Oh Sure, it was Just Science Fiction - Back THEN
Perhaps a bit of a rambling post, but bear with me and I’ll get there – maybe. 😂
Like hopefully most of the country (and the world!) I was glued to the TV Friday evening watching the Artemis II capsule return. One of the commentators remarked that three fourths of the world population was not even alive the last time men visited the moon. 😮 GAWD, the really drove home how old I am! I was very much a space-cadet as a preteen. I distinctly remember my parents sending me to the bathroom to get over my nervous laughing spell before Armstrong set foot on the moon. (Fortunately I did regain my composure and witnessed the event live.)
After dinner on Friday I was in the mood to watch a movie on streaming. Fairly soon into the search, up came “2001: A Space Odysseyâ€. I’d seen it years ago in a theater when it was first released, but figured it was an appropriate movie to watch again on this specific day. Four thoughts about that movie (two of which are even somewhat relevant):
Thought #1 - OMG who edited this thing! WAY too long. I ended up fast forwarding several times.
Thought #2 (and finally the main point here!) - You may recall the main story was about a mission to Mars and the super smart computer running the ship. He was known as HAL. HAL was not called AI back then, but we probably would call him that today. When the two astronauts lose faith in HAL, and discuss disconnecting him, he decides to save the mission by disposing of them. This was all science fiction back when Arthur C. Clarke wrote the novel on which the film is based, but how pertinent is that scenario in today’s world?
Thought #3 – The term HAL is actually based on the name of the computing giant at the time – IBM. One less that I is H. One less that B is A. And one less that M is L.
Thought #4 – Neither of the astronauts looked like this, DAMN IT. Back in the day when the film was made, astronauts were all white males, former test pilots mostly.
Did you watch the splash down?
If you’re old like me, were you a space-cadet in the late 60s?
How concerned are you about the rapid growth of AI?
Which of my four points do you think were important for this post, and which weren’t?🤣
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9 comments
Never watched the movie.
I'm more concerned of the idiots behind AI, trying to mold it for their benefit and beliefs
In my limited experience with AI, I definitely have to noticed it is a "pleaser" - eager to tell you what it perceives you want to hear.
Agreed on the movie 2001. I watched it at some point during the last several years (I'm pretty sure I didn't see it when it first came out) and found it quite boring.
I remember watching the first moon landing, but I was not space crazy.
I didn't watch the Artemis splashdown, but I did see a video on IG the other day that was filmed from inside the capsule as they broke into earth's atmosphere at 25,000 mph. It was fascinating (and terrifying).
25,000 mph to 0 in about 11 minutes - YIKES
I did not watch the splash down. I doubt it was any different than any other splash down.
I was not a space cadet.
The worry I have about the growth of AI is the need for more data centers. When so much of the world is experiencing drought, building things that require large amounts of water seems callous
Point 2 was the most important.
Point 1 was the one that resonated the most with me. (I despised that movie)
Point 3 was an interesting factoid.
Point 4 was typical Cleavishness. 😎
We're basically the same age! How could you NOT be a space-cadet? Must be a male/female thing. 🤔
The building of data centers, and zoning restrictions on them, is a HUGE issue around here right now.
#4 - I needed an excuse to post a picture to draw attention to this post.
@CleavageFan4U You can't fool me, my friend. Drawing attention to your post is the excuse you use to post the bewbie pictures you love!
@superbjversion2 Two sides of the same coin. Found some cool nekkie alien bewbies shots, but just couldn't make the post fit them. 😡
I followed the Artemis II mission. It certainly inspired my two grandkids. We had a long conversation about space afterwards and the youngest even knew about Isaac Newton's laws of gravity and that Albert Einstein was a very clever man!
Great that some of the youngsters watched it.
Lovely and attractive rendering.
Something to hope for I guess.
@CleavageFan4U Indeed