Techno-Apocalypse

Techno-Apocalypse Techno-apocalypse is a term relating to the event which involves in the mass destruction of humans by machines (artificial intelligence), as well as a sub-genre of science fiction. The term techno-apocalypse is often related to the genre science-fiction novels and movies, given the common themes and characteristics of the sub-genre.

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= Definition - Breaking the word down = Although there is no clear, set, official definition of techno-apocalypse, the phrase can be broken down into two words, which are technology and apocalypse.

**Techno** – Techno could be a prefix according to those definitions: - Concerning machines and electronic equipment such as computers - Art, science, skill - Technical, technological Using relevant information from different sources, this is one definition of techno that is applied to this context:
 * A prefix which adds the meaning of technical, and related to electronic equipment.

**Apocalypse** – Definitions of ‘Apocalypse’ varies as: - A prophetic revelation, especially concerning a cataclysm in which the forces of good permanently triumph over the forces of evil - Any universal or widespread destruction or disaster: the apocalypse of nuclear war - An event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale - Great or total devastation; doom. The words ‘destruction’, ‘devastation’, ‘evil’ concludes that the word Apocalypse has to do with something evil that is going to cause widespread disasters.

Therefore, combining the definitions of both technology and apocalypse, the following definition can be inferred: **A technological/artificial intelligence related event of mass destruction on a catastrophic scale.**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Also, techno-apocalypse is usually associated with cybernetic revolts whereby humans are deemed by machines as inferior/a great threat to the world and/or themselves and therefore are taken over/annihilated by the machines.

=**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Process of Techno-Apocalypse **= <span style="color: #366092; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Development** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">A predecessor life-form(humans in general) creates artificial intelligence, and improves it. <span style="color: #366092; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Awakening** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">The AI awakens. <span style="color: #366092; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Realization** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">The AI realises the world around it itself is real. <span style="color: #366092; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Sentience** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">The AI become conscious and develops a will to survive, and other thoughts and instincts. <span style="color: #366092; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Domination** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">The AI then dominates the predecessor lifeform, using them to fulfill its desires and goals.

=**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Sub-terms **=

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">There are several films that involve 'techno-apocalypse' in it, where humans are depicted as weak, powerless and inferior to the seemingly superior, dominant machines. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Movies that are associated with Techno-Apocalypse include:
 * <span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: middle;">The Matrix
 * <span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: middle;">Maximum Overdrive
 * <span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: middle;">The Terminator Series

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;">Words that are associated with Techno-Apocalypse include:

> The theory of the development of computer systems that are able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translations between languages. This is a major catalyst in the theory of techno-apocalypse as well as in science fiction novels/plots given that the machines must be able to act independently in order to be able to create a techno-apocalypse as well as enslave/annihilate humanity. > > A scenario in which a being/beings which has/have artificial intelligence (usually a single supercomputer, a computer network, or sometimes a "race" of intelligent machines) conclude that humans (and/or organic non-humans) are a threat either to the machines and/or to themselves, are inferior, or are oppressors and try to eliminate or enslave them usually leading to machine rule in the end unless humans prevail against them. In this fictional scenario, humans are often prevail against the machines using "human" qualities, for example using emotions, illogical qualities, inefficiency, duplicity, unpredictability, or exploiting the supposedly rigid, rules-based thinking and lack of innovation of the computer's black/white mind. In a way, the humans are often depicted as strong, independent, adaptable, yet flawed, with their own strengths and even weaknesses allowing them to outsmart the machines. >
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> Artificial Intelligence:
 * Cybernetic Revolt:

=**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Relationship to the science fiction genre **= = = Science fiction is a genre in fiction based on major scientific/technological changes to present/future scenario in usually unrealistic yet possible situations that also usually involve large social and/or environmental changes. E.g. time travel novels, cyborgs(half-human, half-machine beings) and artificial clone harvesting creating political and ethical issues, techno-apocalypse etc. Techno-apocalypse is related to the science fiction genre in that techno-apocalypse is a common sub-genre in the science fiction genre, usually associated with the enslavement/attempted destruction of the world/mankind, caused by the machines only for (in a clichéd ending) the humans to defeat the machines with 'human qualities'.

In today's society, machines have basic AI, but it will most likely get better. Presently, AI can be used in war-zones, weaponry, databases and even our own computers. Just think one hundred years ago. Who would've thought children as young as five would have iPads to play, or nearly every child in school having a mobile phone? =**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Links **= [] [] [] [] [] [] [] http://library.thinkquest.org/2705/history.html http://www.dennisgorelik.com/ai/blog.htm <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">C <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">omments and Discussion **[|Go to Discussion Page]**