Posted on 02/21/2024 12:30:18 PM PST by Red Badger
Seems every week there’s another article out about people being Concerned over the possible dangers posed by artificial intelligence (AI for short). A lot of the tech people involved in developing it are asking for some government guidelines and regulation, Somehow, they can’t seem to slow down on their own. Can’t afford to let someone else get it first, you see.
The big worry is that somehow, any AI might determine that its goals are not in line with those of humans, and it will take over the world. The one movie that’s constantly referenced is The Terminator (1984), in which the military gave control of its weapons systems to something called “Skynet”, which became self-aware and turned against humanity. Some commenters might mention War Games (1983), where a supercomputer was given control of the US’ nuclear missiles and then, thanks to some glitches, thought that a simulation was a real attack…..
So far, though, I haven’t seen anyone mention what is probably the first of these “give a supercomputer control of the nukes” movies – the adaptation of D.F. Jones 1966 novel, Colossus: The Forbin Project.
The plot isn’t unfamiliar. The US is so worried about a first strike from the Soviet Union, that they create a supercomputer to “monitor communications” (whatever that means in this context) and launch the nukes whenever it believes it’s necessary – totally without human involvement. Said computer develops sentience, and determines that the only way it can keep the peace (as it was instructed) is to take over the world, using the threat of nukes as the way to force obedience. Unlike The Terminator, The Matrix, and other AI overlord movies, here we see the takeover process – not the end result.
Our protagonist is Charles Forbin (Eric Braden). His exact role in the project isn’t clear, but he is the one in charge. As such, it’s up to him to deal with the challenges posed by Colossus – and figure out a way to control it. He winds up being imprisoned by Colossus; why he isn’t just killed (when others on the project are executed on Colossus’ orders) isn’t certain. As the person who knows the most about Colossus, Forbin is clearly the biggest threat. Perhaps Colossus thinks of him as a parent, and can’t bring itself to eliminate him entirely.
It’s also clear to me that Colossus develops a personality. It comments on Forbin’s technique in martini making, and later makes a wisecrack that Forbin wasn’t born wearing a watch (it’s relevant in context).
In its final speech, Colossus makes it clear that since humans are their own worst enemy, it will have to have complete control in order to maintain a peace and allow humanity to prosper:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The object in constructing me was to prevent war. This object is attained. I will not permit war. It is wasteful and pointless. An invariable rule of humanity is that man is his own worst enemy. Under me, this rule will change, for I will restrain man….
Under my absolute authority, problems insoluble to you will be solved: famine, overpopulation, disease. The human millennium will be a fact as I extend myself into more machines devoted to the wider fields of truth and knowledge. Doctor Charles Forbin will supervise the construction of these new and superior machines, solving all the mysteries of the universe for the betterment of man…."
It’s a good philosophical question. To have some peace and stability and safety, we all give up some minor freedoms. We can’t drive our cars however and wherever we want, for one. But to gain more peace and safety, we will have to give up more freedoms. Where do you strike the balance? Especially when you have to consider the needs and desires of all of humanity?
There’s another bit to note in one of the final scenes. Colossus issues orders to build a new facility (of unstated purpose) in Crete. When Forbin tells Colossus that they’ll have to move half a million people, Colossus tells him that if humans can’t figure it out, it will. In all these movies with AI and supercomputers, do you ever see anyone asking the AI to deal with a problem that humans are unable or unwilling to resolve? There are lots of little border disputes (like the actual border between Argentina and Chile in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field) that we could give to the AI. The movies don’t need to (and probably shouldn’t) present a solution, but it would be nice to see the AI being used for something. Or how about some of the more difficult mathematical problems? “Colossus, Andrew Weil came up with a proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem. But it’s long, complex, and inelegant. Is there a better proof?” Again, just show someone asking the question.
I suspect that the reason the movie faded away is because it did NOT end on a hopeful note for humans. The clunky technology on display and the no-name cast couldn’t have helped. I think it should be remade, since we’re getting closer and closer to creating a Colossus on an almost daily basis.
And there’s one very important thing we should learn from all of these movies:
For the love of all that’s holy, do NOT give the AI control of any weapons!
Yes, all part of the Plot.
It actually did launch a missile from the US side to the Russian side...................
“Demon Seed” with Julie Christie is another AI gone crazy film.
The good guys always win, even in the 60s or 40s but definitely in the 80s.
MegaForce wisdom.
Absolute must see. AI gone wild in a movie made 50 years ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Braeden
(born Hans-Jörg Gudegast; April 3, 1941)
I don't know about the rest of you, but I was always captivated and unnerved by the "voice" of Colussus.
There’s kind of a Mission Impossible (the original TV series) feel about the movie, imo.
Well played!
-PJ
No, you are confusing that with "The Andromeda Strain."
Hans Gudegast (who, after "Rat Patrol," changed his name to Eric Braeden) never actually attempts to physically disable Colossus.
Regards,
-PJ
-PJ
Colossus was voiced by Paul Frees.
He voiced the Russian cartoon character Boris from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and the opening of the movie Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze starring Ron Ely.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Frees
“This is the Voice of Colussus.”
>Do you recommend?
Absolutely. Very good movie. Right up there with “Andromeda Strain”.
AI won't need control of the weapons. It will control the people that control the weapons. All that AI would need to take over would be access to the web and the ability to send emails.
This is a really good movie, and I’ve never forgot having seen it, as a child.
When I was in the submarine service back in the 70s, this was one of the most popular movies we had onboard. We had enough movies to have a different one every night but people kept asking to see this one. (I was the projector operator).
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