patrick.net

My bet is Skynet, in the Matrix they actually have to feed us.

Matrix at home, Skynet abroad.

Skynet = drone wars
Matrix = Obamacare, humans intubated for power & profit

It's a double feature!

Colossus: The Forbin Project would be the best possible outcome. And its not good. Its a total benevolent total dictator.

If Skynet happens, the ruthless efficiency of the machine will leave no room for human resistance, we will be stamped out fast - however, is anyone really going to forget Asimov rule 0 ?
"0. A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm."

Replace humanity with our nation state if you need to make it more 2012 warring nations compatible.

The real twist is a Colossus Forbin Project End where the computers logic allows it to protect us from ourselves.

Matrix is unnecessary. For machines, the power requirements will be easy to meet with nuclear power, then space travel / solar. Machines only need to get a few replicators off planet to start a massive in space project for power use and they done care about leaving things behind, and they dont need air or a planet, they just need power.

The other ending I can see is Death By Von Neumann Universal Constructor.

Machines programmed to self replicate in a way that makes them into a mass of Replicators a la Stargate SG1, if you need a hollywood reference to a universal constructor.

The real best ending in my mind would be An AI like helios in Deus Ex merging with an augmented human mind like JC Denton.

All this will happen before the ultimate heat death of the universe, or death by dark matter/energy.

Maybe the self-replicate Von Neumann Universal Constructor machines will just give up and let us live once the figure out the ultimate fate of the universe.

Skytrix

Matrix will be by self-choice.

In the future, robots/AI will perform most of our tasks, leaving ppl to either become artists/philosophers in the real world or be plugged into a VR sensorium, to live out their fantasies, i.e. being a rock star or a harem owner, etc. Today, cable/dish TV and gaming are the first stages towards that future.

I think you are missing the big picture:

Screw that I want a pant and shirt like the kid is wearing in two years.

epitaph says

We could build this today easily. It just would cost a lot for the rare earths.

Build a rink out of rare earth magnets. Place other permanent magnets around the skateboard in a U shape for stability. Add some electromagnets for thrust, spin, and other acceleration. Wire the electromagnets to a control board with a JVM and download an Android App for hover-skate by wire.

The magneto-rink would be the most expensive part because of the rare earths. But it's still way cheaper to build a thousand of such rinks than what we spend each year on defense. So, what do you want, Back-to-the-Future technology or more warfare in the Middle East?

yup1 says

Will we be in the Matrix or Skynet?

The Matrix was nicer than what we have today. No real threat of nuclear annihilation or ecological collapse. Either way, I'm selling out humanity to the machines for a chance to become immortal software with multiple robotic bodies at my disposal. Skynet may be a paranoid, xenophobic computer bent on humanity's demise, but he's still better than Republicans.

yup1 says

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/robots-in-the-workplace-no-longer-science-fiction-631kjx9kSBK~~CKg3ROw2A.html

I love how Bloomberg gives all the credit to the corporation and none to the engineers who made this technology. It's the engineer, not the CEO or board members, who deserves the credit.

Mick Russom says

"0. A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm."

Easy to say, but how the hell do you implement that?

Mick Russom says

The real best ending in my mind would be An AI like helios in Deus Ex merging with an augmented human mind like JC Denton.

An even better ending would be for nothing you did to matter and your final choice to only let you choose between red, green, or blue explosions. But the green explosions could include a cutscene similar to that Deus Ex ending.

Now excuse me while I get back to sexually harassing everyone on my ship.

Watch Nova on PBS, recent program Rise of the Drones.

Currently our drones are mostly human piloted. Project forward about 20 years.

Yeah it'll be SkyNet.