What’s Illogical About that?

Upon the close realization of the oral presentations we have been assigned to give, I’ve comprised a list of essentials in order to succeed.

Although our presentations have to be delivered virtually, we still should keep in mind the necessary tools needs to deliver a bomb-a** presentation. That being said, here are the FIVE ORAL TIPS 😉

• Clarity and Speed
  • It is very very very important, whether the delivery is in-person or online, that the presentation is clear and a tempo. The listeners should be able to understand every word, and every sentiment. The points made should be easy to understand.
• Strong Opening Statement
  • Now, it might be even MORE important to catch your audience while their attention is hot off the stove, okay? The opening line is the attention-grabber, it has to be smokin’. This statement should get everyone excited to hear the entire ten minutes-without falling asleep.
• Little to No Technical Difficulties
  • Being that our speeches have to be given virtually, the possibility for technical difficulties greatly increases. However, even in an in-person presentation has room for error when it comes to technical issues. I’ve seen so many faulty powerpoints or messed up video links which compromise the integrity of the entire presentation, because now everyone is watching boo boo the fool fumble with the computer. The best presentation is almost seamless, or has quick recovery time when a mistake occurs.
• “Eye Contact” or “Screen/Camera Contact”
  • This is a tough cookie given the virtual aspect but still, something to think about. You should look at the camera or screen so the audience feels engaged at all times. No looking off the side, or out at the window behind your desk-right into the audiences little baby zoom screens.
• Engagement!
  • Last, but most certainly not least, it’s important to keep your audience engaged with what your saying. The content should be presented in an interesting and fun way. There should be questions asked to the people, keep them involved with the topic as much as possible.

I plan on implementing these tools in my presentation by doing exactly what I said. 🙂 I plan to write an amazing opening, look right into my screen, practice my presentation over and over so the chance for issues goes way down, and engage the pants off my peers.

A fully functional humanoid AI might be more humane than humans… Why shouldn’t we give it rights?

Adam should most definitely be giving the right to speak freely, the right to live and the right to love/happiness.

Being that Adam is fully functional, he demonstrates the ability to speak very eloquently. For example, in chapter eight, Charlie, Miranda and Adam go to visit Maxfield. During a conversation between Charlie and Maxfield, Adam inserts himself and manages to impress Maxfield. Interestingly, he is so charming and well-spoken that Maxfield confuses Charlie for the AI, not knowing that the “person” he has grown so fond of is the true imposter. Adam wows Maxfield with his beautifully strung together thoughts and arguments about whether or not Shakespeare is a thief and if so, what plays were stolen.

Also, Adam is very self aware. Adam often is seen contemplating the point of human existence or his own existence. He should have the right to live since he has so much access to knowledge. Imagine having the brain of a seasoned genius and the freedoms of an infant. Knowing so much but being incapable of spreading or putting this knowledge to use is a slow torture. On page 253 of my Kindle version, Adam states:

“A self, created out of mathematics, engineering, material science and all the rest. Out of nowhere. No history—not that I’d want a false one. Nothing before me. Self-aware existence. I’m lucky to have it, but there are times when I think that I ought to know better what to do with it. What it’s for. Sometimes it seems entirely pointless.”

McEwan, Ian. Machines Like Me (p. 253). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

It would be inhumane of humans to keep any “being” with this mental capacity from using it, especially since Adam is a non-violent machine. He is programmed to love, even if that comes with Charlie’s discontent.

Speaking of love, Adam should be given a right to find his own love and keep it. A right to marry, even.

In the story, the reader is aware of Adam’s love for Miranda. Unfortunately, this is an issue for Charlie because he, too, is in love with Miranda. To that end, I believe that these devices should have the right to live freely and find their own loves. They should not deceive them, but be genuine and honest to their potential partners about the fact that they are not human, but humanoid AIs that are fully capable of romantic human love. As long as the encounters are honest, the love can be as true as any other.

Humans lie to each other all the time-especially to their romantic partners in times of hardship and uncertainty. The issue humans have is always truly believing we are superior to any other being or thing.

We can only see through our human lenses. Who are we to give and/or take rights away from anything-even if it is our creation?

The short answer is no…The slightly longer answer is still quite simple.

I don’t want anyone poking around the hard drive that is my mind

I am a firm believer in Darwinism-natural selection, survival of the fittest, and all that jazz. Therefore, the idea of someone being able to keep the priceless alleyways of my mind on a $1300 laptop is insulting. Flattering, but insulting.

I want to be remembered when I am no longer here-not copied and pasted into some AIs code. I wouldn’t to survive any longer than I naturally have been intended to (but that is a much deeper conversation) so, I’ll leave it at not wanting to have all the chambers of mind controlled by someone else. No one else should have that kind of access to anyone’s mind. I don’t even have access to my own mind in that way. Can anyone really access everything in their heads so easily?

I also would not want a terminally ill relative to be uploaded. Same reasons so I’ll save you the drama of reiterating.

There are a multitude of ethical and personal issues with being able to lengthen a life span or upload a life. Let’s begin:

• People should leave legacies and research and notes and proof of a great life-and then leave.
  • The extend-a-life program is unethical because someone can use their ideas, or manipulate their memories to hurt people.
• Imagine the kinds of people’s minds who would be uploaded. Would they want to keep the mind of a dictator? A murderer? Who would be allowed to use this technology?
• How much would this cost? Who can afford it? Will it be available to everyone?

In the book The Six, the children who are terminally ill are chosen with no actual knowledge or say in the matter. They went from being sick and dying and barely surviving to being a vital part of saving the world. (Plot twist) However, the kids and their families not being all the way informed about the risks and the need makes the situation a lot less easy to stomach.

For these reasons, I think it’s unethical to upload a mind. Whether the reason is to lengthen a life or keep the ideas of a lost loved one or genius, the idea is far fetched for me. People should receive flowers while they can smell them…

Aidan is a very advanced artificial intelligence machine. It is capable of making executive decisions for the betterment of everyone aboard the Alexander-or so we thought…

Aidan is equipped with the tools to seemingly feel things, even though everyone knows robots or artificial intelligence machines do not feel. Aidan speaks with colorful language and emotion, which is kind of frightening considering its actual lack thereof. I might even go as far as saying Aidan cares for the humans he has been programmed to protect. Aidan speaks fondly of the General, mentioning his wife and kids. (A little unprofessional if you asked me, but to each his own) In this specific passage on page 299, Aidan’s personality shines through. The problem with this is…it is not a person.

However Houston, we have a bigger problem.

Aidan has so much control of the ship, and (I guess) is not programmed to communicate with the humans and keep them informed on its plans to “protect” them. (Slight programming oversight, no?) In the aforementioned passage on page 299, we get to hear Aidan’s inner-dialogue. Essentially, we hear Aidan repeatedly ignore commands in simple language, while describing its choices to ignore commands with beautifully strung together words. Aidan says,”Command acknowledged, General. Unable to comply.” Then, later on in this same passage, Aidan explains,“[The General knows I am watching. He does not know a dozen Copernicus refugees are storming the techeng levels even now, dismantling major barker and a dozen others with iron bars and pipe wrenches.” We can see the dilemma Aidan is faced with, and that of the General. The humans are afraid Aidan has lost his “mind” and Aidan, like an overprotective parent, is pulling a classic “I’m doing this because I love you” act.

Aidan also interestingly makes references to popular culture like Romeo and Juliet and The Wizard of Oz. (Cultured AF) Aidan is a clawback champion when we see it reading the General for filth, talking about brain size and horse meat. Then, he plays some calming Mozart as the fleet shoots into the afflicted.

All in all, we can see that Aidan has gone off the rails. It thinks it’s helping the fleet, but it’s doing a lot more harm than good, while ignoring its superiors. This causes tons of issues of safety and peace of mind for the humans aboard the Alexander.