Could the rise of machines mean the end of the humans?

So, there are these two scientists researching artificial intelligence. One is Satinder S Baveja, director of the University of Michigan's AI laboratory; the other is Miles Bennett Dyson, director of research at Cyberdyne Systems of California. Both men are asked to reflect on what the ultimate outcome of their work on AI will look like. Might it, for example, get a little bit dystopian out there?

This is how each responds. One says: "Our noses are too firmly pressed into our work for us to ask, to really ask, should we be doing what we're doing? And if we truly succeed will that be a good thing?" The other replies: "You're judging me on things I haven't even done yet."

These are similar comments – they both have an oddly defensive undercurrent. Both imply that things may not turn out so well. But while Baveja is an academic, and supplied the first comment, Dyson, who provided the second, is fictional. He's the creator of an artificial intelligence which evolves into "the machines" who attempt to cleanse the world of all humans in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Dyson gave his views after he was told his creation caused three billion deaths.

Read entire story in The Independent.