161 years ago, a New Zealand sheep farmer predicted AI doom

Quick Summary:

Butler's "Darwin among the machines" warned of a future mechanical race that could subjugate humanity.

The letter drew direct parallels between Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and the rapid development of machinery, suggesting that machines could evolve consciousness and eventually supplant humans as Earth's dominant species.

Theoretically, Abraham Lincoln could have read about AI takeover during his lifetime.

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Article Details

Author / Journalist: Benj Edwards

Category: Technology

Markets: United StatesNew Zealand

Topics: Charles darwin AI Machine learning

Source Website Secure: Yes (HTTPS)

News Sentiment: Negative

Fact Checked: Legitimate

Article Type: News Report

Published On: 2025-01-11 @ 12:15:43 (20 hours ago)

News Timezone: GMT -5:00

News Source URL: arstechnica.com

Language: English

Article Length: 212 words

Reading Time: 2 minutes read

Sentences: 55 lines

Sentence Length: 4 words per sentence (average)

Platforms: Desktop Web, Mobile Web, iOS App, Android App

Copyright Owner: © Ars Technica

News ID: 25063658

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About Ars Technica

Main Topics: Technology

Official Website: arstechnica.com

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News Last Updated: 15 hours ago

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