Editors' note: Welcome to CNET's new series of guest columns called Alt View, which will be a forum for a diverse array of experts and luminaries to share their insights into the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. We're kicking it off with Vasant Dhar, an AI researcher, data scientist and host of the podcast Brave New World. For more AI coverage, check out CNET's AI Atlas.
I was 11 years old when I first watched Stanley Kubrick's 1968 movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.
I was captivated by the imagery of flashing oscilloscopes and screens of gobbledygook, but I was way too young to get the subtlety of the plot at the time. I hadn't seen a computer, other than in movies. AI was not part of my imagination.
I rewatched the movie recently. Although its whiz-bang effects have not aged well, the plot remains incredibly forward-thinking and, we can now say, prescient. The story revolves around the discovery of a Stonehenge-like monolith discovered near Jupiter that is sending a strong signal to one of Jupiter's moons, indicating the presence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. The spaceship Discovery is sent to investigate the mysterious object. The true purpose of the mission is known only to Discovery's computer, HAL.
HAL's directive is to ensure the success of the mission. This includes safeguarding its secrecy and assisting the crew by providing them with correct information at all times. HAL can't move, but can see, hear, talk and monitor every part of the craft. In effect, the governance of the mission rests largely in the hands of AI.
Things go wrong when HAL apparently malfunctions. The astronauts are advised to turn off HAL's cognitive functions for the remainder of the mission.
When Dave returns to the ship after his futile attempt to save Frank, whose lifeline had been severed while he was on a spacewalk, he asks HAL to open the pod bay doors to let him inside. HAL's response is the most famous line of the movie:
"I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that."
It's a nightmare scenario with AI in control, convinced that it is doing the right thing.
Lessons from 2001: A Space Odyssey
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