I have a story idea cooking about completely automated supply chains, where you can decide you want a whatever and say (in effect) “Accio whatever!” and it gets delivered to your hand in short order, without another human having touched it or even known about it.
Still looking for the storytelling angle, but I need to get on with it before real life overtakes me.
Originally shared by Singularity Hub
This Robotic Warehouse Fills Orders in Five Minutes, and Fits in City Centers
I’m chuckling about real life overtaking you … I’m far too slow and get overtaken quite often. I thought a while ago to take my stuff to the byways where the uptake of new technology is often slower and more difficult what with people ageing, having to earn a crust, and other such realities. (Not counting the mobile phone of course)
I’m chuckling about real life overtaking you … I’m far too slow and get overtaken quite often. I thought a while ago to take my stuff to the byways where the uptake of new technology is often slower and more difficult what with people ageing, having to earn a crust, and other such realities. (Not counting the mobile phone of course)
The Starship Enterprise was (will be) only a glorized portable junk-food replicator for evil consumer minded planet raping hordes.
The Starship Enterprise was (will be) only a glorized portable junk-food replicator for evil consumer minded planet raping hordes.
I willl drink when it rains, all other of life’s needs must come by toil.
I willl drink when it rains, all other of life’s needs must come by toil.
Although, i will always love delivered pizza.
Although, i will always love delivered pizza.
I think I may have the angle.
An AI is constantly trying to predict what people are going to order, and getting it ready (making it in automated factories, shipping it in automated ships and trucks to automated distribution centres where automated drones are poised to take it the last mile to the consumer). The algorithm’s aim is to know you so well that it knows what you want before you do, and has it ready for you the instant you ask for it.
Only something goes wrong with the algorithm, and all of a sudden everyone is getting stuff they didn’t order, would never have thought of ordering, and don’t want or need.
Optimistic ending: Or do they? Has the algorithm actually transcended to a state where it predicts, not what you want, but what you truly need?
Conspiracy-theory ending: Someone has hacked the algorithm so that it will deliver the stuff they design and make them rich.
Cynical ending: Everyone drowns under a wave of useless consumer stuff that they didn’t want when the paper clip optimizer goes haywire.
I wonder if I could manage to have all three endings happening at once?
I think I may have the angle.
An AI is constantly trying to predict what people are going to order, and getting it ready (making it in automated factories, shipping it in automated ships and trucks to automated distribution centres where automated drones are poised to take it the last mile to the consumer). The algorithm’s aim is to know you so well that it knows what you want before you do, and has it ready for you the instant you ask for it.
Only something goes wrong with the algorithm, and all of a sudden everyone is getting stuff they didn’t order, would never have thought of ordering, and don’t want or need.
Optimistic ending: Or do they? Has the algorithm actually transcended to a state where it predicts, not what you want, but what you truly need?
Conspiracy-theory ending: Someone has hacked the algorithm so that it will deliver the stuff they design and make them rich.
Cynical ending: Everyone drowns under a wave of useless consumer stuff that they didn’t want when the paper clip optimizer goes haywire.
I wonder if I could manage to have all three endings happening at once?
I am so over predictive algorithms. I used to love the days when you could find something fresh and original, something that wasn’t predicted for you.
I am so over predictive algorithms. I used to love the days when you could find something fresh and original, something that wasn’t predicted for you.
Amazon seems to have got worse at predicting what books I’ll like. And Goodreads was never any good at it.
Amazon seems to have got worse at predicting what books I’ll like. And Goodreads was never any good at it.
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