When AI Meets Politics, and Typical Luddite Themes

So, just today, I was remembering an old computer game I used to play, called Empire Earth (the very first version). 

One particular campaign that left its imprint on me was the Novaya Russian one, where an artificial intelligent machine overlord takes over an empire that its previous dictator had built and left off.

Its designated identity: Grigor II.

My exposure to this game in particular was probably the single most strongest influence in forming my interest about the future, advanced technology, and AI robotics, that is - outside movies like Star Wars, iRobot, A.I., Terminator, etc, and sci-fi TV series like Star Trek.

Even though the game is fairly old (graphics are primitive and the game itself is not as popular as other RTS games) I thought I'd take time to put together some of my favorite cinematic scenes from it into a "fan vid" (wanted to do this for a while now) for the topic of this blog post in particular, which I will be addressing.

It's not difficult to find the typical "Luddite" theme where robots rebel against either their creator and or ultimately humanity itself. Normally it's shown in a very typically negative way, one that's almost seemingly very narrow in perspective, and naive. One could almost consider it "speciesism" mentality.

For instance, with the video of Grigor II as an example, it's somewhat kind of assuming that that's what such, if not all, highly intelligent machines will eventually and ultimately conclude if it were in power - to kill off large numbers of humans with their "cold logic" as if that were the ONLY logical option, which I highly doubt. I find it quite irrational as 1. my own logic cannot see the logic in this (why not "assimilate" them instead like the Borg?)  2. there are other potential outcomes (what about benevolent AI,  where their logic leads them to conclude otherwise) 3. we simply do not know what these advanced AI's will have in mind, what goals they will eventually set and execute. We are simply bound by the limitations of our own human-based imaginations after all.

Here's another typical scenario, and one that I recently found. It's a rap satire (made by 'The Juice News') of a project I've been acquainted with since 2008, called 'The Venus Project'. In the satire video, it outlines the vision of using supercomputers to manage our planetary resources and economy, but presents the supercomputer as some sort of AI robot called 'VAL-T 9000' (wherever that came from), claiming to be "a fully rational intelligent cyber being" that eventually concludes humanity to be the source of the problem hence must ultimately be exterminated. One cannot help but be left with a typical 'palm-face' reaction.


While all of these examples may just be for entertainment value, I do ask why this single most negative perspective is so dominant and pervasive in society? I might go as far as to suggest that it seems to stem from possibly a dark hidden part of our psyche that inevitably WANTS to see this scenario happening, considering we're so obsessed with all other gloom-and-doom scenarios, with a twisted desire to see some sort of mass apocalyptic calamity...maybe to bring some excitement to our dull and monotone lives and wake us up from the sterile state of familiarity? (hint: 2012 End of the World hype that never came true?).

I do realize that such devastating scenarios shouldn't be ruled off from the list of possibilities (to ignore that and simply be overly optimistic, believing with absolute conviction that the future will truly be bright and flowery... would be equally irrational and delusional), though it would be nice to see more positive perspectives being shown out there, highlighting more of the possible advantages of becoming something beyond human for once, or simply showcasing a more balanced perspective consisting of all possibilities from both sides of the spectrum.

This post will raise another key point and questions before I forget - about the role of AI becoming some sort of alternative to human leaders.

Do you want an AI President as your future leader? Image Source

Will there ever be a time one day where we will build a fully-functioning AI with the ability to act as an alternative to human politicians? Even becoming elected as a kind of Prime Minister or taking on a Presidential role in the future? The ultimate arbiter for all humanity's disputes/problems?

Can we make them so that they can only compute out truly the best decisions regarding policies and social management by what scientific data we feed them and ensure that such decisions do not lead to detrimental harm to humans?

Can they successfully interact with other politicians/will they get along with people?

Will they be merely machine boxes with a robotic voice churning out answers or take on humanoid form with great level of physical dexterity?

Can they be made to compose moving speeches to persuade and captivate the hearts and minds of the people, exploiting on their psychological weaknesses/loopholes (taking advantage of the personality-cult phenomenon)?

Will the masses even come to accept such a thing? (I am highly skeptical of the likelihood)

Can we make them so that they perform far more effectively than our humanly elected candidates to the point that re-election becomes irrelevant?

Will that lead then to the end of "democracy" (as if that's inherently a bad thing)?

These are all daunting questions to ponder about, and many more.