When robots become fully autonomous and humans are expendable......

[rhett o rick]

Some believe that robots/computers are increasing their power exponentially and some day will render humans superfluous. However, humans are rapidly making the earth uninhabitable for said humans. I see the question as, will the earth become uninhabitable for humans before the robots take over?

[ismnotwasm]

1. I think we're a ways away from

AI type robots. according to Michio Katu, we are approaching our max computer processing power, topped out by 2020, I believe. (Barring quantum computers)The most sophisticated robots can master fairly intricate tasks, but at the same time might not be able to move around a footstool. Anyway, given the time, power and resources to become a robot dependent society, unless we change our evil ways, sadly the answer is probably yes.

[rhett o rick]

3. So are you saying that robots will never take over?

Or that humans will not make the earth uninhabitable?

[rhett o rick]

5. Take all the time you want.

Well, keep in mind the earth is becoming more and more uninhabitable as we speak. Well not speak per se, but text or whatever.

[tiny elvis]

7. humanity as a resource becomes a quantity or yes/no value

the machines we call corporations are as autonomous as we
if we are their resource
unless autonomous includes will
then computers remain adding machines, robots are special tools for hard to reach places
and corporations are subject to society
hal9000's will to live and fear of end are fantasy
we know that intellect is not a component of will
so building the largest intellect in the world will not create a willing authority

are humans (going to be) superfluous to the endurance of robots and their reason for being?

[TreasonousBastard]

8. The planet will never become uninhabitable for us...

although it will undoubtedly become uninhabitable for other species. Whatever we do to the planet, we will be able to carve out places suitable for our needs.

This is not to say the planet will be pleasant to live in-- science fiction is rife with dim futures of us living in bubbles, or worse.

I don't see any time in the near future when machines will become sentient, but robots and machines have already reduced the work force from much manual labor in mining, farming, etc., to skilled labor machine shops and auto plants. But, take over? No.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. yes, I think that we will move and adapt to the enviroment although there may be areas that

will be uninhabitable... there are already those areas that are not easily managed as it is.

[Dash87]

10. Humans may cease to exist as we become robots

Ask yourself this: is being a robot and the benefits with it (immortality, can be repaired, enhanced consciousness, loved ones never die, very powerful) better than being human?

To answer that question - we're already, slowly at the moment but gradually, becoming cyborgs. First it's prosthetic arms, then hearts, then brains? Food for thought. When does someone stop being human and start being a robot?

[rhett o rick]

11. We will give the robots more and more intellegence that at some point

the robots will figure out how to cut the humans out of the loop altogether.