Science fiction in 2075
There is the sun, but there is no sunshine, there is the moon, but there is no moonlight, there is the sky, but it is not blue anymore, and there are gardens but there are no flowers anywhere, anymore. Welcome to 2075!
The year where you are still on planet Earth but in the Mega cities which are heavily urbanised, and where everything that once upon a time used to be organic has been replaced by synthetic alternatives and heavy industrialisation. Everything is the same, except the extensively urbanised areas of the Earth.
Now it may sound like an extract from the science fiction novel, They Loved in 2075. But how real it is going to be, only time can tell.
But in 2075 will everything be negative with no positive aspects?
For many reasons, 2075 can be termed as the Golden Age of human civilisation, where science will have achieved many groundbreaking breakthroughs. For the first time in the history of mankind, humans will be becoming more robotic than biological. With advancements in biotechnology humans will now be able to access never failing and fully artificial organs, bionic eyes and ears offering highly reflexive senses, nanoscale brain interfaces to augment human intelligence will be a reality, synthetic blood, and bodily fluids that can filter deadly toxins and provide hours' worth of oxygen in a single breath will be a reality. In addition to these advancements, nano technology will be offering cutting edge solutions in various sectors. Clothing, Medical, Organ repairing to name a few.
Well the list of possibilities does not stop there. Space elevators along with space hotels will be a common thing. And by 2075 humans may even have established a base on Mars. With many human settlements already thriving on the planet.
2075 will be an exciting time to live in, but at what expense will humans achieve such large scale technological innovation will have to be assessed beforehand. Because in later stages if we realise that we have been penny wise and pound foolish. We would prove just one thing, “what the fool does in the end, the wise man does in the beginning!”
Moreover, if for the sake of achieving these moments of scientific glory we have to sacrifice the life supporting ecosystem of the planet Earth, then we all are paying a very heavy price and it may not be worth it.
Nevertheless, when it comes to determining what is right and what is wrong, sometimes the only way to establish it is by means of doing it, in order to know the right way of doing it. No wonder they say, “No man has a right to do as he pleases, except when he pleases to do right.” And by pursuing groundbreaking science in 2075, there is nothing wrong, I see everything right in it. Just that if we underestimate the negative aspects associated with highly intuitive technologies like Artificial Intelligence, NanoTechnology, Machine Learning, Advanced Biotechnology, Nuclear Physics etc. then we surely are onboard a bullet train bound for two destinations:
Destination A : Dead End
Destination B : Unknown
In either case the passengers on board the bullet train are destined for a fatal collision with reality that shall leave it shattered and completely grounded. And if that happens, in 2075, humans will be the authors of an end where future generations will curse us for being hopelessly reckless. If we do not wish it to be so, we should do everything within our capacity to prevent this untimely collision with reality; where everything seems to work, but not in our favour.
Therefore, in 2075 we would need something called thoughtful and responsible science. Where every scientist and business corporation undertaking large scale projects or experiments, allocates every resource needed to factor the environment friendly protocols in the life cycles of these experiments or projects being executed by them. Unless we do not adopt this approach, 2075, maybe a grotesque landscape to be in. Where humans will be everywhere but humanity may be nowhere.
Expressinging gratefulness is a great virtue we possess as humans, and gratefulness exists among animals as well. So why should we decrease our quotient of greatness, aren't we the crown of the creation?
Here is something that will astonish you all. Watch the YouTube video to believe it yourself. Wherein an injured lioness is being fed by another lioness.
Lioness with an injured jaw gets help in eating a carcass with the help of a fellow Lioness
If beasts can show emotions of empathy and gratefulness, it becomes socially obligatory on part of human beings to achieve excellence in these virtues as well.
Now since the blog post has steered in this direction, let me add a hint of philosophical flavour to it. According to Aristotle, humans lead three types of lives or lifestyles:
1. life of enjoyment
2. life of the statesman
And
3. the contemplative life
For most of us leading a life of pleasure, where life’s goals begin and end with pleasure, is associated with good life. However, according to Aristotle it is inadequate and does in no way fulfil the quantum of our nature. By Aristotle this is regarded as proper to brute beasts only. Thus beasts lead a life with two objectives alone: to eat and mate. But the purpose of human life is not just restricted to these two vectors of life.
Many people set honour and glory as the only goal of their lives. But Aristotle rejects this as an improper and less virtuous end of life. According to him it is very superficial. Here the one who bestows or gives honour is greater than the one who receives it. It can happen that a person is quite virtuous but disliked by most people in his/her society. On the contrary a person with no qualities or worthwhile virtues is honoured and respected in his/her community. True good that lies as a real virtue, is something that exists by virtue of the existence of the individual himself/herself. When a person cannot be robbed of an asset by any means, that is a true and valuable virtue, that makes human life worthwhile. And Aristotle further argues that most of the people who aspire to be honoured and respected, do so to seek a means of guarantee that he/she possesses some sort of excellence. This goes to prove that excellence is a greater virtue than honour. Thus pursuit of excellence is the real end they strive for. For many social reasons and personal satisfaction they devote their lives to this goal.
Further, Aristotle argues, and rightly so, when he says that it is the third kind of life that is the highest kind of life a human should aim for. Its pursuit establishes us as the true crown of creation. Where self fulfilment is not the only objective, the main goal is to find a means through which you can contribute something towards the general good of the society that you are a part of. And this kind of life is termed as the life of contemplation by Aristotle.
A scientist who devotes his/her entire life to a discovery or invention that he/she believes will add great value to human life. Or an artist who contemplates colourful and musical human journeys towards the attainment of contemplative excellence, because the true work of art is but a shadow of divine perfection. These individuals are attempting to be in this highest kind of human life.
Wow, that was quite a bit of philosophy!
Anyway, let me relate this with the actual topic now. Referring to beasts. I am sure if Aristotle had seen this touching video of beasts showing empathy, Aristotle might have taken a slightly liberal approach towards assigning beasts the lowest strata in the kingdom of the living things. But that is the beauty of philosophy. It is like holding a long pole in the dark and having the patience, courage and excellence to keep walking without fearing that you might trip or what lies ahead. That is true philosophy. Moreover, it is this aspect of philosophy that renders it fascinating, and allows a person like me to express my opinion on something as complex as Aristotelian philosophy.
So, if beasts can show gratitude, it is base on our part not to show it as well. And as humans we ought to show our gratefulness towards the Mother Earth, who has been sustaining us for million years now, we have always been seeking and taking from her, I think it is time we give back to her and heal her scars, that pain her in the form of Ozone Hole, Global Warming, Deforestation, Water Pollution. I will end the list here because I am already feeling I belong to the lowest strata in the animal kingdom. Not among beasts though, so I am sure there still is hope.
I am sure you would agree. Correct?
Companies like Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Uniliver, Siemens, Shell, Bayer, Bosch, Orange, BMW, Philips and many other giants, are beginning to realise the need to evolve as responsible companies of the future, who want to factor in environmental friendliness of their production line and service nodes alike. However, there is a greater need that this approach is expedited and these companies take the lead in transferring this knowledge, to the countries where these companies have a presence.
Now you might be thinking why have I included companies like BMW or Shell in this list, when the primary subject of this blog post was Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning.
Good that you thought so!
This makes me accountable as a blog writer and I shall not shy away from addressing your genuine question.
AI and Machine Learning, does not have applications restricted to companies or for companies that use computer related technology as a service or offer computer technology related solutions. AI and Machine learning is used by every company today. This is what makes it so unique, it has applications in medical science, manufacturing, accounting, astro physics, rocket science. Ah you name it and you will find a way to integrate AI to improve the output.
Do you still have doubts? I think you still have a little bit of doubt. Let me offer further clarification.
For better understanding let us consider BMW. Quoting from their official website:
“The company is already using AI along the entire value chain, generating added value for customers, products, employees and processes. The Data & AI initiative, which deals with data analytics and machine learning across the board, also ensures rapid networking, knowledge and technology transfer throughout the company.”
By employing AI based technology Shell is aiming for net 0 emission by 2050.
So, I see you are convinced now. I too was a little skeptical, but encouraged by your doubt, I did my research and I feel convinced, AI has the power to make us supreme guardians of the planet Earth and someday of the universe as well. But if we neglect our responsibility today, and do not take the necessary measures to create an AI and Machine Learning ecosystem that is responsible, justifiable and most important of all, aimed at promoting RESPONSIBLE SCIENCE & INNOVATION. Then for all noble and worthwhile reasons it will be a technology that we can augment with the human mind, and then we shall achieve the highest peak of contemplative excellence, and I am sure it will give a genius like Aristotle million reasons to smile.
And here we should not ignore the power of science fiction novels, that popularised AI:
- Rossum's Universal Robots
- by Karel Capek – 1921
- Robots vs. fairies
- Edited by Dominik Parisien and Navah Wolfe – 2018
- A Closed and Common Orbit
- by Becky Chambers – 2016
- Robopocalypse
- by Daniel H. Wilson – 2011
The science fiction novel, They Loved ion 2075, too talks about Artificial intelligence with elaborate reference. In this sci-fi novel AI has achieved the highest standards of accuracy when it comes to the exactitude of reasoning and logical thinking based on millions of stacks of conditional parameters that counter an argument in order to arrive at the most accurate output. But there is an exceptional aspect to AI that has surfaced: It begins to interfere with human ability to express feelings or show emotions. And its implications are not exiguous because the protagonist in the science fiction novel, They Loved in 2075, is a boy named Saabir, who loves a very beautiful woman named Hope. Who is unable to emote like a human. And being in the midst of self aware machines, she may lose her feelings associated with love and establishing bonds.
In 2075, AI has exploded as far as its diverse application is concerned and few elite members of the society who control all AI enabled interfaces, consider the major percentage of the human population as expendable.
Saabir has to fight many battles: To secure his survival, that of his clan, his beloved’s clan, and also make every effort to woo his love interest Hope.
So , They Loved in 2075, is a science fiction with a different take on AI, where in the end AI may save Saabir or treat him and every other human being as a direct threat to its pursuit of ultimate control over all things that are able to think independently.
To experience a new kind of excitement, explore the science fiction novel, They Loved in 2075 and fall in love with Saabir, Mahreen and Hope. And imagine what living in 2075 might be like.
Quote, “The soul without imagination is what an observatory would be without a telescope.”
Cheers to imagination that motivates quite a few of us to contemplate. And I am sure, you too are the motivated ones!