[Terr_]

Well, I've been surrounded by "machines that think" for my entire life, formed of unfathomably complex swarms of nanobots. So far we seem to get along.

If there were a new kind of "machines that think"--and they aren't a dangerous predator--they could be a contrast to help us understand ourselves and be better.

The danger from these (dumber) machines is that they may be used for reflecting, laundering, and amplifying our own worst impulses and confusions.

[hhjinks]

Another human being doesn't scare me, because they will think like a human, consider themselves human, and relate to humans.

A thinking machine is a total unknown. If human intelligence and machine intelligence are not aligned, then what?

[beeflet]

There is a new kind of machine in the works that converts your grey matter into grey goo

[baobun]

> unfathomably complex swarms of nanobots

???

[Terr_]

It's you: A swarm of ~37 trillion cooperating nanobots, each one complex beyond human understanding, constructing and animating a titanic mobile megafortress that shambling across a planet consumed by a prehistoric grey-goo event.

[array_key_first]

It's not me, because I'm human, and that's not.

Why does that matter? Isn't it all the same? No, because I'm human, and I can make special exceptions for humans.

Isn't that perfect hypocrisy? Yes, but I'm human, and it's okay because I get to decide what's okay and I say it's okay because I'm human.

See also: why can I eat a burger but Jeffrey Dahmer went to prison?

[thoroughburro]

They are referring to the bacteria we animals need to survive.

[lovich]

I assumed it was a reference to humans being multicellular life as each cell is nanobot sized and automata

[cowboylowrez]

he's mistaken, your body is most certainly not hosting nanobots lol

[Nevermark]

I do hope suggesting that you google "human cells" doesn't prove traumatic.

[cowboylowrez]

I counter-suggest you google "nanobots" or probably more in general, "robots". let me know where they fit in the tree of life, and I will consider myself duly corrected and enlightened!

[Terr_]

"I could casually acknowledge I didn't catch an oblique joke about a new way of viewing the natural world which I previously took for granted... but it's too late! To admit an oopsie would be anathema to my identity and social survival. In this desperate hour, I have no choice but to argue that it is categorically wrong to view cellular biology a form of nanotech or vice-versa, using the narrowest and most pedantic dictionary entries."

[cowboylowrez]

the responsibility of excusing an erroneous statement as "just a joke bro" probably belongs to the parent post of the post you were replying to, especially when I can't even figure out the jokes punch line lol but you're a good sport for pitching in. whats the punch line?

[Terr_]

For new heights (lows?) of delusional parasitosis: "They're under my skin! They ARE my skin!"