Hello Neuralyzers,
It has been a month since the last time we read this, of which, I have been dutifully working on caring for my baby, going to work, spending some downtime at home, and reading some. I have not worked on much of anything lately, I blame my lack of muse on being a new parent really. Not so much actual blame, more so just not able to think about much else! If you’re a parent, you know.
If you want to skip to the free, funny, cool thing, scroll down until you see the big FREE.
Which reminds me of my first novel, my first, baby, if you will. Brian. That brain-in-a-vat, all alone, thinking, feeling, unsure of his actual human existence. I literally ask the question in Brian, Created Intelligence, how many neurons does it take to be conscious?
We don’t know. We don’t know a lot about the human brain. Sure, we know a plethora of knowledge, but we don’t know close to enough. Consciousness is still a fickle and unconfirmed diagnosis. Yet, in our world of creating, for profit, there are those companies that look past those questions and straight to the margins, directly against humanity and into cold hard cash. Yes, there are companies already that have started the science of creating organic-inorganic hybrids, i.e. brain-computer interfaces.
At this point, they are using brain organoids, but what does that really mean? If you browse the article Brain-organoid-robot, you will see various companies racing to connect human brain tissue to computer circuits, all to push past the already the fad of ‘AI’. As a species, I find this a rather difficult proposition.
We do not know what those organoids are feeling, thinking, if they are or are not conscious. Would anyone donate some of their brain matter to be connected to a computer, to compute? To calculate all so some company can make some money?
Unless you are so desperately poor, or have some condition as to undermine your ability to think clearly, I would hope and believe you wouldn’t. Nor would a sane person allow another human to be used solely as a computer, in a way, a computing slave, not unlike Brian was…
If, as a species, we do not understand, realize, or even know what amount of brain tissue becomes sentient, or can feel in a way as we know ourselves, how shall we allow this behavior to go on?
I believe it a cruel injustice to ourselves and all the brain matter that was/is growing just to be connected to a computer to control a robot, or calculate, or create, to produce capital for some lifeless, soulless company.
We may see human brain controlled robots before healthcare in America, and guess who will own and control those robots? Well, nobody good.
Something cool: I was on a podcast back in May and was a bad guest as I did not share the link and talk about it as soon as it came out. I don’t know what I was thinking, but Herman and I had a great chat on his podcast, The Greatest Podcast in the Multiverse. We spoke about political division, empathy, and how they coincide in my novel, Exoputians. It was a great time talking to Herman and I hope to again soon.
FREE!
I have some great news! THE COSMIC COMEDY COLLECTION, featuring my ‘short’ story AND THE CAT’S DEAD, RIGHT?! is motherheckin’ free. DOWNLOAD TCCC
Halfplanet Press has made this science fiction comedy anthology free on Amazon and other major book retailers through July 31st. YOU HAVE EIGHT DAYS AND COUNTING. (Hey John, I’m kinda using your words here since they’re so perfect. Written by John Coon).
Five authors (including Phillip Carter, AJ Pagan IV (hey, that’s me), and John Coon) wrote some amazing stories for this anthology. (This is kind of changed around but still credit John Coon). And once more for fun, John Coon. Seriously, don’t click all these links, they’re Russian clickbait.
If you have ever wanted an answer to the quantum mechanical paradox of Schrödinger’s Cat, and to read a serious take on the military industrial complex and their association with pest control, this is not it. This is a ridiculous riff on everything we know and love/hate about America. And cats. Meow!
Cheers. I hope you go download some ridiculous laughter to ease the pain of this wild world we have to live in.
Until next news cycle from hell,
AJ Pagan IV