MAN V MACHINE

So, computers are getting 'smarter' and cheaper and therefore the growth of artificial intelligence is increasing at an increasing rate. But, at what point will computers be smarter than humans, and when we say smarter, what do we mean? If we are talking about the ability to retain information and hold memories, then artificial intelligence has arguably already surpassed us, and if we're talking our communicative ability, then will we become irrelevant when computers can replicate our unique thought and communication quirks, or will this simply push us to become more 'human' in the way we express ourselves. What, in other words, will be the result of Fake Smarts V Mankind?

Several media outlets are questioning and offering arguments as to the outcome. This topic first piqued my attention with an article in Time Magazine, '2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal', which you can read here. A friend then suggested I take a look at a thing called The Turing Test, which involves an annual competition to see whether scientists can tell the communicative ability of computers and humans apart. Brian Christian, who took part in this test by attempting to appear to contestants as 'the most human, human' wrote an article (and a book, apparently) about his experiences which you can read here. Most recently, The New Yorker have compiled a whole lot of literary arguments around this topic into an article by Adam Gopnik, and you can listen to a podcast about said piece here.

2045: the year man becomes irrelevant, or the year we get really really good at communicating with eachother?