Urgelt
Urgelt
Jul 23, 2017 · 1 min read

Obviously, we do not have self-replicating machines at our current level of technology.

Advancements in AI and fabricating technology (example: 3-D Printing) could change that within the next hundred years.

I’m not the originator of this idea; in fact it’s been kicking around among scientists and engineers since the 1940’s. There is even a colloquial term for one hypothetical class of self-replicating machines: they’re known as Von Neumann machines.

I expect AI to grow to the point where it can replace engineering labor (e.g. set performance goals and develop engineering designs for machines to attain them). Whether you will define this as autonomous or not depends on the human level of involvement, which is a design option rather than a necessity at this imagined level of technology.

We can imagine it because it’s really not all that far beyond what we can already do.

It’s fine if you prefer not to join me in imagining a future technology. But it’s probably wise not to say ‘this is how we do it now, and this is how we’ll always have to do it.’

    Urgelt

    Written by

    Urgelt

    Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
    Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
    Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade