Some years ago STAR TREK, the popular Sci-Fi, futuristic Space program had an episode called, “The Changeling.” It was about a small wayward probe named NOMAD. NOMAD was programmed to destroy any and everything in its path that it deemed a waste or useless. The unmanned probe, small and compact seemed indestructible and unstoppable.
As it neared the Enterprise, which seemed to stand in its destructive path, soon to be its next victim, Enterprise’s fearless Captain, James T. Kirk, in an attempt to communicate, announced himself to the marauding mauler. But to their surprise the demolisher suddenly stopped in its tracks and made a stunning request. It sought to meet the Enterprise’s Captain. As it turned out NOMAD, mistakenly thought Captain Kirk, was its creator, because their names were similar.
I guess you’re wondering where I’m going with this…Well it appears that modern technology has discovered its own NOMAD. We call it AI or Artificial Intelligence. It seemed so harmless and to those that created it, a way to make some easy money. It would be elimination by duplication. Creating machines that could and would do the identical work humans did, which they could program, and control without the expense, headaches and problems of humans.
Whole assembly lines of people that once did menial tasks would be the first to go; like cashiers at check out counters, telephone operators and the like. Who would miss them and what a savings to the bottom line. But that would just be the beginning.
It would then go to intellectual tasks like writing scripts, plays, books, etc, duplicating the work of the professionals in those areas, and who would know the difference other than their human originals. They were already assisting in hospitals, labs and other technical areas where having AI support and collaboration had been crucial to surgeons and other specialists in a number of ways.
But suddenly NOMAD happens, which the smarties didn’t anticipate. What happens when NOMAD becomes so intelligent, that it no longer needs to consult its creator? What happens when Artificial Intelligence uses its own intelligence to answer its own questions or solve its own problems. Who is smart enough to stop, interrupt or change the decisions that it makes on its own.
This is a crucial problem that we as humans have always had; not realizing that we are finite beings. And as such, it means that we are creatures of limitations. Hence, there are some things that we were not meant to create.
There were two instances in scripture when humanity crossed a line that it could no longer safely manage or maintain. In Genesis 6 the Bible says, “The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.” God’s conclusion was,, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing…I am sorry I ever made them.”
Then at Babel, humanity’s exploits were so uncontrollable that God said, “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!” And to end that foray God confused their languages.
But here’s the difference. That was the infinite controlling the finite. God who sees the end from the beginning, who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and eternal was able to control His creations when they ran amuck.
But what can humanity do when it creates an intelligence that outsmarts and out thinks its finite, limited, human creator. Who or what human is able to stop it. This is not Star Trek and AI is not NOMAD. And the greatest problem we have as a nation is; the person in charge is more ignorant, immature and greedy than the primates he tried make the Obama’s look like. Lord help us all…
