Future Timeline

An idea for a short sci-fi story: "The Great Father" Decades from now, an effort is made to resurrect passenger pigeons. Using DNA from preserved specimens and using related pigeon species as incubators, the first small flock of passenger pigeons is created. But they have no clue how to re...

The Terminator movies give us the wrong impression that raw strength is the only advantage humanoid robots will have against us in combat. They'll also have the following: 1) Perfect technique 2) Pain insensitivity 3) All-metal parts means physical blows and squeezes will hurt more than a human's. E...

Jakob wrote: ↑Fri May 17, 2024 9:22 pm The square-cube law will kill your hopes and dreams.

A 15 foot high ape is probably possible, and would be impressive to see.

If AGI took over the world, it wouldn't value the same parts of it that we do. For example, it would have no use for places with good farmland, scenic views, or nice beaches. Instead, AGI would value parts of the world that had resources, including those key to energy generation, and places amenable...

Kurzweil is looking and sounding noticeably frailer now. I don't think he has much longer left. https://youtu.be/pGNweUleVVE Sad to see it's like his ageing a year every 3 months, mind you there are some people such as Noam Chomsky who look like they are at deaths door but just keep going on past n...

Contrary to what the Terminator films show, I don't think the most efficient robots for killing humans would be humanoid T-800s or giant aircraft and land vehicles carrying laser cannons. Instead, I think Skynet would be smartest creating the following: 1) Bioweapons. Huge bang for the buck, self-pe...

If AGI took over the world, they might find it in their interest to retain some organic life forms. Diversity can be a strength, and it might be smart to keep some number of friendly, intelligent life forms on Earth that are immune to EMP and computer viruses and which don't need electricity to surv...

Robot butlers will reduce the incidence of house fires in these ways: 1) Routinely test smoke alarms and replace as necessary. 2) Routinely patrol homes for fire hazards and fix them. 3) Immediately notify the authorities if a fire starts. 4) Use water fixtures and extinguishers in a home to put out...

Having to upgrade yourself with cybernetic brain and/or body implants to remain competitive against machines might sound cool, but it really means humanity is on a dystopian path. You've got a brain chip and robot limbs now, so in an eight hour day, you do twice as much work as a regular human. Uh-o...

Tadasuke wrote: ↑Sun Apr 07, 2024 3:06 pm Is there a need for 1.5 km long and 350 m high ships on Earth though? Why would we need them? What for? Vanity?

It might lower shipping costs.