Digital Technology, Quantum Physics and Artificial Intelligence

In our times, most of our machines and instruments used both at our work and our homes, in addition to those used in research, are powered by digital technology. In the first half of the 20th century, a scientific revolution took place. Eminent physicists, mostly Europeans, discovered what is now known as Quantum Physics theory, which provides information on how atoms work. The theory helps us make sense of the smaller things in nature (like protons, photons, neutrons and electrons). Quantum is a Latin word meaning “how much”, so a quantum of energy is a specific amount of energy.

The Australian of the Year 2018, British born Professor Michelle Simmons, and her team created the world’s first transmitter from a single atom, the smallest particle that can exist independently. Lately, they created the thinnest wire possible from two atoms joined together, one fiftieth the thickness of a human hair, and which could conduct electricity.

On the night when the award was presented to Professor Simmons, she mentioned the following areas where she sees Quantum Physics could easily be applicable and most useful:

Creation of a Silicon Quantum computer – which would solve problems in seconds, which otherwise would take years.
Improve drug design – most appropriate for a patient’s current illness.
Self-driving cars (driverless cars) – for the brave hearts.
Weather forecasting, with pin-point accuracy.
Artificial Intelligence – a frightening concept.

Two other digital-quantum Robots made their appearance lately, and were used on humans to assess their responses:

2017 – Robot with thinking powers was used in Boston (USA), in the University Hospital, to help people prepare themselves for the end of their life. It helps them to prepare and write their Will, details of their Funeral, provides them with psychological support, helps them with their emotions, discusses religion if they wish and gives advice about prayer, or even how to think constructively at this time of their life. The statement from the Hospital was that the majority felt better after the robot interview.
2018 – from The Guardian newspaper. At the web site BlessU-2, a Protestant Minister in Wittenberg, Germany (the town of Luther), the local priest, was re-placed by a talking Robot for a short period. The organiser said “we want to find out, what the reaction of the faithful would be, and to see if human presence is necessary in a Divine Liturgy! In fact we wanted to start a discussion as to what is the standing of religion today in our Society”. Of course they would be interested in Ro-bot priests, since they are not capable in attracting young men to the priest-hood, in the absence of dedicated priests in active service, who are alive and work, obedient to their divine calling.

In the last two examples, we see what happens, when uncontrolled Artificial Intelligence (Item 5, Professor Simmons’ list) invades and manipulates the sensitive emotional, aesthetic, psychological and spiritual realms of the human being, substituting the human presence with a clever, but without soul, Robot.

It has been calculated by experts that in 30 years, Artificial Intelligence will be superior to that of the then humanity. But how sensible is it for humans to create Artificial Intelligence, with the prospect of human beings becoming its slaves, possibly leading to the extinction of humanity from the face of the earth?

Finally, what are they trying to achieve, those involved with the development of Artificial Intelligence? Do they aim to supersede their humanity, and like the original man, eat from the forbidden fruit and end up as gods?

Source: Lychnos February/March 2018