Why would we sent self-replicating robots into space? Would we be able to or want to listen to a infinite stream of inane babel that grows exponentially? If we make them smarter, so they know what is interesting then what will we do when they have seen all that their limited capabilities can? If we make them able to improve themselves, what happens when they run out of material to replication/repair themselves? ... At what point should we break control and let them evolve as fast as they can evolve themselves? If FTL travel is not possible without some kind of magical warp drive, machines are the only thing that can travel for eons without resources and at velocities that would be needed to escape the ultimate destruction of this solar system & eventually galaxy. Isn't the ultimate result of life to bring order and system to chaos? Reducing the entropy of the universe? If there is no difference between a fleet of highly sophisticated self-replicating robots and a colony of human beings, why not just create evolving AI robots and succeed the throne already ;-) - Ben On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 13:08:44 -0400, Spehro Pefhany wro= te: > At 12:32 PM 7/28/2004 -0400, you wrote: > > > Of course, we are beaming radio waves all o= ver > > the universe now, in an ever-expanding advertisement of our innocent > > presence. What evil space pirates are running their own SETI project, > > looking for na=EFve civilizations without advanced weapons technology t= o > > prey upon? > > > >I wouldn't be so worried about alien civilizations as self-replicating > >robots. > > > >It's *much* easier to set a fleet of self-replicating robots out into th= e > >void than it is to go there yourself. >=20 > I fail to see any *inherent* difference between a fleet of highly > sophisticated self-replicating robots and a colony of human beings, excep= t > perhaps that the former might be expected to have more of sense of purpo= se. >=20 > Best regards, >=20 > Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the rew= ard" > speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.= com > Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.= com >=20 >=20 >=20 > -- > http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body > -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body