Just how much do we want AI handling systems we rely on in our daily
lives? “Smart houses” are supposedly the wave of the future,
where AI controls ambient temperature, the scheduled activation and
deactivation of devices such as the coffee maker or the laundry
machine, and it even regulates the usage of power within the house.
Some states have energy usage programs, where electricity is cycled
automatically off during certain peak periods to prevent high rates.
But what happens when these systems malfunction? Several years ago in
Maryland and D.C. on an unusually hot day, air conditioning units
hooked up to the peak-rewards program all cut out. Residents were
unable to control their own AC, and despite calls to the electric
company in the affected counties, the system could not be bypassed.
People were without AC for several days, and many of them had to stay
in hotels to survive the outdoor heat. While this situation doesn't
seem directly related to AI, it is a prime example of a computerized
system overriding human input. Do we really want to yield control to
these systems? I'm sticking with manual control of my AC, even if it
costs me more in the long run!
As seven alien races struggle to co-exist in an uneasy alliance, the Inter-Stellar Union sends Union Guard agents on missions to preserve the crucial balance. These specialized operatives must do what regional security cannot, dealing with smugglers, pirates, terrorists, and even greater challenges in order to bring stability to a universe that needs it desperately. Without the Union Guard, the races will not be prepared to face a looming alien threat they can only hope to defeat together.
No comments:
Post a Comment