Rationalists
alike Mr. Pinker or Mr. Harari say: This is the best Era compared to any
other recorded historical past. Albeit my credentials aren’t equivalent to
the likes of mentioned respectable gentlemen, but, does this statement acknowledge all
sides?
Historical past followed sinusoidal patterns. There had been eras with golden period of flowing gold, milk & wine; And then, there were diseases, destructions & deaths. Déjà vu!
‘This
is the best era’ statement has a perspective
problem. From Switzerland’s point of view, maybe yes. From Sudan’s? Certainly
not! From Manhattan’s, maybe yes. From Myanmar’s, maybe not. This
comparative analysis can be repeated thousand times, with different subjects
chosen.
Data
can guide the deep learning, alas, cannot forge conscious within; Data can
demarcate essentials for life, but not life itself. If memory is collection of
data, yet, no two human machines with similar pattern can act in coherence. But
two Data fed Robots can, alas, wherein conscious is missing.
Fifty
or hundred years from now, if the World survives (I doubt), who knows whether
this era was the positive or negative half cycle. We might look primitive in
the future. Or we might’ve lived one of the most progressive times.
Algorithms
can’t draft philosophies. The day they would, there’s another species standing
in front of us. Whether we both (s)could co-exist, another question. And I support AGI.
First
came Science, then Technology. In the absence of Science, Tech is nothing but
repetition. So, saying Tech can forge future, is, questionable. It might give
us driverless cars, but not the direction. And predicting future too, is contentious. In the mid-00, none anticipated,
that the markets would be flooded with Android, IOS, Windows App development
openings in next few years. Some anticipated that Internet would be nothing but a Fax Machine of
future. And so goes on.
This
era might have given many (not to all) comforts in life, but not life. And we
yet to confirm, where in the cycle or sinusoidal wave we stand, which I
assume, Data alone can’t confirm or predict.
© Pranav Chaturvedi 2022