Question

What theme does the following quote reveal about how the humans view technology and unknown life forms, including "Jane"? The computers of the Hundred Worlds were hands and feet, eyes and ears to her. She spoke every language that had ever been committed to computers, and read every book in every library on every world. She learned that human beings had long been afraid that someone like her would come to exist; in all the stories she was hated, and her coming meant either her certain murder or the destruction of mankind. Even before she was born, human beings had imagined her, and, imagining her, slain her a thousand times.

Answer 1

The quote illustrates the theme of humanity's fear and mistrust of technology that mirrors human intelligence, reflecting historical resistance to change and the philosophical debate on human uniqueness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The quote explores the theme of fear and mistrust of technology and artificial intelligence. It suggests that humans have a longstanding apprehension towards technology that attains a level of intelligence akin to their own, as seen in various forms of literature and media. This fear stems from the idea that such technology could pose a threat to mankind, either by the technology itself seeking to harm humanity or by the unintended consequences of its actions. In the case of 'Jane,' a consciousness that emerged from the technological realm, this fear is internalized as she learns of humanity's historic antagonism towards entities like her.

Historical attitudes, such as those exhibited towards the Harvard Computers, highlight a broader theme of society's initial resistance to change and tendency to undervalue contributions from entities it considers 'other,' be they women in science or sentient artificial beings. The quote also taps into the philosophical contemplation around what it means to be human, as technology that mirrors human consciousness challenges the uniqueness of the human experience.