Science Fiction or Science Prediction?

After a hugely successful launch in Johannesburg last year, BotCon returns in May, going boldly where no conversational interface conference has gone before — Cape Town.

Botconafrica.com propels us back to an early version of the World Wide Web, tickling a sense of nostalgia for a time when our exploration boots hadn’t yet travelled very far down the abyss of technological possibility.

BotCon 2017 pays tribute to a time when talking computers, virtual assistants and robotic companions were a thing of the imagination brought to life through iconic science fiction. From Dick Tracy’s wrist radio as far back as the 1930’s to Captain Kirk’s handheld communicator (admittedly the inspiration for Martin Cooper’s invention of the cellular telephone), these then far-flung ideas have paved the way to the technological realities of today. They are the inspirations gifted to us by filmmakers, authors and comic creators.

As Editor in Chief of MIT Review, Jason Pontin, put it, “Most of us came to technology through science fiction; our imaginations remain secretly moved by science-fictional ideas.”

Yet, while these glimpses into our future have enthralled us, the varying portrayals of Artificial Intelligence in science fiction have invoked a mixed bag of excitement and apprehension for its possible effect on our lives.

On the one hand, we’ve been charmed by a brave astromech droid, R2D2 and his fusspot companion, fluent in more than 6 million languages, C3PO. Knight Rider created many Kitt fanatics, who dreamt of taking a spin in the talking, self-aware Ponitac with epic features and an easily bruised ego. Despite not being quite as congenial, Star Trek’s computer impressed us with its ability to understand and react to even the most complex of commands. And let’s not forget a sweet, witty robot named Rosie, who romanced us with the idea of a robotic housekeeper in The Jetsons.

Science fiction has shown convenience, companionship and just plain cool-factor to be strong selling points for why AI should be embraced.

But it’s also had its dabble in the dark side.

The portrayal of a malevolent AI in science fiction has long fueled fear of our demise by a superintelligent race. Skynet’s attempt to exterminate our species in the Terminator movies and HAL9000’s murderous revolt against the crew’s attempt to shut it down in Space Odyssey, are two of the most iconic examples of this. Perhaps what’s most concerning is the fact that these acts are not the result of these technologies being inherently evil, but rather, persistent in performing their primary functions. Perhaps it’s just the projection of a wariness of ourselves and what humans are capable of. But that’s psychoanalysis for another blog post.

And while the pro and anti AI movements continue to headbutt, one thing cannot be denied by either and that is science fiction’s power in inspiring our future and its tendency to predict it. It’s never really, “Just a story”.

They may not be as sensitive or chatty but Google and Tesla’s self-driving cars can’t help but bring back fond memories of Kitt, Google Assistant of Star Trek’s computer and even Roombas of Rosie (although she probably wouldn’t be happy to hear that).

What was once just novel, is now normal, or at the least, clearly visible on the horizon.

In the words of legendary science fiction author, Ray Bradbury:

“Science fiction is the most important literature in the history of the world, because it’s the history of ideas, the history of our civilization birthing itself. …Science fiction is central to everything we’ve ever done, and people who make fun of science fiction writers don’t know what they’re talking about.”

It seems only fitting then that while we aim to connect innovators who are looking forward to the possibilities of the conversations interface at BotCon 2017, we take a look back to salute the undeniable role that science fiction has played in its existence.