as other gasses as delivery channel to basically everywhere in the globe. The same way as trees are currently collecting their building blocks. The same applies to the seawater, which can be source for heavier minerals.

I think these are possible even with todays technology, but the bottleneck is that we don't yet have cheap enough energy available.

He's right and AI is probably the greatest existential threat to the human race (next to climate change) because of its likely ability for recursive self-improvement.

Anyone who doubts this should read Nick Bostrom's excellent book on the subject - http://www.amazon.com/Superintelligence-Dangers-Strategies-Nick-Bostrom/dp/0199678111

Could or has?

If we create a super intelligence in our likeness and it goes on to take over the planet destroying humans in the process, then it ventures into space colonizing planets, don't we call that evolution??

Dont worry. Smart AI machines in the future will go back in time to kill us in the present/past. Didn't happen so no super smart AI in the future. And we've got Arnold, so we're fine!

Ahhhh...but they haven't been invented yet so haven't gone back in time yet...probably.

Don't worry about this happening in Thailand as the artificial intelligence software will be pirated and will deactivate itself.