tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post2198428200298514286..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: Electric Authors of the Future: Who or What Will be Writing Novels in 2112? By Rosalie WarrenKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-16636553689459005122012-11-26T15:20:42.509+00:002012-11-26T15:20:42.509+00:00Sue, you will have to read my book :-)
I agree wi...Sue, you will have to read my book :-)<br /><br />I agree with what you say about our reasoning being inescapably emotional. In fact, some theories suggest that emotions provide a 'window' on what is going on in the unconscious part of our brains and as such are a vital part of the reasoning process.<br /><br />Even supposing it is possible to create intelligence without emotion - would it be useful in 'sorting us out'? Wouldn't the AI need to feel our emotions in order to be of any use? (Ever been told by a well-meaning but unempathetic adviser to 'stop worrying' about your kids?)<br /><br />I tend to believe that emotions will develop inevitably in an intelligent system that is allowed to 'evolve', whether it is based on carbon (as of course we are) on silicon, or whatever.<br /><br />By the way, the 'robots' in my book do not like to be called robots and would also strongly object to being 'bought'. You would have to have to win their love, as you would that of a carbon-based human! And by that time, it will not always be easy to tell the two types of human being apart, at least not at first glance. Many carbon-based humans will have bodies that have been at least partially replaced by artificial substitutes.<br /><br />(Enough - I'm giving my plot away :-) )Rosalie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790708661647164052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-35242897012220063012012-11-26T14:28:03.524+00:002012-11-26T14:28:03.524+00:00An AI that has genuine emotions! - That's a fa...An AI that has genuine emotions! - That's a fascinating area to explore! What would its relationship to human society be? Would people be able to buy their perfect romantic partner - and would they love them if they could? Mind-boggling!<br />It reminds me of something I read about the dichotomy we often make between emotion and logic (It's not logical, Captain) being a complete dead-end, as there is no such division. Our reasoning is emotional, inescapably so, because we can't escape our bodies, glands, hormones etc.<br />Which raises the question - is there any point in creating an artificial, emotional intelligence? Wouldn't we better served by an unemotional intelligence which could sort us out?Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-33371557082075181812012-11-26T11:52:01.862+00:002012-11-26T11:52:01.862+00:00Susan, those are every good points. A computer/rob...Susan, those are every good points. A computer/robot/AI that did not 'feel' could only ever imitate - and I would not feel happy reading a novel written by such a 'pretender', however well it was done. For me, good writing has to come from the heart.<br /><br />But to address Lee's query here, too - I believe the question of whether computers (or some descendant of them) will one day be able to experience emotions is an open one. There are wide-ranging views among experts (philosophers, scientists, theologians...) on this matter and personally I am far from sure. My book, to be called 'Lena's Nest', will explore these questions, among others, such as the nature of consciousness, identity and 'self'. It will also look at the ethics of developing intelligent software. And I hope it will also be romantic, funny and accessible (I like a challenge! :-) ). It's currently in 2nd draft so excerpts may be available to interested readers by spring of next year, all being well.<br /><br />Madwippitt - yes! Though I'm pleased to say that paper books will still be around, for those who like them, in 2112 (in my novel, at least...)Rosalie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790708661647164052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-39315731971812771312012-11-26T11:12:31.673+00:002012-11-26T11:12:31.673+00:00You would have thought, wouldn't you, that hav...You would have thought, wouldn't you, that having used a computer to generate a book, it would have more suitably been published digitally rather than on paper?!madwippitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02595748471651052552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-40274756335071280082012-11-26T10:39:14.842+00:002012-11-26T10:39:14.842+00:00Good points, Susan. Energy & intensity, indeed...Good points, Susan. Energy & intensity, indeed! And as far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as perfection in art (ahem, I <i>would</i> be likely to say that, wouldn't I?). There's only the drive for perfection.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-53188059220938740972012-11-26T10:32:02.265+00:002012-11-26T10:32:02.265+00:00Considering your academic background, I'm fasc...Considering your academic background, I'm fascinated by what you may do/are doing with your adult SF novel. Any excerpts available? When will it be finished?Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-4544479695044375702012-11-26T10:30:46.917+00:002012-11-26T10:30:46.917+00:00I hope someone's working on that programme to ...I hope someone's working on that programme to find readers, ask for reviews, and publicise the book!<br />I think it's quite possible to envisage a computer-written book. But...<br />One of the most mysterious things about writing is the way mood can be conveyed through the written word, despite it having passed through editing, and transformation into a digital or paper book. Despite that, a reader can read the words and FEEL how involved the original writer was. If the writer was bored and going through the motions, the reader feels it. If the writer was intense, the reader feels it.<br />A computer could be programmed to produce perfect prose, a perfect plot - but heart-felt intensity? It could imitate it - like the computer written songs in 1984 - and it would fool some of the people some of the time.<br />Is Art about perfection? Discuss, on one side of the pixel only.Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-24903331290313009002012-11-26T10:10:41.027+00:002012-11-26T10:10:41.027+00:00Yes, that's my expereince too!
AI is all arou...Yes, that's my expereince too!<br /><br />AI is all around us already, to a degree. How far it will go (can go, should go...) - these are open questions, yes. Understanding natural language is one of the hardest problems in AI - possibly the hardest one of all.Rosalie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790708661647164052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-6690702395342203852012-11-26T09:31:14.816+00:002012-11-26T09:31:14.816+00:00I'm already convinced that many of the books I...I'm already convinced that many of the books I've tried to read have been generated by computers ... badly!<br /><br />Seriously, though, isn't the underlying question about the likelihood of AI?Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.com