Automata and other technological fantasies
Published on August 2, 2022
Art comes before science many times. A spark of creativity is capable of starting a great fire in the most marvelous minds, giving birth to wonderful and fascinating stories that influence technological creations. As such, it also compels us to ask ourselves difficult questions about our relationship with technology. Here are three incredible stories about automata and other tech fantasies that will certainly make you think about our future, tech, and what makes us human.
Pablo A. Ruz Salmones, CEO – X eleva Group
The Sandman (E.T.A. Hoffmann)
Could you fall in love with a machine? For those of you who may have seen the recent movies “Ex Machina” by Alex Garland, and “Her” by Spike Jonze, this idea of humans falling in love with AI may not seem new, but you may also not know that it is far older than you think. Back in the beginnings of the XIX century, the great writer, composer and jurist E.T.A. Hoffmann came up with it in his most renowned short story: “The Sandman”.
In this story, Nathaniel – the main character – falls in love with Olimpia, an automaton, thinking she is a human being. When he discovers the reality, both him and the story take a dark turn. This masterpice by Hoffmann is also the peak of the noir romanticism movement (also known as gothic terror).
Is it also a prelude to what may happen between humanity and computers not so far from today? Only time will tell.
Moxon’s Master (Ambrose Bierce)
From renowned US author Ambrose Bierce (of which is said died during the Mexican Revolution after enrolling himself in the troops of Pancho Villa), this story narrates the relationship between an automaton capable of playing chess, and his creator Moxon.
Back when it was published in 1899, Ambrose Bierce was already asking the tough questions technology is forcing us to face today: what does thinking really mean? [link to article], can a machine demonstrate emotions such as anger?
So as not to spoil the ending to those who may want to read it, lets just say that just as Hoffmann, Ambrose Bierce could write very tragic, and dark stories.
The man with the golden brain (Alphonse Daudet)
Even though this may not be a technology story, the ending of it is worth mentioning here for a few reasons: “There are in this world many poor fellows who are contented to live on their brains , and who pay in refined gold, with their marrow and their substance, for the most trivial things of life”.
One of AI’s main promises is that it will take decisions for us, by thinking for us as well, making our life easier and far simpler. This is scary sometimes, like in the stories of Hoffmann and Bierce, though maybe Daudet would find it a relief that we would be able to live not from our brains, but from our technology.
We at X eleva think the relationship between human beings and technology does not need to be as either of the aforementioned authors thought. It does not need to be dark, and overthrow us, it does not need to make us go mad; it also does not need to make us useless.
All the programs we design, and create, as well as our consulting services, are made to make technology an ally of human beings, to help them live a better life, and grow their businesses, without making them redundant.
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