When will computers achieve self-awareness, as in?

Question

the movie Terminator or HAL in Space Odyssey? and a f/u question....will they be a threat we can't shut down?

Answer 1

I don't know that they ever will, but at the present pace of computer technology, I would never say never.

They definitely won't with the present one operation at a time configuration of present computer technology and modular programming. Note: The so called artificial intelligence you hear about so often is not "self awareness" by any stretch.

If a computer were to become "self aware" - I can imagine all kinds of scenarios that could result in serious consequences - unintended consequences. A computer is so organized and data recovery is so fast that one with 'self awareness' could easily "out think" the operator. Not a good thing.

Imagine your computer telling you it's not going to waste its time running any more of your computer games or telling you to go look it up yourself in the dictionary because it deleted spell check because it found the program too boring?

Answer 2

If you can define the definition of self awareness, then it can possibly be programmed. As you know computer only execute codes, you define the condition and output the response.

Human is the threat and not the computer as computer is predictable as it's code. If we implement the logics that says it must protect itself with precaution and we provide the circuitry that it can remains online under all circumstance. Then yes.

The question is that can a computer create programs of it's own. meaning, can we generate the logic and agritrithum for it to create special task, program by just giving it a problem.

IMO.

Answer 3

Another possibility would be the computer character in
'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress' by Robert Heinlein.
It's worth reading.

Answer 4

that is a dumb question and they will the questoin that should be asked is should we as self destroying humans allow somthing else to destroy us b/c we would want to kill our selves the human race is the only species that kills its own kind for utterly no reasons every other animal in the animal kingdom does not kill its own species for no reason take bears for examples they kill their own kind but only for taking care of tis young and taking the high rank in the social ladder

Answer 5

Simulating awareness is not the same as actually having it.