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QristopherQuixote t1_j8ogjgs wrote

Do you need a history of all the things SciFi got wrong? Asimov, Heinlein, etc?

Contagion is based on actual science. Read books by Robin Cook if you want to see an actual scientist write science fiction. His book "vector" predicted the use of Anthrax as a terrorist weapon. However, folks like Michael Crichton have been spectacularly wrong even though he had an MD. Crichton was a science skeptic in some respects who questioned bans on DDT and wrote a book that made a mockery of environmental activism. He also wrote a book against AI called "Prey" which had a swarm intelligence using nanobots that was beyond silly.

We don't even know if strong AI is possible. It doesn't appear to be necessary for us to get value from task based AI. Artificial neural nets are everywhere including in cruise control in cars, smart thermostats, etc. Some smart phones like the Pixel have them. Components of AI are being used more and more.

We cannot confuse complexity with strong AI. Very complex AI systems can still be weak task based AI. Consciousness and independent action are not part of AI now. No existing AI system can be considered to be "thinking." This idea that an AI overlord will emerge to override human action is pure science fiction. The human brain has trillions of interconnections between billions of neurons with an incredible input system. No computer can match it yet.

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