A Delicate Corporate Matter

June 30, 2017
Pandora's Tech Box

The TV documentary, 60 minutes featured an incredible IBM computer named Watson. Watson uses Artificial Intelligence (AI). It reads and learns hundreds of thousands of articles in a day. What's more amazing is it never forgets. It can analyze the data and come up with the best answers. 5 years ago it beat the best contestants in the Jeopardy game show. Today it is used to diagnose health problems in hospitals. This machine can do what a team of medical specialists can do ... maybe even better.

It is a Pandora's box. It is amazing and scary at the same time. Like nuclear fusion and guns it can hold the peace or start a war. And now that it's out there's no returning inside.

Apprehension about robots taking over is no longer science fiction. Robots have already replaced human jobs in mechanical factories. Combine Mechanical Precision and AI and suddenly humans are insignificant. The warnings of sci-fi visionary Isaac Asimov are now a reality and it happened so fast. When robots like Watson become available to the general public, who needs specialists? Watson will eliminate a lot of jobs. When experts are no longer necessary, who needs higher education? What's the point in going to school? When was the last time you calculated in long hand math? You may have a PHD but you may be flipping burgers just like everyone else.

Here's another scary thought: Because of AI, the computer can now create its own value system. Garbage in ... garbage out. The computer is only as good as the data it is fed. So it can be
subjectively one-sided. What if its morals are contrary to yours?

If you had access to Watson what would you ask? I have two --- 1) Who is God? 2) What is the meaning of life?.

Depending on the data it is fed, will I believe its answer? Will you?.

Have a good Independence Day weekend America!

TGIF people!

NASA
Contributed by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Delicate Corporate Matter
Contributed by Tom of Pasadena, CA
WARNING: Mature Subject Matter

All of the ten senior members of the Board of Directors of the company were called into the chairman's office one at a time until only Bob, the most junior member, was left sitting outside.

Finally, it was Bob's turn to be summoned. He entered the office to find the chairman and the ten other directors seated around a table. He was invited to join them, which he did. As soon as he had sat down the chairman turned to Bob.

Looking at him squarely in the eye, and with a stern voice, asked, "Have you ever had sex with Mrs. Foyt, my secretary?"

"Oh no sir! Positively not!" Bob replied.

"Are you absolutely sure?" asked the chairman.

"Honest! I've never been close enough to even touch her!"

"You swear to that?"

"Yes, I swear. I've never had sex with Mrs. Foyt anytime, anywhere!"

"Good! Then you fire her!"

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