When humans become "Obsolete", then what?

Luked · Mar 27, 2012

The ever increasing expansion of technology is taking more jobs from humans on a daily basis, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. We create new jobs for programmers, robot designers and robot mechanics. Having robots to cater to your every whim and perform every job known to man could create a Utopian society.

The big hurdle is how does capitalism survive in such an environment? At some point even the programmers and designers would be replaced by AI. When robots become self sustaining what then for the human race when it becomes obsolete? More importantly how does the US capitalistic society survive if there is no jobs left for humans to perform? At some point we will have massive amounts of unemployed people that have been replaced by robots and companies will no longer have consumers able to buy their products. To put it bluntly I don't see how capitalism could survive.

matt_sells · Mar 27, 2012

You presume we're "close" to this, that's entirely untrue by the time what you've said has occured it would be likely we've already had another world war and almost killed ourselves off.

Robots have several down points firstly, they can only be "as smart" as us, yes they can calculate large sums quickly but that's not being more intelligent. Secondly, they are incredibly expensive, chinese people are far cheaper as it currently stands. Lastly, robots "computers" crash, it's not something you can entirely prevent, the amount of variables that there would be for a robot to simply pick an apple off of a tree would be mind blowing.

You also don't know whats going to happen in the future, they're could be space travel for all we know- it's just guessing.

Emperor Nero · Mar 27, 2012

This is actually a huge debate in AI theory right now. On one hand there are people that argue and say that AI will never become as intelligent as humans because they lack the fundamental human element of understanding. (See the Chinese Room) Then they're the people who argue that with Moore's law (States that every 18 months computing power will double) we are swiftly approaching a point where humans won't have to provide for themselves.

Currently though, our robot technology is extremely primitive. I took a course in robotics and engineering and the most advanced thing we have is a robot that can walk up and down stairs.

Then the problem becomes what if we can program a sentient being? What if we can give a machine a soul? This could possibly come through neural computing which involves creating a brain from scratch in a lab that functions just as the human brain but can be placed inside of a robot.

JamRsPins · Mar 27, 2012

Very interesting topic. Quantum mechanics and all, it would be interesting to live to an age where robots are more able than ourselves. There are some things that robots could never replace us for though. Manual labor are the lowest paid jobs, and it's those that will get phased out overtime mainly.

The criminal and justice system is massive in the U.S. Private prisons, ghetto's, needless wars, you'd be a fool to think your government wants less crime, wants less wars. Halliburtons, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, BP; without war, without injustice and murder, we'd already be in chaos. That's the sad truth.

As part of western civilization, I think we are all too easily brainwashed; ignorance truly is bliss.

Psychonaut Soul · Mar 27, 2012

Rspins your post is scary but seems true...If they make robots to replace us, they better give everyone their own fuckin robot to go to work in their place so that we can still get a paycheck...Ill be like will smith in iRobot if those sonsabitches take my money

NavyUK · Mar 27, 2012

If that were the case botting in Runescape would be so much easier.

HEHEGGG · Mar 27, 2012

Technology would continue, no doubt about that, but after technology is able to do everything you can possibly want, it will be how long till humans find a way to unite again.

When the company have no more consumers, the company closes, the consumers will have to find a new source, revolution occurs and we will be forced to evolve once again.

llGoHardl · Mar 27, 2012

They say roaches will be the longest to survive but I try not to think about this kinda stuff Dx

This user has been infracted for spamming the SFA.

x339 · Mar 27, 2012

As far as we know our brain is just made of electrical impulses that control our body based on instincts. So what if we can recreate these electrical impulses in an artificial brain? Then doesn't that present the possibility of robots becoming smarter than us?

Nothing Is Free · Mar 28, 2012

Then What? Well, we wont know, because we'll be obsolete lmfao.
Im sure the world will fall apart, etc etc.

GodGenesis · Apr 5, 2012

We will still very far from been obsoleted by AI or Robots... But if ever that day comes, I believe humans will pre-program all bots to acknowledge humans as their master and creator.