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Olumide Ogunjobi
ENGL 2216
Chapter 9 Question 1
July 30, 2016
At what cost?
In this day and age, we live in a time where almost everything we interact with is in some
way, shape, or form computer based. Whether its at home, at school, or even in the workplace
computers are a consistent part of our everyday lives. Its safe to say where we are now and
where we were before are simply night and day, technology as a whole has simply changed the
way we do things forever. The thing is, that with all the advancement, innovation, and power that
technology brings; what exactly is its cost? It seems superficial to only think of technology in the
sense of the latest smart phone or tablet thats coming out, but to realize that we are in a time
where the fiction in science fiction has all too commonly become a reality and as amazing as it
all seems, there are certain things that could possibly arise in wake of it, not all of which are
good. I, Robot gives us a look at to what those things exactly are. A big one being the idea of
having machines govern, which in some sense would have its advantages; such as unbiased
decision making, and of course advancement, yet on the other hand machines are still machines
and with that disadvantages would come in the same form. Machines could be manipulated in a
way to cause more harm than good, or even the idea that an artificial intelligence governing
humans could potentially cause them to lose the very thing that makes them human in the first
place. So many ideas and scenarios can be imagined from these concepts but the main idea still
stays the same. With all the things that technology brings, what exactly is its cost?
Given the amount of computing power an artificial intelligence possesses, the amount of
things and its possibilities could be endless. Artificial Intelligences would be able to look at

complex problems in ways that we never couldve imagined. Scientific advancement is a result
of someone finding an answer to a complex problem, with an artificial intelligence governing the
impossible would be made possible at speeds never even heard of before. Even though, it can be
a disadvantage; a machines inability to feel gives it an unbiased view when it comes to decision
making. Which simply means that when faced with difficult decisions that may take a human too
long to process given our emotions, bias, and other factors that make complicate our decision
making. An artificial intelligence can not only come to a decision but do it in a fast and efficient
way. All while making the most logical choice possible. By having a governing artificial
intelligence, there would also be the systemic and structuralized way of doing things. The first
law of thermodynamics states that, the entropy of any isolated system always increases. This
simply means everything in the universe moves toward a state of disorder. Giving an artificial
intelligences ability to see things in ways that no one else can, it would be able to create a
system where everything flowed and worked together. Instead of moving towards constant
disorder, we could now move toward a constant state of equilibrium. Yet, at a constant state of
equilibrium where exactly would that put humanity as a whole? Of course there would be no
problems, but theyre would also be no differences. That constant state of disorder is what gives
humanity its uniqueness and by taking that away, do the ends truly justify the means?
In chapter 9 of I, Robot we see a situation where an artificial intelligence is causing minor
economic issues in order to prevent future conflict not amongst humans but amongst humans and
robots themselves. This doesnt seem like a serious issue at first, but given the computing power
of an artificial intelligence, it would be able to see things and patterns in mere seconds that
would take us a lifetime to unravel. Though it can come to these complex solutions in seconds,
theres a very important component missing when it comes to its decision making; emotion. A

human has the ability to not only think but to feel, while an artificial intelligence would only be
able to come to conclusions based on logic and when given certain situations, the logical answer
isnt always the best answer. For example, in the medical field a new technology known as
Computer Assisted Surgery is being introduced. Its a technology thats scans the entire patient
and creates a virtual replication of themselves, this technology then allows the surgeon to the
preform the surgery on the patient virtually before actually preforming the surgery on the live
patient. The next step for this technology, is where the term assisted goes to automated. Which at
first seems like a great idea, until faced with a decision that need more than just the logical
answer. If a woman is giving birth to a child but there are complications and the birth mother is
faced with a decision to either die and let the child live or live and let the child die, nine times
out of time the mother will allow the child to live. That is a decision based off of emotion, and
automated system may feel as though its illogical to allow the child to live and make certain
measures as to preserve the mother without even allowing her a choice in the matter. Another
issue would be the fact that an artificial intelligence could be manipulated in a way that would
potentially put people in danger.
In chapter 2 of I, Robot that every robot must adhere to the 3 fundamental laws of
robotics. Though these laws are set in stone in stone in order to protect humans, the underlying
issue is that laws are unfortunately more times than not broken and there could be a possibility
that these laws could be tampered with, and tailored to a specific person rather than all of
humanity. So instead of no harming of humans, it may be no harming of ______ human which
now puts the robot in a peculiar position. Because if that human was to be doing things that were
detrimental to other humans, but is now set up in a way that the robot law only applies to that
said human, no one would be able to oppose without opposition from other robots. Its a situation

where someones personal agenda has trumped that of the humanitys. It seems like a very
farfetched idea, but given the way the world is now more connected than ever before if an
artificial intelligence were to govern and then be compromised; the consequences would be dire.
When looking back, many may ask is all of this really worth it? Yes, we would be more
advanced than ever and yes, there would not only be structure but order in a day and age where
everything seems so chaotic. Yet simply all at what cost? Our humanity? Our uniqueness? Would
we be willing to give up the very things that truly make us who we are? Its a thought provoking
question, I, Robot gave us just a tiny glimpse of a world that is a very realistic possibility in a
future not too far away. Weve seen both the advantages and disadvantages of not only
technology, but robots, and even artificial intelligences. From an artificial intelligences ability to
make clear and unbiased decisions but also its inability to experience the human feeling of
emotion, which is some situations is way heavier weighed than logic. Asimovs ability to plant
these various seeds for imagination through the interpretation of this books theme, is simply a
testament to his genius. Looking to the future, the possibilities are simply endless, all that we can
and eventually will aspire to be is nothing short of exciting but even then there is still a cost. Its
human nature to want to explore, expand, and ultimately evolve but when given that choice we
must make sure that we measure the cost because once were into deep there is no coming back;
and as true to form as can be, live long and prosper.