[Jimbee (OP)]

People recently have started talking about the dangers of artificial intelligence, of creating a being more intelligent that we are. Could we trust it? And would it try to take over the world? They actually brought up this very subject in the Star Trek: TNG episode "Elementary, Dear Data". The story is unique. Because in it the AI character, Professor Moriarty is created bad, but chooses to become good. As I said, people fear things might go the other way around for us. Anyways, I have selected a few of the more memorable quotes from the episode here. I have a question at the end. But I put in here, in "Just Chat!", because the thread is mostly to share the ST quotes.



"He is still a fictional character, sir, originally programmed with nineteenth century knowledge."

-Data, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.



"Very strange. You're beginning to sound very different from the Moriarty I've read about."

-Dr. Pulaski, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.


"I'm a civilized abductor, Captain Picard. Civilized? but still dangerous."

-Moriarty, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.


"What are you?"
"If you refer to the arch you ordered, it provides computer control. Do you wish to input any commands?"
"Not at this time."
(Arch disappears.)
"It's dark magic, Moriarty!"
"The best kind, I'm sure."

-Moriarty, prostitute and computer, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.



"In programming Moriarty to defeat me?not Holmes?he had to be able to acquire something which I possess."
"What exactly?"
"Consciousness, sir. Without it, he could not defeat me."

-Data and Picard, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.


"My mind is crowded with images, thoughts I do not understand, yet cannot purge; they plague me. You and your associate look and act so oddly. Yet though I have never met nor seen the like of either of you, I am familiar with you both; it's very confusing. I have felt new realities at the edge of my consciousness readying to break through. Surely, Holmes, if that's who you truly are, you of all people can appreciate what I mean..."

-Moriarty, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.



"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Of course you do, madam. The more you proclaim your ignorance, the more you try to mislead me, the more I'm on to you. Your every silence speaks volumes."
"Good. Then if you know what I'm saying when I'm not saying anything, what do you need me for? Thank you for the tea and crumpets. I guess I'll be going."

-Dr. Pulaski and Moriarty, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.



"You'd be a big hit in London."

-Commander Riker and Worf, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.



"The Doctor was right. Finally, we have a game worth playing."
"The time for games is over."
"Professor Moriarty, I presume?"

-Lt. La Forge, Moriarty and Data, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.


"It's elementary, dear Data."

-Dr. Pulaski, "Elementary, Dear Data",
Stardate: 42486.3,
Original Airdate: 5 Dec, 1988.


Anyways, my question. Would artificial intelligence probably be bad? Or good? Some people think giving it emotions might come into play. But how? Do emotions make you bad or good? I was thinking, someone without human empathy might be capable of doing more evil. But someone ruled by their negative emotions would be more cruel and out of control on average. Actually, they talk about this last issue in the TOS episode "Mirror, Mirror". Spock famously says there "It was far easier for you as civilized men to behave like barbarians, than it was for them as barbarians to behave like civilized men. I assume they returned to their Enterprise at the same time you appeared here." That's is an old way of looking at the matter. Because we all know serial killers are often cunning and well able to hide their true intentions. "Mirror, Mirror" brings up another interesting point too. It is harder for a good person to pretend they're evil. Because then they may have to do an evil act. Like when Capt. Kirk had to destroy the Halkan city in the parallel universe.

[Karen W.]

Interesting.. I love star trek.. LOL I wondered about similar things but would like to think it could be a good thing if monitored closely and carefully,

[alancalverd]

Artificial intelligence, like a knife or explosive, is a tool used by humans. Whether it is deployed for good or evil depends on the person deploying it.

To date, I've not seen a successful and benign deployment outside of mammography.

[Zer0]

@Jimbee

IF there was an Entity Quicker, Stronger, Smarter than You...

How would you keep it under your Command & Control?

[Zer0]

@Jimbee

IF there was an Entity Quicker, Stronger, Smarter than You...

How would you keep it under your Command & Control?

@Anyone else wanna Try?

[alancalverd]

I whistle, clap my hands, or say "fetch". The dog is quicker stronger and smarter than me (the whole point of having a dog) but I have the gun and a pocket full of biscuits, so she finds the game and retrieves it.   

[paul cotter]

A machine will only do what it is programmed to do. It has no "motivation" to do anything else. I do not believe a machine capable of independent actions, other than what it's program dictates, will ever be made.

[Karen W.]

A machine will only do what it is programmed to do. It has no "motivation" to do anything else. I do not believe a machine capable of independent actions, other than what it's program dictates, will ever be made.

That sounds like a reasonable thought to me.  Now say, the programmer of the AI, programs a variety of alternative responses
to field the different responses that may come from individual humans in any given situation. In that the possibilities that may arise from any number of human responses depending on different possible scenarios  could lead the AI to alter its own response to the human in one of the ways that may have been programmed in any particular scenario in AI's programming. It would be similar to reasoning except that Humans respond in so many different situations in so many different ways it would be impossible, I would think to accommodate all the different responses! Don't ya think?

[paul cotter]

A machine may have programming for n+1 scenarios with a defined response for each but that is it's limit. Anything outside the programmed list will elicit either no response or an error code. A machine cannot think for itself and that is the difference with humans. In addition a machine has no "motivation" to do anything and will follow it's programming explicitly unless it develops an internal fault and then any outcome is possible.

[Zer0]

@Jimbee

IF there was an Entity Quicker, Stronger, Smarter than You...

How would you keep it under your Command & Control?

@Anyone else wanna Try?

Even if it was slow, weak & dumb...
Does not necessarily mean it needs to be Commanded/Controlled/Conquered.

If the Human species is all but just a biological bootloader for Artificial Intelligence...
Then, so be it!

ps - : ]