Who Will Design the Next Robots?

That's entirely possible. However, I don't forsee the event of robots designing their replacements to the point where they are able to "overtake" if you will, the human race as has been depicted in some movies. There are limitations that I simply can't see a robot overcoming.

Take, for instance, a sports person. Say a basketball player. I don't forsee a machine that you simply set it 20 feet or whatever, from a small basket that is 12 feet or so off the ground, giving it a ball and in the time it takes to blink your eyes, have the machine throw the ball and make it go through the hoop.

The human brain is phenominal!! LeBron James can stand there, look at the basket and calcuulate the precise trajectory, force and angle that the ball must travel to cause it to go through the hoop! Amazing! And he does it with no forethought or concious calculations, no hand-held computer, no calculator, not even a pad and pencil. You simply throw him the ball and he turns and lets it fly. Bingo! Right in the hoop. Can a machine do that? I don't think so.

The same with a baseball pitcher, a football quarterback, etc. They all do this unconciously or, at least sub-conciously. No long thought processes. The mere enormity of the machine that would have to be built to accomplish such a task without input from a human operator is mind boggling. I don't see it happening in my lifetime. Although that's easy for me to say since I am now in my later 60's and my remaining lifetime is relatively short.

Therein lies the problem - outside input. The intelligence designing its own intelligence will require input that must be manually entered and/or manipulated to make the changes required to elevate the intelligence of the machine doing the work. There will have to be some major, major improvements in the way information is entered into the memory of the machines, and, then, the entries must be implemented. Some of the improvements will be mechanical in nature. How does a machine build parts? How does it construct minute parts that go into the manufacture of itself?

No, I think the intelligence that these computers and computer based "machines" (let us not forget that they are, afterall, machines) need to function must be managed and manipulated by the human hands of a skilled technician who may be guided by the machine's computer-based intelligence in the final analysis. I don't think there will be a replacement for humans in the whole scheme of things. And, if you believe in the existence of a God or supreme being, as most of us do, then you can take comfort in the realization that we (humans) are the supreme beings and we will never be replaced by machines. You can quote me on that!!

Amen.

" And, if you believe in the existence of a God or supreme being, as most of us do, then you can take comfort in the realization that we (humans) are the supreme beings and we will never be replaced by machines. You can quote me on that!!

Amen."

I cannot see why believing in a supreme being makes you a supreme being. And if you believe something for which there is no scientific evidence, it makes me wonder on what basis you decide when to use science and when to use belief.

Will you accept any statements I may make based on my beliefs.

Simon

Hello Simon,

"I cannot see why believing in a supreme being makes you a supreme being."

If a person is coming from a worldview that has the God of the Bible as the foundation then man is viewed as the pinnacle of creation (not supreme being as in divine), the very image of God. This view of history shines the spotlight on mankind, not on the animal kingdom and certainly not on anything of man's creation.

"..it makes me wonder on what basis you decide when to use science and when to use belief."

I guess this indicates you have a very deep-seated distrust of men like Isaac Newton, that silly Bible believer.

Gary