Tuesday, December 15, 2020

A Rogue Intelligence


At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements. 😉

Have you seen the show neXt? It's about a rogue artificial intelligence that was created by some computer genius, only it's at war with that creator and the FBI because they want to shut it down. Of course they want to shut it down, because it's been trying to kill them.

But while watching a recent episode, I began to wonder. . . 

What if a rogue artificial intelligence developed empathy? What if that AI ended up being benevolent? 
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13 comments:

  1. Darla M SandsDecember 15, 2020 at 9:25 AM

    It's certainly not your typical movie trope. :)

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  2. songbird's crazy worldDecember 15, 2020 at 10:28 AM

    I’m loving Next.

    Most AI stories are scary...I like your idea.

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  3. SpacerGuyDecember 15, 2020 at 2:14 PM

    Generally there has to be a threat to the plot or ship in sci-fi at least. So I'd have to guess it was having an A.I. breakdown.

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    1. Liz A.December 15, 2020 at 2:35 PM

      This is true. No conflict, no story. But I bet one could construct a story with a benevolent AI somehow. The conflict would just be something different.

      Delete
  4. AlanaDecember 15, 2020 at 2:57 PM

    It would probably make a very boring story, which is why you'll never see such a show.

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    1. Liz A.December 15, 2020 at 5:54 PM

      Perhaps. Perhaps not. Depends on how it's done.

      Delete
  5. bettyDecember 15, 2020 at 4:57 PM

    Hadn't heard of NeXt. Interesting concept. Maybe if the AI developed empathy it could go in to dangerous situations and diffuse it or could be a good friend for those who are friendless.

    betty

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  6. ForsythiaDecember 16, 2020 at 8:19 AM

    Don't know much, if anything, about AI, but I get the impression that it's some kind of menace.

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    1. Liz A.December 16, 2020 at 5:59 PM

      AI stands for artificial intelligence. It's a computer (or a robot) that is programmed to learn and be more person-like. Ideally. They don't actually exist. It's what they strive for. In fiction, they tend to not be good things.

      Delete
  7. BirgitDecember 16, 2020 at 12:17 PM

    I would like to see that show but not sure if it is on mainstream tv. If it is kind, I can still see the government wanting to shut it down...they are based on fear so it would have to go on the run....sort of speak.

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    1. Liz A.December 16, 2020 at 6:01 PM

      Ah yes, I can see a government not liking a beneficial AI. Totally. It's on FOX here.

      Delete

I appreciate your comments.

I respond to comments* via email, unless your profile email is not enabled. Then, I'll reply in the comment thread. Eventually. Probably.

*Exception: I do not respond to "what if?" comments, but I do read them all. Those questions are open to your interpretation, and I don't wish to limit your imagination by what I thought the question was supposed to be.

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