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From: Jason Adams <jmadams@midway.uchicago.edu>
Subject: Re: AI Heaven
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>So let's crack the DNS-code and take a look at what's going on ?
>No chance, for if we get a blue-print from the human brain out
>of it, we are still far from getting a monitor-program to watch 
>any of these complex processes which are build up during our
>lifetime. But the machine, if getting aware of itself, it could
>watch even the micro-commands to reduce its existince on a
>random-row of zeroes and ones, stretching endless since the point
>of time it came to existence... and it _could_ evolve much faster
>than any biological structure which is still bound to the wet-ware
>developed by trial&error-decisions of a blind dice called evolution.
>
>But remember the subject, think of the powers of such an artificial
>being...think of the dangers when it's out of control. Could be
>heaven, could also be hell. - Who gives the money, he who controls ? -

Such a "being" would not be dangerous at all, assuming of course the 
proper precautions were made.  A truly self-aware computer would be a 
turning point in human philosophy and science.  We would be replaced as 
the fundamental thinker in our universe.  Sure, the computer may be 
excluded from emotions and such, so philosophy may never be available to 
it, but the programmers would be thrown out on the streets.  Of course 
then, the precautions (no access to the internet, no external links to 
devices which could be used for harm or which are hooked up to any 
network) are breached, since newer more advanced programs will require 
access to a broader range of things.  Today's programmers are in the 
world of strong AI, Gibson's interface cowboys.  

Jason


