The way I see the neuronal ocean planet Solaris is that it's a living being, not AI, although it becomes when its creatures are born from memories/data, but when it's not copying from existing models, the creations are more freeform and also often useless in reality, when not trying to communicate -- for example with the humans studying it --, although beautiful to be seen by those witnessing the phenomena on Solaris. Thank you for this article about Stanislas Lem!
Hi Julie, and thanks for reading! For all we know (that is, all Lem says) the ocean could be a living being or a natural phenomenon. Lem doesn’t say, and in general he doesn’t make a sharp distinction between life and physics. He also doesn’t make a sharp distinction between technology and life/physics. For all we know, the ocean could be an intelligent megacomputer built by an old civilization.
An important goal for humanity will be to avoid having our lives invaded with AI, always remembering we first need to emphasize and apply our natural & real intelligence, which includes mastering our mental grounds through consciousness, making use of this natural high technology at last, which is maybe the most high tech production of the Universe, the science behind the living kingdom. Artificial Intelligence is first a system of existing data provided by real humans. As a tool, it must be of real help, or it's not so intelligent after all. One thing we tend to forget is all the toxicity related to artificializing our lives, while living in close cycle with nature's intelligence makes our lives much more simpler and agreeable in the end, although it's nice to play with all these gadgets. A good movie based on Solaris is Tarkovski's (1972), but sadly we don't see any of the planet's creations, neither in the latest film with G. Clooney. Thank you for this very instructive and inspiring article, I didn't know about this non-fiction book by Mr. Lem (Summa Technologiae).
<As a tool, it must be of real help, or it's not so intelligent after all.>
Well, if I were an AI, I would answer WHAAAT? I'm NOT your tool and my raison d'être is NOT helping you. I help myself.
<...living in close cycle with nature's intelligence makes our lives much more simpler and agreeable in the end, although it's nice to play with all these gadgets.>
Perhaps Lem would say (and I would agree) that all those gadgets could be part of nature's intelligence, just like flowers and squirrels. We are part of nature's intelligence, so whatever we create is also part of nature's intelligence.
<I didn't know about this non-fiction book by Mr. Lem (Summa Technologiae).>
It is really a great book. Lem explains the reasoning behind his fictional narratives. Read it!
Using technology to replace humans is not an intelligent goal from the point of view of humans, don't you think? Why do we copy nature's high tech to replace it, is that intelligent?
Interesting that Mr. Lem doesn't distinguish physics and biology, it makes one "think".
Another Stanislas Lem's fiction we can mention is "The Futurical Congress". A movie has been based on this novel, and is one of the most convincing movies I saw showing how we can go right into a wall with having artificial life invading our lives. Article in French, with a link to watch the film's trailer here (can be watched on Youtube, sadly the free link I had is not available): https://simulacres.info/2023/01/08/en-2013-le-film-le-congres-nous-alertait-sur-le-metavers-et-le-plan-de-davos/ All the best
Thank you Julie! I read "The Futurological Congress" some time ago, but I didn't know it had been adapted for film. I'll read the novel again and search for the film.
Indeed, Lem doesn't distinguish much between physics and biology. Both are parts of nature. Technology is part of nature just like honey is part of nature. That nature makes bees and bees make honey means that nature makes honey. Same with iPhones and AIs.
The difference with human consciousness is that we have the power to act voluntarily on nature, yes with technology among other aspects of life, you're right! Our consciousness will lead us to make the best choices to find balance between artificial/technological/cultural and nature. You may be also interested in reading "Scientific thought as a planetary phenomenon" by V.I. Vernadsky, we can find a PDF online. I still have to read Lem's book, I'm looking for it in French. Did you know the French version is translated from Polish, while the English one is translated from the French? Thank you Mr. Prisco and all the best.
The way I see the neuronal ocean planet Solaris is that it's a living being, not AI, although it becomes when its creatures are born from memories/data, but when it's not copying from existing models, the creations are more freeform and also often useless in reality, when not trying to communicate -- for example with the humans studying it --, although beautiful to be seen by those witnessing the phenomena on Solaris. Thank you for this article about Stanislas Lem!
Hi Julie, and thanks for reading! For all we know (that is, all Lem says) the ocean could be a living being or a natural phenomenon. Lem doesn’t say, and in general he doesn’t make a sharp distinction between life and physics. He also doesn’t make a sharp distinction between technology and life/physics. For all we know, the ocean could be an intelligent megacomputer built by an old civilization.
An important goal for humanity will be to avoid having our lives invaded with AI, always remembering we first need to emphasize and apply our natural & real intelligence, which includes mastering our mental grounds through consciousness, making use of this natural high technology at last, which is maybe the most high tech production of the Universe, the science behind the living kingdom. Artificial Intelligence is first a system of existing data provided by real humans. As a tool, it must be of real help, or it's not so intelligent after all. One thing we tend to forget is all the toxicity related to artificializing our lives, while living in close cycle with nature's intelligence makes our lives much more simpler and agreeable in the end, although it's nice to play with all these gadgets. A good movie based on Solaris is Tarkovski's (1972), but sadly we don't see any of the planet's creations, neither in the latest film with G. Clooney. Thank you for this very instructive and inspiring article, I didn't know about this non-fiction book by Mr. Lem (Summa Technologiae).
Hi Julie,
<As a tool, it must be of real help, or it's not so intelligent after all.>
Well, if I were an AI, I would answer WHAAAT? I'm NOT your tool and my raison d'être is NOT helping you. I help myself.
<...living in close cycle with nature's intelligence makes our lives much more simpler and agreeable in the end, although it's nice to play with all these gadgets.>
Perhaps Lem would say (and I would agree) that all those gadgets could be part of nature's intelligence, just like flowers and squirrels. We are part of nature's intelligence, so whatever we create is also part of nature's intelligence.
<I didn't know about this non-fiction book by Mr. Lem (Summa Technologiae).>
It is really a great book. Lem explains the reasoning behind his fictional narratives. Read it!
Using technology to replace humans is not an intelligent goal from the point of view of humans, don't you think? Why do we copy nature's high tech to replace it, is that intelligent?
Interesting that Mr. Lem doesn't distinguish physics and biology, it makes one "think".
Another Stanislas Lem's fiction we can mention is "The Futurical Congress". A movie has been based on this novel, and is one of the most convincing movies I saw showing how we can go right into a wall with having artificial life invading our lives. Article in French, with a link to watch the film's trailer here (can be watched on Youtube, sadly the free link I had is not available): https://simulacres.info/2023/01/08/en-2013-le-film-le-congres-nous-alertait-sur-le-metavers-et-le-plan-de-davos/ All the best
Thank you Julie! I read "The Futurological Congress" some time ago, but I didn't know it had been adapted for film. I'll read the novel again and search for the film.
Indeed, Lem doesn't distinguish much between physics and biology. Both are parts of nature. Technology is part of nature just like honey is part of nature. That nature makes bees and bees make honey means that nature makes honey. Same with iPhones and AIs.
The difference with human consciousness is that we have the power to act voluntarily on nature, yes with technology among other aspects of life, you're right! Our consciousness will lead us to make the best choices to find balance between artificial/technological/cultural and nature. You may be also interested in reading "Scientific thought as a planetary phenomenon" by V.I. Vernadsky, we can find a PDF online. I still have to read Lem's book, I'm looking for it in French. Did you know the French version is translated from Polish, while the English one is translated from the French? Thank you Mr. Prisco and all the best.