Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!hobbes!earth.armory.com!rstevew
From: rstevew@armory.com (Richard Steven Walz)
Subject: Re: "The Next Dominant Species"
Organization: The Armory
Date: Sun, 3 Apr 1994 08:30:41 GMT
Message-ID: <CnoCz5.13M@armory.com>
Keywords: AI, science-fiction
References: <vereCnM6vB.CDz@netcom.com>
Sender: news@armory.com (Usenet News)
Nntp-Posting-Host: deeptht.armory.com
Lines: 38

In article <vereCnM6vB.CDz@netcom.com>, Steven Vere <vere@netcom.com> wrote:
>   I just  ran across a new  science-fiction novel, "The Next Dominant
>Species," which has an AI theme.  If you think  the Great Nineties Job
>Drought is bad, wait till Wall Street starts replacing workers with AI
>Machines.  Will  the  advent of  real AI  introduce a golden   age for
>mankind?   Or lead to the  oppression of the  many by Harvard Business
>School yuppies and wealthy stockholders?  Or worse?
>   These are good  scenarios for drama,  but bad for public support of
>fundamental AI research.  I hope the politicians don't read it.  We've
>got enough problems already.  
>
>Author: Milo Lawrence
>Publisher: Altos
>-- 
>  Steven Vere                                       vere@netcom.com  
>  Boulder Creek, California                        
------------------------------------------
Unless they figure out DAMNED quick how to make robot warriors that a human
can't outsmart, (good fucking luck!), the roboticization of all production
would still have to employ a core of engineer/technicians who are not
likely to accept unknowledgeable management. AND it would become obvious
that fewer management types are necessary! The loss of all the white and
blue collar jobs would put both classes into the same boat, and it would
undoubtedly row in a socialist-anti-wealth direction! When too few people
own everything, they won't for long!!

Three guys wash ashore on a small island. One of them claims the only
source of fresh water on the island and makes the other two hunt and fish
and prepare his food for him in return for water. How long do you give him
to keep breathing air?

1) One night.
2) One hour.
3) One minute.
4) Less than any of the above.   < ----  the correct answer.

-Steve Walz   rstevew@armory.com

