Will robots cause the death of mankind?

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Nick Bostrom, a professor of philosophy at Oxford,  tells us that we will destroy ourselves if we don’t harness technology properly.

Already there are those repetitious activities on the Internet that once set in motion continue to be perpetuated despite attempts to stop them.  Use your email for establishing social media contacts, and that email request to the friend may continue long after you ask for it to end.  Furthermore Facebook glitches have included messages sent out from past postings, making people believe they are current.   Software developers have created programs to fix those errors, which users may not understand and know how to correct.  The users often believe these errors are incidental or coming from some intentional act.   But those blips in our technology, if they occur in strategic areas, could result in a far greater problems than an error message sent to the wrong friend or on the wrong day, according to scientists.

“I think the definition of an existential risk goes beyond just extinction, in that it also includes the permanent destruction of our potential for desirable future development. Our permanent failure to develop the sort of technologies that would fundamentally improve the quality of human life would count as an existential catastrophe,” says Bostrom in an interview with Kurzweil, a technology and science group studying the scope of artificial intelligence.

During the interview Bostrom spells out how technology is advancing,  but in that advancement it is assuming too much control over human life, to the extent that it could dominate the future in negative ways.

He goes on to detail the problems:  “In the longer run, I think artificial intelligence—once it gains human and then superhuman capabilities—will present us with a major risk area. There are also different kinds of population control that worry me, things like surveillance and psychological manipulation pharmaceuticals.   Bostrom says robotic intelligence, the kind we have seen in films such as IRobot, has a dark side, that if not harnessed appropriately could mean disaster for the human race.  In the film, a policeman investigates a robot thought to be creating a great threat to man’s survival.

What is some of that greater risk?  Bostrom maintains, “If one day you have the ability to create a machine intelligence that is greater than human intelligence, how would you control it, how would you make sure it was human-friendly and safe? There is work that can be done there.”

Other scientists support Bostrom’s view of the risks involved in artificial intelligence.  A major risk, according to Eliezer Yudkowsky, a scholar who has been one of those individuals who has studied both the positive and negative aspects of artificial intelligence, reminds us that we can go too far in trusting our capabilities of understanding the range of issues associated with the growth of technology.  In other words, we think we know what’s happening and what the future can be but in taking that view we can overstep the boundaries to the point of losing control.  Yudkowsky reminds us that we think we understand artificial intelligence and its capability, and that could be what pushes man beyond the boundaries of safety into a vast area of the unknown, which could be a disaster.

In other words, we might not plan to start a war, but something in the system could indeed make that happen.  In that aspect, the movies might not be too far off what scientists believe could occur if the social and scientific areas are not examined fully and safeguards put in place to prevent the worst case scenario, which is the total destruction of man.

Prepare pets for disasters

 

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Carol Forsloff - While folks may educate themselves and prepare for what to do in a fire, many people don't think about their pets until it is rescue time, so the Red Cross and the US Fire administration wants you to have these tips on protecting pets. 

Besides it has been a tragic observation, but in cases of disasters, like Hurricane Katrina, homeowners were found refusing assistance to leave their homes without taking their pets.  Some people died for that reason.  So a plan in place can help with certain types of disasters, as the American Red Cross and fire officials warn.

Home fires are the most common disasters for theAmerican Red Cross, and what they say is most are preventable.  50,000 pets annually are affected by fires.

 " The best way for to protect pets from the effects of a fire is to include them in your family plan. In the event of a disaster, if you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them, too," underlines the Red Cross, and offers these specific guidelines:

Take Your Pets to a Safe Place:

* Local and state health and safety regulations do not permit the Red Cross to allow pets in disaster shelters. Service animals which assist people with disabilities are the only animals allowed in Red Cross shelters. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of an evacuation, so plan ahead. Do not wait until disaster strikes! 

* Contact hotels and motels outside your local area to check their policies on accepting pets and restrictions on number, size and species. Ask if "no pet" policies could be waived in an emergency. Keep a list of "pet friendly" places, including phone numbers, with your other disaster information and supplies. If you are alerted to an impending disaster, call ahead for reservations.

 * Ask friends, relatives or others outside the affected area whether they could shelter your animals. If you have more than one pet, they may be more comfortable if kept together, but be prepared to house them separately. 

* Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers. 

* Ask local animal shelters if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets during a disaster. Animal shelters may be overwhelmed caring for the animals they already have as well as those displaced by a disaster, so this should be your last resort.

Assemble a Portable Pet Disaster Supplies Kit:

* Whether you are away from home for a day or a week, you’ll need essential supplies. Keep items in an accessible place and store them in sturdy containers that can be carried easily (a duffle bag or covered trash containers, for example). Your pet disaster supplies kit should include:
* Medications and medical records (stored in a waterproof container) and a first aid kit.
* Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers to transport pets safely and ensure that your animals can’t escape.
* Current photos of your pets in case they get lost.
* Food, potable water, bowls, cat litter/pan, and can opener. 

* Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets.
* Pet bed or toys if easily transportable.

The ASPCA recommends using a rescue sticker alert to let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers, and that it includes 1) the types and number of pets in your household; 2) the name of your veterinarian; and 3) your veterinarian’s phone number. If you must evacuate with your pets, and if time allows, write "EVACUATED" across the stickers. 

Prevent Your Pet from Starting Fires:

The National Fire Protection Association estimates that nearly 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by the homeowners’ pets.

The American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services have joined forces to provide the following tips:.

* Extinguish open flames - Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home. 

* Remove stove knobs - Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house - a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.
* Invest in flameless candles. These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.
* Keep pets near entrances when away from home. Keep collars on pets and leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue your pet. When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
* Secure young pets; keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.
* Affix a pet alert window cling and write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to keep the number of pets listed on them updated.




Animal lovers and those who help victims of disaster agree,  as the Red Cross Agency declares, "Prepare for pets in an emergency with the same details as you do for yourself, and you won't be one of those looking for or mourning your pet later."