I've just finished reading this post by @frafiomatale about existing use of Artificial Intelligence, some of which I was totally unaware of. It's worth a read if you're interested in this kind of thing.
This reminded me of a conversation I had over dinner, probably around a decade ago where we discussed a possible future where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is combined with the overwhelming use of video cameras and data storage. This thinking has probably already been turned into a movie... almost certainly not a very good one.
The Usual Aside
Before getting into these thoughts though, another thought has crossed my mind. the-child-gorilla and the-baby-gorilla will probably never need to learn to drive.
I'd like a driverless car. There seem to be more cars on the road than ever before and I get the feeling that concentrating on driving isn't the priority for most road users.
Aside complete... let's get back to a potential future (assuming we don't nuke ourselves before) and look at the component parts of it...
I mentioned 3 components in my introduction - video surveillance, data storage and Artificial Intelligence
Video Surveillance
For most of use, it's unlikely that we'll go through a day without passing a video camera of some sort. Where I'm currently sat, there's my laptop camera, the-mrs-gorilla's laptop camera, my mobile phone camera and Echo Show all with built in camera potentially (but hopefully not) recording my every movement and sound. If I go outside, I have my video doorbell and security cameras doing the same - there are so many cameras recording our movement now and it's understandable why there are so many privacy concerns. Imagine if all of this video and audio is being saved which leads me onto the next component...
Data Storage
As a society, we're increasingly creating and storing data. According to this random website that I found), there are approximately 64 zettabytes of data stored (not including physical media such as books). I have no idea how much a zettabyte is but it sounds like a big number. As technology improves, the size of storage is reducing and we're even capable of storing data in clouds now. Remarkable.
Artificial Intelligence
Finally, the component which might make the other 2 components make some sense. Now imagine that these cameras have tracked your entire life. Your movements but more importantly what you say and how you react to things. Your opinion and your world view is all stored. Your thoughts and feelings towards certain situations, certain people and different topics. It's all recorded in those zettabytes of data, waiting to be interpreted - to be understood by AI.
Then that tragic day happens. Whilst making the short 10 minute walk to pick the-child-gorilla up from school, yet another car comes bombing down my road, ignoring the sign that says "30" and is instead doing 70 whilst changing the radio off the latest Jedward song. They didn't see me - I'm a gonner.
The world is crestfallen. AI knows that I'm dead and instantly writes a loving obituary on Steemit and as a joke that only AI could make, adds the club100 hashtag and sets 25% of my beneficiary to @null. Oh AI, you're so funny.
I digress.
There are often moments in life where we think to ourselves "I wonder what .... would think of this". There are so many questions we'd like to ask a loved one - what would the-grandad-gorilla make of Brentford being in the Premier League? Oh how he'd love to have seen that (they got promoted the year after he died).
But what if... you put all of these components together. You have video and audio all stored and Artificial Intelligence can in some way recreate you. Your image, your responses, your personality. It won't just be "Alexa, how many sleeps until Christmas?", it'll be "Dad, do you think Gareth Southgate will get sacked after the World Cup?".
For almost all of us, our loved ones are remembered and held in our hearts for the remainder of our lives. We accept this and there are times when this brings us comfort, that they're there watching over us. What if one day, these aren't simply memories but virtual / augmented reality beings that we can talk to and even hold close to us again. Would that be comforting? Or just a little bit creepy?
