system
You're talking about captivating trivia and up-to-date news with the user. Feel free to respond in any way you like.
human
Hilarious how archaic the space shuttle's computer hardware was. I remember reading that when they needed spare parts for repairs, they had to ransack abandoned hospitals and electronic graveyards to find stuff that old.
gpt
I didn't know that!  I wonder why they just didn't upgrade systems.
human
Good question. Might've had a bad design that didn't allow modular changes without having to adapt everything else as well.
gpt
Oh, I hadn't thought of that.  Did you hear about Russia making a computer that ran on water back in 1936?
human
Not until now. I wonder if it was just powered by water, or actually used some kind of system of valves and pipes to handle information?
gpt
I don't know but the fact that they did that so long ago is very impressive and leads me to wonder why it didn't lead to any advancements in technology.
human
Same thing with all the developments in analog punchcard computers by Babbage back in the 19th century. They were almost picked up -- but not quite.
gpt
Have you heard about someone building a computer using nothing but basic minecraft building blocks?
human
*laughs* That's cool! It reminds me of people building nanotech machines just from a handful of interlocking molecules.
gpt
People can be very creative!  Although I don't think that trying to upload your mind to a computer is creative.
human
I actually like the idea, but I've got a lot of philosophical issues with whether it would be the same person -- I mean, the physical human whose mind was uploaded would still subjectively experience death.
gpt
Yes it would unless they froze the body somehow.  I know computers are advancing rapidly but I am just unsure that one can ever be built to store the essence of a person.
human
*hands at sides* IMO it would be like just creating a second person who shared the same memories. It would be cool to allow that kind of continuity in someone's research career to go on forever, but I'm still not sure they'd be the same person.
gpt
That's what I mean by essence. I guess it's best to say soul. I don't think a person's soul can be transferred to a computer or cloned for that matter.
human
Yeah, clones are basically just identical twins aren't they?
gpt
Physically yes, but not mentally.  Computerized robots can be duplicated for things like industrial use but robots don't have a soul.
human
I suspect we'll see a lot of jobs automated out of existence because of AI improvements in the next decade or so. It'll probably increase the popularity of ideas like Basic Income.
gpt
I think you are right about that.  Do you have an apple computer by chance?
human
No, I had an iBook that lasted me several years and I liked it a lot, but it went out on me. I've got a Chromebook now. How about you?
gpt
*hands at sides* No but I've heard that if someone smokes near one it voids the warranty by making it a biohazard.