Let us remain human, error prone, we do not need perfection. So long as we keep on making mistakes, we shall remain human. Let us love our mistakes. – Anand
The 20th century author Aldous Huxley writes a dystopian novel Brave New World based on the promises of science and technology. The world that has come up now may be new, but hardly ‘brave’. We are undergoing a resistless change, rather a transformation, leaving the past behind, and embracing the future at a breakneck speed, so that nothing is completely visible, and we are having only hazy images of reality . When we stop somewhere, earth below our feet starts running, and the sky comes into motion. Where are we headed for? If the march is only up to the grave, why are we dreaming of things which will make us slaves, or create slaves for us?
Creator versus Creator
I do not contend man’s wish to be a creator. But the first world that God created is so beautiful, so satisfying. He has not created slaves. He has given brain and a little free will to every object. Yet He wields great power over his creation. But does He interfere? He intervenes rarely, but sometimes violently too, when we do not listen to his voiceless commands.
We want to create robots. A robot has a plastic mind, whereas a man has a living mind. A robot cannot grow in its perceptions, a man grows up from a child to an adolescent and then to an adult. A robot does not need a woman to procreate, but a man does. And most of all, a robot is a remote controlled slave, which a man is not. Man is a proud being, cast in the mould of God himself, and by sacrifice, he can rise to the level of God. Sacrifice, love, affection – these words have no meaning for a robot. Moreover, God specialized in giving different faces and different minds to his created beings. I don’t think we can perform this feat? Our creations are featureless and thus faceless too.
Finally, while God wanted us to become supermen, we are after creating a LESSER MAN. Freedom is the most lovable word after life, and slavery, the most detestable after death. But we want to create slaves, and then turn their slaves ourselves. Shall we ever have mighty figures like Ravana or even Bhishma? Can we think of a world of human beings which witnesses great wars like Ramayana, Mahabharata or even Troy? We have at the most Terminators who appear like men, but are machine-monsters. We should be afraid of those creations which do not die. Because, life has only one distinguishing mark. And it is that it can die. Machines are immortal, hence figures of fear if they replace us.
Science and technology should remain subordinate to the wellbeing of mankind. We cannot allow any activity in our home which will finally obliterate us. If we allow the technological advances to go on unchecked, and undirected, it will put into danger everything we have created. So, the greatest issue before us, and the gravest threat is that we should remain human, error prone, we do not need perfection. So long as we keep on making mistakes, we shall remain human. Let us love our mistakes.
The ‘Perfect’ Tragedy
Efficiency is good, but perfection is a dangerous idea. Our machines are perfect. Our aeroplanes, our trains, our computers, our mobiles – all are nearly faultless. This is a Universe of Perfection which we have created around us. But the tragic aspect of it is that we are ourselves Imperfect. This perfection can wipe us out. Killer life systems have destroyed our time. We are hopping from operation to operation. Take food, rush to laptop. Have a power nap, rush to laptop. Here is a message on mobile. Here is a link for a meeting. Sometimes I think our ceaseless work will lead us out of existence.
AI: The Oracle
However, there is another aspect to the emerging AI world. We are scared of its devastating reach into human thought systems as it can replace man very easily. It is a danger far greater than any Ramayana or Mahabharata war. We need technology neither as a slave, nor as a master. We do not want to create robots to take our commands without protest. We do not want men to become so dependent on machine, that they cannot get up from their bed, and move on their own feet. That would be the worst day for mankind.
We can appreciate the perfectionist part of technology, at least machines do not lie, if they have no emotions, they also have no enmities, nor any biases, nor any personal likes and dislikes. Unless twisted, they speak the truth. In medical science, how we depend on machines. There was a time when people who held on to truth were killed by the rulers. Machines cannot be stopped from telling the truth. Grok is the highest in artificial intelligence, and it surprises us with its fast paced performances, and its perfection too. If they speak the truth, they are like Oracles of the Postmodern Age, who are not afraid of anybody and say what they perceive.
At the same time, they spell fear for us. Too much dependence on them weakens our hold on life systems. So, the right course for mankind would be to remain close to God, nature, and use technology only as an assistance, not as complete replacement. The decision should remain with man, however faulty is his perceptions. Electricity is no less dangerous. But how many people die of electric shock? On the other hand, it runs every gadget, including charging our mobiles and laptops. AI too should be looked upon like electricity. And its further research directed towards the welfare of mankind, not towards creating A LESSER MAN, AND A SLAVE NEW WORLD.
Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, [the Seneca, Charter of Morava, Franz Kafka and Maxim Gorky awards Laureate, with an opus of 180 books, whose name adorns the Poets’ Rock in Serbia]] is a towering literary figure whose work embodies a rare fusion of creativity, intellect, and moral vision.
