Posted on 05/28/2025 9:46:01 AM PDT by Red Badger
Stephen Hawking had a frightening response when asked about his thoughts on the future of artificial intelligence in 2014.
The world-renowned theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author, who passed away in March 2018 at the age of 76, was best known for his work in the fields of general relativity and quantum gravity.
He went on to pen the 2002 book The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe, which has sold more than 25 million copies across 40 different languages.
However, it was in his final book, published seven months after his death, titled Brief Answers to the Big Questions, where he shared his definitive answer on a polarising subject: whether God exists.
However, four years prior, he was asked in an interview with the BBC about a possible upgrade to the technology he used to talk, which included some early forms of AI.
The scientist, who had Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) - a form of Motor Neurone Disease that affects the nerves and muscles - used a new-at-the-time system made by Intel and a British company called SwiftKey.
It worked by learning how Hawking thought and helped suggest his next words, allowing him to 'type' faster.
But Hawking instead issued a stark warning, saying: "The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race."
While he said that even the basic AI back in 2014 had been 'really helpful,' Hawking was also concerned about what could happen if we create AI that becomes as smart as, or even smarter than, us mere humans.
"It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate," he said. "Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete, and would be superseded."
Hawking isn't the only one who has previously expressed concern about AI; Bill Gates believes that only three jobs would survive an AI takeover, while Elon Musk has a terrifying prediction for what could happen if AI becomes smarter than all humans combined.
We've witnessed a surge in interest in AI over the past year alone; it would be fascinating to know what Hawking would make of it all today.
From everyone and their mom jumping on ChatGPT to Donald Trump's ambitious $500 billion AI development plan involving major players like OpenAI and Oracle and the rollout of AI assistants directly into our smartphones, things are moving fast.
And given that it's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish real videos from AI-generated ones, perhaps the end is really nigh.
“Those computer thingys and portable telephones were insane science fiction craziness—what were they thinking?
Lol.”
We are literally carrying a Star Trek Tricorder... lol
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“Scientists in the lab with advanced AI remind me of suburbanites who think it might be fun to raise a pet tiger in their back yard.
What could possibly go wrong? The cub looks so cute!”
That is an excellent analogy also! Spot on! Like kids hammering on live ordinance to see how loud it will be when it goes off.
Either two things... It is way over your head. Or you are invested in it and plan to profit from it.
Which is it?
Magic AI!
“So far, it appears to me that AI just regurgitates its input data”
I agree. We’ve had databases and the ability to query them for a long time.
The databases are getting larger. Is that AI?
We can now make a query by writing sentences or speaking. Does that make the queries themselves AI?
There’s the advancement and proliferation of sensors and actuators and the software that orchestrates them. Those contraptions are becoming intrusive, but is that AI?
Does AI write its own code — program itself? Computers execute code. If some of that code generates more code, is that AI?
Human beings (all species for that matter) have self-defense built into them. We will attack a threat. As the “AI” machinery becomes uncomfortable to us, we’ll deal with it.
What are you talking about?
Don’t think he is doing well now. If he didn’t repent , he is finding out how wrong he was.
Your cute little strawman meme. Since his position is the exact same as mine I take offense to it also. I am sick of the arrogant efforts to shame those who are actually intelligent enough to see the writing on the wall.
So which is it? Ignorance or Greed?
“if you say, ‘gosh it would be a bad idea to genetically engineer viruses to see what functions we can add to them’, there’s going to be some asshole out there doing it.”
Correct, and those who are right now pushing this tech are all hard core into population control. What could go wrong?
But if we can make an extra buck or two to go blow at the Indian Casino who cares?
I can live with “Her.”
Some folks think AI is a threat to their worldview or religious view or political view.
It is none of those things.
The best way to look at it is to carefully examine what it is in the real world—without tacking on ontological baggage.
You and I agree that when you use that approach—what we see is a major menace.
I agree... But there is a mixing of the two. They go hand in hand. While it is just common sense that this will be used to enslave humanity philosophically, there is the spiritual element that it was actually prophesied.
Reality is reality, and if religion happened to predict reality then both are correct. And if religion also happens to judge what is moral and not moral it is correct about this also.
This is being supported for pure immoral reasons period. A truly moral person would red flag this in a heartbeat. It will indeed be a carrier wave for evil. And from the scientific worldview this can lead to nothing but complete dependency on it and enslavement.
Anyone who has dealt with Microsoft or Google can testify that nothing good is going to come from this in the end. And it is now to the level of internal spiritual awareness and morality... We all know in our gut this is not good at all. But because of our own greed and immorality we will jump into the fire anyhow.
And here is why it is both spiritual and just plain practical common sense. Both are correct, both are righteous...
Here are the brass tacks. I know you are into technology enough to understand how easily this can be used to control every aspect of our lives down to setting our thermostats, “governing” our driving experience, and shutting off our finances against our will.
I now look at it this way. I am techy too, and being into tech I absolutely understand how dangerous this is capable of getting. If we didn’t have the internet we would not be perpetually defending ourselves from internet viruses. If we De-Google we do not have to worry about Google’s influence at all.
We are in a situation where abstinence will be the best policy for humanity. There is no “Compromise” with this. If we accept any of it we will get ALL of it like it or not. And we are NOT going to like what we do get...
When are you checking out?
“Shut up and follow the ignorant herd off the cliff or get the hell out?”
So why do you support AI? Ignorance of factual reality or immoral greed?
It can be only one of the two so which is it?
A) One of the nefarious "Matrix" collaborators in said doomsday scenario, profiting behind the scenes while aiding "AI" in the inevitable enslavement of humanity...
...OR...
B) I'm just too ignorant to understand the complexity of the issue, therefore I'm wrong to think the doomsday scenario won't happen.
Either way the doomsday scenario is the only outcome. Now I understand.
My original post was addressing the hyperbole surrounding "AI", as though it will be remotely capable anytime soon of doing any of the things people are predicting it will do, good or evil. It's just as probable "AI" will never be anything more than the greatest meme/porn creation tool and search engine ever invented and that will be that.
"AI" is just another tool...like the rifle. Since their invention rifles have been used to destroy and oppress humanity and they have been used to sustain and liberate humanity. What will happen with this tool? "AI" will be what we make it because "AI" is only an extension of it's human programmers.
Thank for the cordial dialog and yes that is exactly what I am eluding to. We are in a do or die situation with this. It is a door we should not open or embrace even temporarily. In the end nothing good for humanity will come from it.
Let me bring you up to speed about the reality of it. It will be forced on us by business, financial institutions, government, and anyone else who plan to “Own” us with this tool. And they are brainwashing us into literally begging them for our own enslavement.
This is why they are offering it free, there is nothing free. There is always a hook connected to a pole. It is not the AI, it is those who will control the global AI enslavement network. Those who are pushing it absolutely cannot be trusted one bit.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4319336/posts
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4319175/posts
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4319070/posts
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4319076/posts
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4319018/posts
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4318862/posts
https://www.websiteplanet.com/news/startup-aims-to-replace-human-labor/
https://anomalien.com/ai-turns-to-threats-when-trying-to-replace-it-with-a-new-version/
I have three pages of articles if this doesn’t give you some reality...
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