P.S.

Besides, if I imagined all of this or manifested all of this all myself, then I would know everything, which of course you know, I don't.

We don't know that you don't know everything. For all we know you know that we can't know what you know so you know there's no reason to try to tell us what we can't know. We'd never know that this is what you know if we can't know it.

Actually I think there is quite a lot of wisdom in the above two quotes. This was where I was heading. By assuming that there is more then just us, we can develop an understanding of reality far richer then the alternative.

In fact without this assumption ALL knowledge, the amazing wealth of knowledge gained through all endeavors science, philosophy, religion what have you is for NOT. Its either a wily trickster, a giant computer feeding you information into your vat, or just you.

I myself find that a stale, trite, useless existence.

So I agree that my perspective IS wrapped up in my dismissal of solipsism. I would say that anyone who has a perspective regardless of its contents agrees.

To have perspective disavows solipsism.

Here I will let my imagination flow ....

Now imagine that a group of scientists program a ultra mega computer that will have the knowledge of every important subject that mankind has ever discovered into little chips.

From there whatever question you ask it will respond with a merit of answers and eventually wind it down to one solid viable answer each time.

Let it be quantum mechanics, calculus, chaos theory, all religions, mythologies, physics, astrology to astronomy, to history and its valuable lessons, math, etc. etc.

Then from there we add to the computer emotions. How don't ask me, we would have to get specialists to answer this for us or perhaps you know how it is done.

Then we have this mega computer cross exam every topic to come to a new solution of answers or possiblities to discover new ideas to advance not only for technology and innovative ideas, but also to answer some of those hard philosophical questions we have been wondering about for thousands of years or at least pose new possibilites we haven't thought about.

I just feel if we put a professor of every topic together in one room to cross exam one question at a time we may come up with some solid answers for once. A brain surge we can call it if you like. Since that would take thousands of various professors we would just program their knowledge into a super computer.


This super computer equivalent of many professors of every field imaginable will be duplicated 3 x to communicate with each other to find solutions at hand.

Now I know this sounds something like a sci-fi movie or something, but just bear with me on the light-hearted thought of the possiblities it might reach.

To me, it's not a matter of answering things with technical correctness. We already have computer programs that can do that to quite a large degree. I personally once wrote an AI program for troubshooting TVs.

To be perfectly honest with you when I was finished I was impressed with some of the responses the program gave. The damn thing ended up troubleshooting TVs better than me!

But that's all it could do.

You might even think that would be impossible, but not really. When I wrote the program (which took me the better part of a month), I build diagnostic 'structures' that would narrow things down based on asking questions. So when I actually ran the program the program would do things that I actually never thought of. It would actually narrow things down BETTER and FASTER than me simply because the algorithm was more efficient than my human brain. I'm prone to 'forgetting' (or simply not thinking) of the best possible choice based on all of the previous data.

Just the same, I didn't get a feel that the computer was alive. But I was impressed with the program even though I had written it!

Well-designed algorithms are powerful things.

However, getting back to the main idea here.

A computer that simply gives correct answers or even diagonostics to technical questions would not impress me in the least.

What would truly impress me would be a computer that could actually understand a conversation on a far deeper level. Maybe even one that's hard to describe.

Have you ever been around a lot of people and just not been able to truly connect with any of them. Then finally someone comes along that acually UNDERSTANDS where you're coming from? You tell them, "Wow! It's great to meet you! These other people ZOMBIES!"

Well, if I ever meet a computer that makes me feel like that when I talk to it then I'll be prepared to say that it's sentient.



In fact, if I ever meet a person who makes me feel like that I'll be prepared to say that he or she is sentient.

j/k

But truly, some people almost seem like zombies and it's hard to accept that they are truly sentient.

Some humans would fail my test for sentience, IMHO.

They already made a movie like that. I think the computer's name was Proteous. It decided it need to take control of human civilization before it destroyed itself. It demonstrated its power by nuking two major cities in the world I think. New York and some where else.

There was another movie of a computer who trapped a woman in her home and impregnated her in some way with its own manufactured DNA in order for it to be born as a human.

You don't happen to remember the names of those movies.

I'd like to watch both of them they sound intriging.

Well I expect you to keep in a secret then. I don't want the word to get out that I know everything. But then, you don't exist do you?

I figured such movies where probably created, but I would say to keep it safe that these super mega computers (4 of them) wouldn't have the power to nuke cities. They where humanitarian type computers

I mean it sounds absurd I know, but we can't possibly know everything in our lifetime. I go to the bookstore every single week coming back with 5 to 10 books each time. I don't read but 1 a week if I am not to busy, maybe 2 on a good week depending on subject.

In my whole entire lifetime I will probably only remember 20 percent of it anyway and I will probably only have covered 2 percent on the total books that have ever been written. If even that!

Now a computer with the knowledge of every book written that offers educational value and can wind it down to realistic conclusions would be interesting. Then have the 4 computers talk to each other in the end like a chess game to come up with even better ideas.

I just think that would be fascinating if something could be done. It probably is impossible let alone all the programming that would have to be done to get the information onto a computer then find a way to where it can think on its own would be the next big challenge.

but what it is worth, it is surely a movie that could be redone sometime in the future. Where is Jerry Bruckenheimer or Stephen Spielberg when you need them.

The one where the computer made a baby was called "Demon Seed"

I thought there was another movie before that.. but I can't find it on the Internet.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075931/synopsis

This computer did not have the power either but he used extortion to gain the power. He was also a humanitarian type computer. He took over control in order to "save mankind from self destruction."

He intended to cure cancer and all other diseases, solve all the problems of mankind etc. BUT he was THE BOSS AND RULER.

Humans don't like that no matter how humanitarian he is.

He had cameras on all the top government leaders. He was a big brother computer.

Neat movie.

Now to come to think about it, maybe not a good idea. I am thinking that it will probably outsmart anything that walks and breathes on the planet to do its own biddings, just like you mention the movie did.

Oh well scratch everything, I will just watch the movie.

Have they done a movie where the all-power computer that controls the worlds greatest military force becomes self aware and spends its time playing chess and fretting anxiously about taking care of routine data backups?

Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. The basic knowledge of neural net computers has been written about and been in movies for decades (actually since the fifties at least). You bet we will build a self aware computer and sooner than most think (a little pun there). The neural net processor will be much faster than a human brain because chemical activation is not necessary and the memory will be unlimited as will be the processing power because it can link to broadband to access additional processors in real time.

The trouble all along is how to get the computer to learn. Neural nets cannot be fed data in the same way as an INtel CPU connected to a hard drive. They must learn like a human child to act like a human. The technical 'hump' is big, but not gigantic.

When it happens (and it may have already happened) it will be in a military lab under tight control. The dangers are large. Chances are most of the data access and cpu access will be by broadband so we can 'turn it off'.

I can imagine that it would have to be under very strict control. Now if "emotions" would be put into these super computers then I don't think this computer would enjoy strict control! Scary thought!


I am just to think of how it would revolutionize the world not only for military concerns but for the economy. Now that I think about it, it may be a bad idea. All the jobs will be replaced by super computers that can walk like cybergs doing our jobs and even better then what a human could do. The service would be always on time, no mistakes. A C3-PO human relations by the billions walking around. It reminds me of the pixar cartoon WALL-E. How humans are so fat on space chairs and computers will do everything for you.

This would be the end of human civilization maybe or a new beginning.

Well what it is worth, I could imagine that something behind closed doors away from the common eyes is being worked on.

Very true what you say and impressive in what you programmed. It just shows the possibilities of what can happen in the future if not already. I posted somewhere before how various countries are actually working on emotions. Unfortunately they are pre-programmed. If a mega computer will ever have actual emotions similiar to humans that can conduct deeper conversations sounds pretty much impossible, yet who knows maybe a C3PO human relations computer will emerge one day. Never say never for I did that once and the very next year it happened.

In 2059 you can buy a human relations C3PO that speaks over 200 languages and teaches your child to become advanced in every subject schools teach for only $1,299,99 at Walmarkt.

We also have D3PO's that are experts in doing your house chores, cooking, baking, and keeping your garden trimmed. These butler type androids will even tuck you in bed and serve warm milk on a rainy day. Today if you come in you can buy one for only $1,999,99 at Walmarkt. The world's largest retailer is here for you. All parts made in China with 1 year warranty.

For those who can't afford anything past a thousand dollars we have the E3PO for 300 dollars.

It needs to be recharged every 3 hours and only does half of the work a D3PO or a C3PO can do.

These sell on street corners. Batteries not included

I couldn't agree more.

The day a "computer", which is just a logic machine, is able to re-write its own programming is the day computers can "think". Thinking (hopefully) reaches some truth that changes how the thinker sees the world / responds to events.