David Pham
Ms. Dittmar
ENG4U0
22 November 2017
The Empty Fulfillment of an Artificial Society
Technology is a powerful foundation that greatly develops modern-day society. It increases the amount of jobs in the world, and it gives humanity the ability to uncover scientific breakthroughs at a staggering rate. In fact, technology is so important, society today relies on it. Society needs it. It is a necessity that never stops evolving and growing; without it, civilization today will cease to exist. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie takes place in a dystopian society known as the Radch empire, where artificial intelligence (AI) are the controllers of the galaxy, overpowering humans in every single aspect. Humans are the pawns of robots, serving …show more content…
In the next few years, it will continue to take away jobs that can be easily replaced by automation. In the next few decades, robots might even take away and replace humans. There are many ideas on how artificial intelligence should be created and managed. For instance, a notable theory is Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics. To explain, Asimov states that a robot must not injure a human and that they must protect their own existence while obeying humans at all times (Anderson). Asimov’s laws strictly constrain robots from doing any harm, while ultimately serving their ‘master’. This goes hand in hand with the Radch empire’s societal norms, where citizens are controlled and forced to obey orders from the Lord and to only serve Her. In contrast, Breq is completely different from societal expectations and is more human-like. To clarify, Breq leaves Radch society because Anaander forces her to kill one of her best friends, Lieutenant Awn, without reason. After she kills Awn, she says, “The guilt and helpless anger that had overwhelmed me had receded shortly after that moment, as I had never felt something like that before” (252). Killing her friend breaks through Breq’s limited emotion barrier, and she slowly develops the ability to think and act rationally and independently after fleeing from the Radch empire. Leckie develops Breq’s character like this because she opposes Asimov’s theory; she declares the Three Laws of Robotics as the totalitarian state’s standards and contrasts it with Breq, an AI who can act and think freely on her own. Leckie believes that artificial intelligence in the future will need agency, the power to control themselves and emotions in order to create a flourishing world for the Earth’s population. In essence, Asimov’s and Leckie’s views on artificial intelligence oppose each other greatly: Asimov reinforces order,
Ms. Dittmar
ENG4U0
22 November 2017
The Empty Fulfillment of an Artificial Society
Technology is a powerful foundation that greatly develops modern-day society. It increases the amount of jobs in the world, and it gives humanity the ability to uncover scientific breakthroughs at a staggering rate. In fact, technology is so important, society today relies on it. Society needs it. It is a necessity that never stops evolving and growing; without it, civilization today will cease to exist. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie takes place in a dystopian society known as the Radch empire, where artificial intelligence (AI) are the controllers of the galaxy, overpowering humans in every single aspect. Humans are the pawns of robots, serving …show more content…
In the next few years, it will continue to take away jobs that can be easily replaced by automation. In the next few decades, robots might even take away and replace humans. There are many ideas on how artificial intelligence should be created and managed. For instance, a notable theory is Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics. To explain, Asimov states that a robot must not injure a human and that they must protect their own existence while obeying humans at all times (Anderson). Asimov’s laws strictly constrain robots from doing any harm, while ultimately serving their ‘master’. This goes hand in hand with the Radch empire’s societal norms, where citizens are controlled and forced to obey orders from the Lord and to only serve Her. In contrast, Breq is completely different from societal expectations and is more human-like. To clarify, Breq leaves Radch society because Anaander forces her to kill one of her best friends, Lieutenant Awn, without reason. After she kills Awn, she says, “The guilt and helpless anger that had overwhelmed me had receded shortly after that moment, as I had never felt something like that before” (252). Killing her friend breaks through Breq’s limited emotion barrier, and she slowly develops the ability to think and act rationally and independently after fleeing from the Radch empire. Leckie develops Breq’s character like this because she opposes Asimov’s theory; she declares the Three Laws of Robotics as the totalitarian state’s standards and contrasts it with Breq, an AI who can act and think freely on her own. Leckie believes that artificial intelligence in the future will need agency, the power to control themselves and emotions in order to create a flourishing world for the Earth’s population. In essence, Asimov’s and Leckie’s views on artificial intelligence oppose each other greatly: Asimov reinforces order,