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Artificial Intelligence in Science Fiction Body, Mind, Soul-The 'Cyborg Effect': Artificial Intelligence in Science Fiction

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Artificial Intelligence in Science Fiction Body, Mind, Soul-The 'Cyborg Effect': Artificial Intelligence in Science Fiction ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SCIENCE FICTION BODY, MIND, SOUL-THE 'CYBORG EFFECT': ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SCIENCE FICTION BY DUNCAN LUCAS, B.A. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts McMaster University ©Copyright by Duncan Lucas, August 2002 MASTER OF ARTS (2002) McMaster University (English) Hamilton, Ontario TITLE: Body, Mind, Soul-The 'Cyborg Effect': Artificial Intelligence in Science Fiction AUTHOR: Duncan Lucas, B.A. (McMaster University) SUPERVISOR: Professor Joseph Adamson NUMlBER OF PAGES: v, 185 11 Abstract: Though this project is about representations of artificial intelligence (AI) in science fiction (SF), no discussion of 'artificial' intelligence could ever take place without considering 'real' intelligence. Consequently, at core and by default, this project is about human intelligence. Artificial intelligence throws into relief the essence of being human as a tripartite construction of body, mind, and their synergistic combination, by creating an intelligent, dialogical, and interrogative entity as a comparative Other. Chapters one and two address two basic questions: What is science fiction? What is artificial intelligence? These evolve additional questions: How do science :fiction writers delineate the physical and intellectual capabilities and capacities of humans versus machines (in the broadest sense), their comparative behaviours, and thereby, consider humanl methods for understanding our universe and our place in it? What place do SF writers imagine machine intelligence taking in our world? What are the ethical, moral, and social implications for human verus machine inteHigence? Chapters three and four consider how authors construct Als, what physical forms they might take, and the relative importance of the body versus the mind. The imaginative creations are compared to actual develops in the science of AI, thereby revealing some surprising prophecies. Discovered is that human beings are nervous about their own technological constructions, especially when those creations begin to match human intellect and mentation. Consequently, some of our worst bigoted behaviours are brought the fore. I designate two temporal periods as the 'animated automaton' (citing Frankenstein, Metropolis, R. UR) and the 'heuristic hardware' (2001: a Space Odyssey, Do Androids Dream ofElectric Sheep?, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and 1, Robot). Chapter five focusses on a single narrative (Galatea 2.2) as an excellent consideration of the cmTent state of AI research and the development of ever more effective systems for processing information. It begins with observing a change in the scientific worldvriew and the change from energy to information as the fundamental reality. The AI challenges a human to recognize and acknowledge humanity's own despotic and parodic behaviours. By considering exactly how human beings learn, know, and remember, it throws into dramatic relief our own assumptions about the superiority of human intelligence. Chapter six looks at post-1980 literatures (Neuromancer, The Matrix, The Diamond Age, and Terminator) and the influence of the personal computer on the imaginations of SF writers I. The narratives' complexities increase and the boundaries between assumed 'reality' and 'virtual reality' erode. Human beings are clearly anxious about increasingly powerful thinking machines, probably because our confidence in the uniqueness and singularity of human intelligence is challenged directly. The connection between body and mind is, paradoxically, both broken and affirmed, thus forcing humans to find ways to understand the essence of consciousness, particularly as it may related to the 'soul.' Ultimately, AI could teach human beings about ourselves, and may force us to more clearly define 'human being.' Potentially, though not an expressed goal, AI research could unify hiumanity globally and help us to help ourselves in re-structuring economic, educational, social disparity. 111 Ac1G1owledgements: Dr. Alvin Lee, Dr. Joe Adamson, Dr. Jean Wilson for their consistent encouragement and mento:r;ship - to say nothing of patience. Dr. ImJi'e Szeman, who assigned me the lowest undergraduate mark I ever received - and so raised the bar. My thesis committee: Dr. Joe Adamson, Dr. Imre Szeman, and Dr. Anne Savage. - I hope it was worth it. Dr. Don Goellnicht and Dr. Roger Hyman for helping me to believe in myself and my work at the graduate level, and encouraging my continuing studies. To all my uncited undergraduate professors. If any of the ideas and information in this thesis are yours but which I fail to ac1G1owledge, it is only because I learned so much that I no longer know where it all came from. Please take it as a compliment that I was listening on some level. My family and friends, of course, for their lillwavering support - and patience. My friend, lover, partner, my psycho-emotional foundation, Trish O'Meara, for making home home by affirming and demonstrating the true value of human life -- and her amazing patience. I love you, in body, mind, and soul. IV Contents: Abstract: ..................... ,.................................................................................................. 111 AcknoWledgements: .................................. "................................................. "................ IV Introduction: Where are we going? 2 Part One: Conception. • One: What is Science Fiction? 7 • Two: What is Artificial Intelligence? 12 Part Two: The Birth of Artificial Intelligence in Narrative. • Three: The Animated Automaton. .................................................................. 22 • Four: Heuristic Hardware. ............................................................................ 48 Part Three: An Evolution of Species. • Five: What is Artificial Intelligence Now? ........................... 86 • Six: Body, Mind, Soul-The 'Cyborg Effect.' .............................................. 109 Part Four: Toward a New Tomorrow. • Seven: What have we learned? .. .......... ........... ... ..... ... ... ... ......... ............. .......... 153 • Conclusions: What do we want to be? ........ ..... ........ ...... ... ... ... ... ........ ..... ...... ... 166 Synopses ofNarratives. ............................................................................................... 174 Works Cited and Consulted. .................. 180 v F or man to tell how human life began Is hard, for who himself beginning knew? (John Milton) 1 Introduction: Where are we going? We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done. (Alan Turing) This project is about representations of artificial intelligence in science fiction. It begins with the assumption that an artificial intelligence has demonstrated, or inevitably will demonstrate, consciousness. My personal feelings on the likelihood of this scenario do not shape that statement; I accept the assumption because for the writers whom I consider in this thesis it is 'true' as a narrative premise. No discussion of 'artificial' intelligence, however, can take place without considering 'real' intelligence. In an essay mixing "both computers and psyehology," writes Marvin Minsky, the "reason is that though we'd like to talk about making intelligent machines, people are the only such intelligence we can imitate or study now" (in The Age of Intelligent Machines 219). At core and by default, then, this project is about human intelligence. From a human perspective, I will go 8! step further and suggest that the only conscious intelligence we may ever acknowledge and recognize as 'legitimate' is the one we wanl: to recognize as uniquely intelligent - our own. In the perhaps not too distant future, the term 'artificial intelligence' may become an oxymoron, and we may be forced to drop the prefix 'artificial' when it becomes prejudicial and denigrating. But most people believe the future has not yet been written ... Writing an English Master's thesis with some understanding ofliterary principles is one praetice, but the scientific principles behind artificial intelligence (AI) are another 2 discipline all tagether. Putting the twa inta a cahesive package requires explaratian and synthesis based in the patential af free ranging thaught assaciatians. Far this reasan, I ask readers' indulgence and talerance. I think this is an apprapriate request in the science fictian cantext because the genre's readership, its 'fans,' are particularly accepting (fargiving? ...) af astensibly ludicraus extrapalatians and speculatians. Arthur C. Clarke has written, "Althaugh it has became samething af a cliche, perhaps the mast impartant attribute af gaad science fictian-and the lOne that uniquely distinguishes it fram mainstream fictian-·is its ability ta evake the sense afwander" (Greetings 404). Yet this praject's very limitations farce me to cantain myself within a system, ta pravide baundaries and thus allaw the expansiveness ta wark in tension with an equal and appasing farGe. Bridging the gap between art and science, lOr at least bringing art inta dial ague with science, is a fundamental mativatar behind this philasaphical treatise, lOr speculatian, or investigatian, lOr creatian, lOr analysis, ... lOr whatever it be judged. Daes it nat sametimes seem that Western society is steadily de-valuing literature's rale in and impartance ta sacial development by placing taa much emphasis an the Sciences, as if they alane cauld understand and
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