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!
Pretty good for 70’s science fiction
But not as good
He was extremely smart and literate for a drug-plagued manic-depressive.
For the record, his supposedly cross-gender posing was just that - to garner publicity and higher sales (total hound worse than Nugent back in his heyday). Worked brilliantly.
These days it's hard to tell who the good guys are.
I read the book, back when I was a kid, never saw the movie.
My only memory of the book is where Colossus imprisons Forbin’s wife with a primitive sub-human, who repeatedly rapes her and treats her like dirt. When Forbin finally rescues her and kills the caveman she weeps over him.
Nothing like that was in the movie...............
Two of my old favorites—both available for free online:
Hanger 18—I still refer to the place where my dog is about to poop as the “designated landing area”.
Capricorn One—OJ as an astronaut—and many other cool elements.
The ‘voice’ was done by Paul Frees, who did teh voice of Boris Badenov on the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show, among others.
He was also the voice of Disney’s Ludwig Von Drake Character............
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Frees
I had to see that one in a film class in college, it wasn’t too terrible for egghead sci-fi.
At the time it was made, the idea of a computer taking over was practically absurd.
Now we are being warned to be careful with AI.................
Colossus: "Forbin, the system programming unit under the supervision of John F Fisher with the assistance of Jefferson J Johnson have attempted to overload my circuits.
This was a deliberate and premeditated act. The penalty is the death of the men who organized this action. At this moment they are being executed... bishop to rook 3"
[shots fired]
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