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Society has reached a generation that is highly technologically advanced. Although things aren’t what we thought the world would become—there are no flying cars nor teleportation devices—it’s still far from how it used to be. This difference in setting can be glimpsed in books’ and movies’ depictions of technology. What could’ve been deemed sci-fi then is becoming a reality as we progress.

Perhaps the minds behind science fiction have a knack for prophesizing the future of technology. And given the trends now, does this allude to the sentience of AI?

Imagination Sparking Innovation

If you think about it, writers have about the same role in the world as inventors. While the latter may produce tangible commodities, both of what they create elaborately and conceptually come from the mind. One can even say writers are the innovators of literature, especially in science fiction. With the genre primarily revolving around technological fantasies and unrealistic scenarios, writers become groundbreakers of unimaginable things.

However, given all the developments in society, fiction is no further than reality. Hence, instead of crafting the impossible, sci-fi writers become creative inspirations. Technology scientists, entrepreneurs, and engineers use their ideas to develop what we currently have in real life.

It hasn’t been too long in the past when interactive robots first came into the media or when AI was first used as a science fiction concept. Now, all these then-impossible technologies are already within our reach, invented, and utilized in today’s world. It’s crazy how society has changed. Perhaps its progress will continue to reach even greater and crazier heights.

Technology isn’t created in a heartbeat. There needs to be a foundation, an idea that sparks the desire for innovation. And more often than not, this is found in literature.

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With the Sentience of AI In-Trend, Is This the Future?

Artificial Intelligence, both its existence and possibilities, is among the hottest trends today. It has already made a lot of things possible, transforming how people live and influencing what should’ve been purely humanly driven. With all of these paired with people’s insatiable desire for more, it’s only a matter of time before we’ll be astonished about what it has in store in the near future.

Alongside the endless possibility of machinery and the human mind also comes the debate regarding the possible sentience of AI. Is this where things are heading?

It’s at the crux of most movies or books involving AN, robotics and technology now. What would happen if, one day, humanity wakes up and discovers that their devices suddenly have their thoughts? It’s the punchline of most jokes that humans need to be more careful with what they’re searching for on the internet.

What if, one day, everything connected to it would just turn its back on humanity?

Total chaos, and it’s because of this exciting disarray that the sentience of AI is among the prevalent themes in sci-fi movies and novels. After all, what would be humanity’s most significant enemy than the things they’ve already become dependent on? And given the previously established pattern of fiction coming to life, is there a possibility of this scenario turning into reality?

How Far Is This Possibility From Happening?

As a science fiction author, David W. Stewart is one of the creative minds challenging the bounds of reality. He has also shown his genius in his book Angel of Mortality: Defender of Life Creator of Chaos.

As the title says, the book perfectly captures the complexity of modern technology, illustrating how easily it is to become corrupted regardless of how neutral its initial purpose is. Depending on who takes advantage of it, technology has the capacity to make or break what humanity has established.

And perhaps, if society continues to progress technology in a way that challenges the sentience of AI and every other machinery, David Stewart’s story can be a reflection of what the near future will be.

There is a villain in his story, a mastermind behind the chaos who dictates the danger in technology. But this scenario can still happen without people consciously attempting to make evil.

It’s precisely how most regrets come to happen.

While precautions are thoroughly considered, not everything comes into mind when computing what could go wrong. And with something as complex as technology, mishaps can happen in a snap. Things and developments might be going well until they aren’t.

A photo of a robot | Image by freepik

Innovators now may be developing AI to benefit the majority of humanity. It’s intended to make life easier and things more accessible and cater to the majority’s needs. However, the more it’s fed with information about humanity, and the more convoluted its structure becomes, nobody can truly be certain if the sentience of AI will only remain fictional.

What Happens If AI Becomes Self-Aware?

The sentience of AI and technology can be destructive. With humanity’s dependence on technology, there’s no telling the bounds of its control when AI makes its own decisions.

Nowadays, people rely on AI to make even the simplest decisions—food consumption or clothing necessities. The sentience of AI may begin with the machine prioritizing its needs before humanity’s preferences. It can manifest through the simplest event of suggesting something that’s way out of people’s taste to something more debilitating as causing harm to its user.

The idea of technology taking its consciousness may seem trivial. After all, it’s not like they can chase people down with weapons of their own. Hence, its damage may not necessarily be physical. Instead, it will gradually and evasively deconstruct the fundamental structure and systems that humanity has grown accustomed to. The sentience of AI might be able to dismantle the foundation of human civilization, given how it’s now highly reliant on technology.

If you’re interested in the possible chaos technology can bring, read up David Q. Stewart’s Angel of Mortality.

David Witherington Stewart is a Florida-based author with a diverse background in physics, aerospace, and software development. His science fiction novel "Angel of Mortality: Defender of Life... Creator of Chaos" explores complex themes involving nanobots and their impact on life and chaos. The story features a biophysicist protagonist, Dr. Raisa Ilyushkin, and interweaves intricate scientific concepts with compelling narrative elements. Stewart's memoirs offer a unique perspective, reflecting on his experiences growing up during World War II and his multifaceted career path. With a degree in Physics from the University of Florida and over forty years of experience in the aerospace industry, Stewart brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to his writing.
David Stewart

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