Is AI a good thing or a bad thing?

Answer 1

That would depend on who is using it and how. Stephen Hawking's last announcement to the world before he died was in regards to this and how it concerned him. They are working on self replicating AI's to send out into the universe. They will find the materials needed and then replicate and move further into the universe, this sounds like a horrible idea, they will ruin one resource at a time across the universe. There is also work being done on an AI that will allow it to reflect upon its life and develop a "feeling" about it, whether it was good, bad or indifferent. Scientists are now saying if it has the ability to reflect and feel it should be qualified as human, and are working to change the definition of human so that the AI can qualify for constitutional rights. These too have the ability to recognize when they are in need of repair and build new parts for themselves from 3D printers. I personally think it is amazing technology that needs to be stopped. If Stephen Hawking is nervous then I am too, for he is much smarter than I. He was also intricately involved in that world and it is far too coincidental that he spoke out about this issue and then died a couple of weeks later.