Will sentient machines be the next species that dominates the planet after humans?

Question

Humans will be extinct. Who will dominate next?

Answer 1

They could be, though life form rather than species might be a better term as they would represent an entirely new form of life.

It all depends on how humans become extinct, we could be wiped out in a nuclear war, in which case I suspect cockroaches would become the dominant animals.

Perhaps a more likely option is we start a process of cybogisation which ends up in us becoming sentient machines. (you could argue that this process has already started.)

Or there is the terminator scenario whereby malevolent machines destroy the human race. However because malevolence has to be programmed in I don't think this one is very likely.

There are thousands of way that humans could become extinct, and in many scenarios machines will dominate, however it is all speculative at the moment.

Answer 2

When does consciousness happen? Is it merely a by product of intelligence? We will find out the answer to these questions when computers are given the same powers of rational thought as people. And that is much closer than people may think. If it was found that consciousness was a byproduct of intelligence would it make existence more or less meaningful? Would it confirm that life is pointless? And if it did whether sentient machines dominate the planet is equally pointless.

Answer 3

I can't imagine a machine being called a species. Who knows what will be next up the ladder. Cockroaches have been around forever (or so I'm told) and they haven't evolved into anything other then indestructible pests!

Answer 4

Cockroaches.

Answer 5

I figure for something to be a species, it has to occur through natural means.

Meaning that since computers are man made, there arent natural and thus cant be a species.

I think

Ya never can tell with them scientific types.

Whats pluto again?

Answer 6

We already are dominating the planet.

Answer 7

The cockroaches of course.