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Joshua Oliva Professor Lago September 15, 2013 English 1100-27 Artificial Intelligence Technology plays a huge role in our modern day lives; its integrated into everything around us. We have been so accustomed to our access to technology that we have become dependent on it. Technology is relied on every day by millions; this is the very reason why developers and scientists work hard every day to try and reach a new level of technology. Some refer to it as A.I. or rather artificial intelligence. Digital technology has certainly changed our lives physically and mentally, imagine taking it a step further than the human mind itself. I imagine computers becoming so powerful they would control everything that surrounds us, and everything that we use on a daily basis. It isnt smart to hand over so much power and resources to a computer who is just learning about the world and mankind; that is if they ever reach a point where they can develop learning skills similar to humans. Many people had very opposing views on digital technology; take for example Robert Jastrow and Nicholas Carr. Robert Jastrow believed that eventually computers would control all our needs (Jastorw 208). This would include modern day issues like financial needs and social needs. He predicted that computers would save humanity. As this supports my claim, Computers are capable of accomplishing many tasks that humans cannot. Computers can complete medical procedures that are too risky or precise for humans to accomplish. Computers can also go access limitless

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information in a matter of seconds. These abilities are rather short of what technology is truly capable of. Today, we live in a modern era where everything is done with or involves technology and mankind has come a long way. The astounding thing is that we have only begun; the digital age has merely begun. In a couple of few short decades mankind has been able to accomplish things such as traveling into space, landing on the moon, exploring different galaxies, creating the internet and creating smart phones, who know what we can accomplish now with all the new resources and intelligence we have? Not to mention our biggest inventions of cars, films and countless creations which we see in our everyday lives. Our digital era is reaching further beyond what anyone has yet to imagine. Technology has a long way to go and there is no doubt that technology will soon be so integrated in our daily lives todays times will seem like the dark ages. Technology has a huge key and opportunity to save and improve the way humans live. Jastrow also believed, like me, that technology can save humanity (Jastrow 208). It has the ability, it is not definite but it certainly has the potential. He states, Computer intelligence is growing by leaps and bounds, with no natural limit in sight (Jastrow 208). What exactly does he mean by this? First off, the growth of computer intelligence is completely dependent on humans. Without humans constantly working on improving and inventing new ways to make computers smarter and more human like, their intelligence would cease to exist. Meaning humans have to be more integrated with technology for the future to make this growth possible. That statement alone proves Jastrows theory that will be mans salvation in a world of crushing complexity. (208) Secondly, there being no natural limit in sight, as stated before, supports the potential of computer intelligence. There is no telling how far it can and will go; soon it will be out of mankinds control.

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Our future with technology all depends on how mankind choses to use these new discoveries and whether or not they will benefit humans or lead us to our own demise. We must be careful with the steps we take to further our resources. Precautions must be taken in order to prevent what is going to inevitable happen if humans use this grand opportunity the wrong way. Like any other experience I see this as humans doing it the right way or being misled into a dark age. Jastrow supports me when he states, As computers get more complex, the imitation gets better (Jastrow 207). As I stated before, mankind relies a great deal on technology. Carr agrees with me here in his passage. Though in the passage he does not flat out say it, it is the main point he is trying to get through to the audience. That computers and technology have changed mankinds form of thinking. (38) Which is true, if one reading this has paid attention so far theyd realize that a perfect example of this was stated previously. The digital technology mankind has thus far are now new resources, these open doors force us to realize how things work and how they should work. It has changed the way we think and process thoughts, in every way possible. Carrs theory, unlike Jastrows, focuses on the past because he believes it was a better time for humans. The learning process should not be that we create things to do things for us. Although I do agree with this I have to disagree with Carr that it is a negative effect of technology. We should rely on technology to benefit our race, not to make us lazier or more dependent. Therefore, both Carr and Jastrows theories apply and support my main point. Carr is right in the sense that our thought process has changed and Jastrow is right in believing that technology will be our salvation one day. All humans have to do is use technology in the right manner; Regardless of what resources or tools mankind has at their disposal the choices made by humans themselves will define the end result. People say to be careful because of negative

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consequences of digital technology effecting newer generations, when really it should be the people who are in charge and in control of what happens to them and how they adapt.

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Works Cited Behrens, Laurence, and Leonard J. Rosen. "Toward An Intelligence Beyond Man's." Writing and Reading across the Curriculum. Boston: Little, Brown, 1985. 206-08. Print. Carr, Nicholas G. "On What the Brain Thinks about When It Thinks about Itself." The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. 37-38. Print. PBSoffbook. "The Rise of Artificial Intelligence." YouTube. YouTube, 11 July 2013. Web. 14 Dec. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53K1dMyslJg>.