Tag Archives: artificial intelligence

Sunday Reflection – Technology

I am all for progress when it comes to civil rights and being sure all people have the same freedoms to love and live as they want. We are too slow in that area.

However, when it comes to technology perhaps we are moving too fast. People need the time to catch up. I hope there is continual progress in creating a safe environment and healing those who are hurting. But I think we need to put some brakes on things like Artificial Intelligence. I think too many people are going to be harmed there. The actors and writers on strike are making that point clear.

One of my favorite movies has a line that says “You can’t stop progress” but you know maybe slowing it down would be a good thing. What we are seeing is the potential for economic and institutional harm. Of course, the marketplace will dictate the speed of adoption because there is money to be made.

My friends, it’s OK to use technology that makes sense and is not always on the bleeding edge. This post is being written on an older model Dell desktop computer using a Linux operating system on the Firefox web browser. Sounds kind of old-school but I like it like that.

I do like having technology that improves my writing of blog posts and the like. But I don’t want it to be used in misinformation and other nefarious actions. We have already seen bad people doing bad things using available technology to advance their views and agendas.

Let’s slow down, make sense of things and use technology wisely and be sure that technology doesn’t use us.

Isaac Asimov’s “Three Laws of Robotics”

In the age of robotics and automation we should be aware of Issac Asimov’s three rules of robotics. Human beings need to be mindful of these rules when building and programming these aware machines. Smart and forward thinking from this noted futurist and writer.

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm

2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.