[ExI] Maybe space exploration will be a task for AI humanoids

[Adrian Tymes]

On Mon, Jun 24, 2024, 6:28 AM BillK via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> AI humanoids will be doing that space development and
> exploration. They can live and work in space without requiring all the
> protection and supplies that humans need.
>

Indeed, even when (and if) it becomes practical to live in space, the
question must be addressed: why?  When it is possible for robots - AI or
drones, humanoids or whatever shape - to do all that is of scientific or
economic merit in space, what advantage would be gained by lifting our
duffs off this rock and planting them in some habitat off in space?

"A backup for humanity" and similar reasons do not cut it.  These are
benefits to people still on Earth; what is needed is benefits to the people
living in space.  "The honor of being a backup for humanity" is worth
approximately nothing.  Further, these reasons might get people to fund
startup costs but the importance would soon fade and not justify funding
ongoing operations.

I am aware of two reasons that might work.

1) Local supervision.  AI might do a lot but it is not yet a complete,
perfect replacement for humans.  Light speed lag makes fully autonomous
mining and manufacturing - or even just maneuvering (as seen with the
recent Mars rovers) - slower and less productive than if a human is nearby
to provide oversight.  Maybe in 100 years this will no longer be the case,
whether through improved AI, mind uploading, or some other approach, but I
suspect the first true space habitat will come along before AI makes humans
obsolete for all purposes.  If local supervision merely makes an operation
more financially efficient than any all-limited-AI competitors (potentially
hypothetical ones, if the difference is blatant enough that no one in
practice tries or gets far with pure-AI), that could generate the continued
funding to pay for a sustained human presence in space.

2) Better living conditions.  A space habitat's internal weather is
controlled.  If the station's owners want 70 degrees Farenheit every day,
with rain to wash the air every Sunday night and only Sunday nights, snow
only on preannounced scheduled holidays, and natural disasters such as
earthquakes and floods never, then so mote it be.  The internal layout is a
city planner's dream: initial settlement including the geography built to
specifications, more land literally buildable (extending a habitat or
making more), et cetera.  Invasion is rather more difficult than on Earth -
not impossible, but there would be less worry about defense against those
far outside the station.  Between all these factors and more, life can be
far more comfortable than in most places on Earth, once full life support
(including machine shops, hospitals, et al) is present.  At first there
will be the logistical issues of any population distant from primary cargo
flows, but this is quite surmountable, as witnessed today in Alaska and
Hawaii.  This may be sufficient reason for many to choose to live there.

>
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