We're designing software that works like us, that learns like us, and that we can even fall just a little bit in love with. We're making computer programs that can kill like us, too.In short, we're creating the future in our image.Artificial intelligence carries the promise of humanity in all of its possibility for a better world. But what about humanity's destructiveness?From automating the law, to sex bots, to predicting what will happen when we tinker with our own DNA, the possibilities for artificial intelligence are as diffuse and contradictory as human nature itself. That's why Motherboard is dedicating a week to tackling the most interesting questions about our brave, new, and inhuman world.
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We've enlisted Bhaskar Sunkara, editor in chief and publisher of Jacobin Magazine, as our guest editor for the week. Last year, Jacobin ran a fantastic issue addressing the impact of technology on our daily lives, from smartphones to workplace automation.Suddenly, we're discussing when it's okay for a self-driving car to kill someone on purpose. Suddenly, our kitchen appliances are talking to each other. Suddenly, billionaires are bankrolling these technologies while we wring our hands about being put out of work by robots.As disorienting as this all seems, even the most complex program is really only doing simple math at mind-bendingly high speed. What's the difference between a quantum computer, a neural network, and your Macbook Pro? At what point do we call these programs "intelligent"? Is Siri your idea of what we can call "AI," or are you holding out for a bonafide real-world SkyNet?If you have some thoughts on all this, we'd love to hear them, and then publish them on this here website. Hit up an editor you like, or send a message to our general editor inbox: editor@motherboard.tv. Feel free to send me an email with your idea, too, at jordan.pearson@vice.com.In Our Image will run from February 22 to 26.