Artificial intelligence

AI or Artificial Intelligence refers to machines that have the ability to learn from their environment and increase their bank of knowledge, almost without limit.

Most people see this as either a "terminator" type machine or human shaped robot that would soon see humans as unimportant and irrelevant as they surpass our ability to control them.

Many have come up with rules that a machine would have to adhere to ensure that it does not run amok or create other machines that decide to wipe out humanity.

Most notable was Isaac Asimov, one of the most prolific science fiction writers to date. He posited the three laws of robotics as:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

He later added other laws and amended them for the sake of specific stories. However, the basis remains and many others have added to the three laws over the years.

In any case, the notion that AI machines would band together or create malevolent machines to wipe out humanity is, most likely, a little far fetched.

The famous theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking, was quoted as saying "The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race." in 2014. Many others disagree with him, stating that AI, used wisely, would be of great benefit to humanity.

Time will tell..