Communications of the ACM
Computer Sharing of Personality in Sight: Inventor
Google X laboratory founder Sebastian Thrun suggests computers could one day take on the personality of their human users.
Credit: Makoto Ishida
Computers could one day take on the personality of their human users, according to Google X laboratory founder Sebastian Thrun. Full personalities could potentially be transmitted much like data is now routinely transmitted via computers, Thrun recently told a symposium at Stanford University.
"Perhaps we can get to the point where we can outsource our own personal experiences entirely into a computer--and possibly our own personality," he says.
Thrun also suggests computers with human personalities are not as far off as people think. However, Jaron Lanier, a virtual reality pioneer known for his books on the philosophy of computers, doubts scientists could achieve that goal.
Lanier describes humans as moving targets, noting people change themselves in response to the presence of technology. As a result, he questions the ability to measure success. Lanier cautions Silicon Valley puts too much faith in the progress of technology. "I think we are going to have a real struggle to define ourselves in a humane and sweet way as we go through a lot of changes," he argues.
From Agence France-Presse
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