@Benton12 said:

@Taylorfirst1 said:

Come on guys, what about Spectre of the Gun? They all would have been shot to death if they didn't have a Vulcan to do that mind hypnosis thing so they would know that the bullets weren't real.

Please do not use that ep. By that time the whole show production-wise was a 60's trip. Did they really leave the ship or not? They passed off a really phony premise that they could not afford a western set for this ep so they made a strange surrealistic and inexpensive one--when the Bonanza set was right on the Paramount lot! They obviously wanted a 60s happening that made no sense and this Spock's Brain were the eps --see my postings.

Well, both shows were on at the same time, so the Bonanza set would have been recognized.

Also the Melkotians supposedly took the "pattern" of their deaths from Kirk's mind, which would have suggested that Kirk watched Bonanza.

@Knixon said:

@wonder2wonder said:

@Knixon said:

@Benton12 said:

@Taylorfirst1 said:

How many episodes can we name where they were saved or greatly helped by the fact that Spock was Vulcan and had those oh so handy and convenient Vulcan abilities?

With computers that are sophisticated how necessary is a Spock?

They can't beam the computer down to a planet, etc.

A Vulcan android.

Androids are pretty much Vulcans already by definition. Androids don't even have artificial emotions that need to be suppressed.

A combination of a Vulcan and a sophisticated computer would be a Vulcan android, that you can beam down to a planet.

@Benton12 said:

@Taylorfirst1 said:

How many episodes can we name where they were saved or greatly helped by the fact that Spock was Vulcan and had those oh so handy and convenient Vulcan abilities?

With computers that are sophisticated how necessary is a Spock?

Sometimes a "Hail Mary" is all that stands between you and disaster/defeat/death. Computers don't do that.

@FormerlyKnownAs said:

@Benton12 said:

@Taylorfirst1 said:

How many episodes can we name where they were saved or greatly helped by the fact that Spock was Vulcan and had those oh so handy and convenient Vulcan abilities?

With computers that are sophisticated how necessary is a Spock?

Sometimes a "Hail Mary" is all that stands between you and disaster/defeat/death. Computers don't do that.

The AIs from "Space: Above And Beyond" did. They were programmed to "take a chance."

Just happened to catch a late-night show clip with the host (John Oliver) riffing on AI...made me think of this Thread.

One topic from the clip:

A self-driving car mowed down (killed) a woman who was crossing the street. After investigating, researching, analyzing, debating, checking, and double checking, etc., it seems the car didn’t stop because the woman WASN’T IN THE CROSSWALK. In other words…she was jaywalking…which it (obviously?) wasn’t programmed for.

Leads me to my chief AI complaint…

AI is missing (for now?) a key component that we have: “the ability to understand something instinctively, without any need for conscious reasoning”.

So, until AI gets its “Three Laws…” act together; AND learn to "see the forest” (woman) “for the trees” (programming), I’ll take a ‘Spock’ over a ‘Computer’ any day.

Couple of other thoughts…

(1) You can’t program/plan for every contingency; so somewhere along the way someone, or something, may have to “wing it”. If you give a computer a self-destruct command, which do you think is more likely: (1) It will somehow come to the realization that there is "a better way" and stop, or (2) It will continue the countdown to the end.

(2) In the man vs. machine matchup—“WATSON-Jennings-Rutter”—on “Jeopardy” (in one person’s opinion), as amazing as WATSON was, he wasn’t better than the guys…he was just faster. (Yes, I said “he”.)

Speed matters though, in many situations. And that's one reason computers got invented in the first place: they can quickly do calculations that might require a lifetime for someone with paper and pencil.

@FormerlyKnownAs said:

@Benton12 said:

@Taylorfirst1 said:

How many episodes can we name where they were saved or greatly helped by the fact that Spock was Vulcan and had those oh so handy and convenient Vulcan abilities?

With computers that are sophisticated how necessary is a Spock?

Sometimes a "Hail Mary" is all that stands between you and disaster/defeat/death. Computers don't do that.

"Elon Musk and multiple experts have signed a letter raising concerns about the development of AI. The letter was issued by the non-profit Future of Life Institute. Its signatories called for a 6-month pause on the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4."

"The non-profit said powerful AI systems should only be developed "once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable." It cited potential risks to humanity and society, including the spread of misinformation and widespread automation of jobs." (Insider)

DOES THIS MEAN:

1. AI is on its way to being able to have a "Eureka!Moment"?
   
2. Stephen Hawking was right: “Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid risk.”
3. I’ll need to rethink my “Hail Mary” comment?

REMINDS ME OF THE OLD JOKE: “I invented a substance that can eat through anything, but I can't find a place to store it.”

@FormerlyKnownAs said:

"Elon Musk and multiple experts have signed a letter raising concerns about the development of AI. The letter was issued by the non-profit Future of Life Institute. Its signatories called for a 6-month pause on the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4."

"The non-profit said powerful AI systems should only be developed "once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable." It cited potential risks to humanity and society, including the spread of misinformation and widespread automation of jobs." (Insider)

DOES THIS MEAN:

1. AI is on its way to being able to have a "Eureka!Moment"?
   
2. Stephen Hawking was right: “Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid risk.”
3. I’ll need to rethink my “Hail Mary” comment?

REMINDS ME OF THE OLD JOKE: “I invented a substance that can eat through anything, but I can't find a place to store it.”

It's already too late. Even if some - Western - countries would want to put restrictions on AI, there are many other countries - government, private companies, individuals - that want to experiment and develop AI as far as possible. So, to not be left behind, everyone will continue on this road.

Humans think that they are superior to everything and everyone and always in control. They do not fear AI as it serves their needs and will one day replace most things and people. All that scaremongering is for science fiction stories. So relax and experience this brave new world.

@wonder2wonder said:

@FormerlyKnownAs said:

"Elon Musk and multiple experts have signed a letter raising concerns about the development of AI. The letter was issued by the non-profit Future of Life Institute. Its signatories called for a 6-month pause on the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4."

"The non-profit said powerful AI systems should only be developed "once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable." It cited potential risks to humanity and society, including the spread of misinformation and widespread automation of jobs." (Insider)

DOES THIS MEAN:

1. AI is on its way to being able to have a "Eureka!Moment"?
   
2. Stephen Hawking was right: “Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid risk.”
3. I’ll need to rethink my “Hail Mary” comment?

REMINDS ME OF THE OLD JOKE: “I invented a substance that can eat through anything, but I can't find a place to store it.”

It's already too late. Even if some - Western - countries would want to put restrictions on AI, there are many other countries - government, private companies, individuals - that want to experiment and develop AI as far as possible. So, to not be left behind, everyone will continue on this road.

Humans think that they are superior to everything and everyone and always in control. They do not fear AI as it serves their needs and will one day replace most things and people. All that scaremongering is for science fiction stories. So relax and experience this brave new world.

No truer words...!

TRUE STORY:

Was on one of those prolong “Press-1-if”, “Press-2-if” merry-go-round calls to one of our “Uncle’s” offices. (Back in the dark ages you could end this nonsense by simply hitting “0”; THEN you'd be connected to a real-live-person.

Well, this time when I hit “0”; I got either: “Sorry” or “It appears” (can’t remember which) we are unable to help you." ...and then the “%*&^#+bot ENDED the call!

I'm the people here! What kind of nonsense is this!? (I was so shocked that I was just holding up my phone and looking at it as if something else was about to happened.)

I've had them wear-me-down (many times) where I just give up; but, this disconnect thing was a first!

@FormerlyKnownAs said:

TRUE STORY:

Was on one of those prolong “Press-1-if”, “Press-2-if” merry-go-round calls to one of our “Uncle’s” offices. (Back in the dark ages you could end this nonsense by simply hitting “0”; THEN you'd be connected to a real-live-person.

Well, this time when I hit “0”; I got either: “Sorry” or “It appears” (can’t remember which) we are unable to help you." ...and then the “%*&^#+bot ENDED the call!

I'm the people here! What kind of nonsense is!?

I've had them wear-me-down (many times); but, never chump me off!

These days, sometimes you have to go through a few menus and then "talk to someone" is Press 6, or something.