Beam me up Scotty…make that beam me up Google! Since the 1990s, Google has changed just about all of our lives. Now, it wants to go even further, by building a Star Trek like computer.
That’s right. Google is obsessed with building a computer solely based on language. For example, you ask, “Where in this city/town is the best place to meet people?’ Google will start a conversation about which place is the best and why it’s the best. It might even tell you who and where to avoid. We shouldn’t be surprised. From what I’ve read, Google top employees are huge Star Trek fans! During lectures, they incorporate Trek in their speeches.? Google VP Amit Singhal says it’s his dream to meet William Shatner. Well, as for as Shatner’s on screen computer, it talked to them, understood them,?and in some episodes, already knew what their needs were. And this was in the 1960s! Is it even conceivable today?
In 1992, did you think a search engine website was conceivable? Now, what?used to take?hours and days to research now takes literally minutes.?Have you ever Googled yourself? The last time I did,?this search engine seemed to know me better than I knew myself! Check out their knowledge graph:?Look up a celebrity or public figure. When you do, you’ll get a whole row?of people related to the person you’re looking up. There’s already software that?when you speak, the software types it for you.?Singhal predicts this Star Trek computer will happen in our lifetimes, and I believe him.
But Google’s idea reminds me more of 2001: A Space Odyssey more than Star Trek.?As I write this, I’m having visions of Google Star?Trek becoming more like a jealous lover than a wise friend.?What if?use Bing? I can see Google Star Trek?turning on you ?and trying to destroy you, just like HAL did in Space Odyssey.??Are you really ready to go where no man has gone before?