Ocean Acidification

Absorption of CO2 by the waters of the oceans is making them acid, which is then detrimental to much ocean life like corals. There are technological solutions to the problems of the oceans; action is possible. Nevertheless, whatever is done it must be watched very carefully. This monitoring effort will take big data taken from space and from the air, but it will also take a major hands-on effort by people right at the water's surface. This chapter's story, “The Captain's Tale,” looks at what might happen when an effort that is closely watched by a great number of people runs into problems.

Consideration of a Grass-Roots Space Program

Human space exploration has historically provided a great many people with a positive vision of the future. At this time, society faces many 21st century problems (global warming, sea level rise, etc.) and could use some of that vision. The economic state of the nations that historically paid for this exploration does not currently allow for a large and expensive new space initiative, like Apollo to the Moon or a trip to Mars. Nevertheless, there have been great strides in computing and resulting social media. Could a very large number of dedicated people self-organize into a grassroots human space program? This story envisions such a movement and the lessons today's students could learn from the attempt.

AIs Training People

As human/artificial intelligence teams become more common and long lasting, the problem of training comes to the fore. Both AI and humans need a lot of training. If the AI of a team sees a need for people with specific training in the future, how much effort should it be allowed to put into the trainee's careers and life? If the AI controls substantial resources, should it be allowed to favor one child over another for training? In the story for this chapter, “The Girl at the Pump,” an AI has supported the education of a child for years so that the child can do a specific job the AI needs done.

In Action on Desertification

Human activities, such as over grazing, have turned grasslands in many places into deserts. New methods in cattle management now allows many of these deserts to be returned to grass. Artificial intelligence is now driving a critical moment in the history of technology. Soon sets of Deep Learning chips will appear both in consumer products and in data centers. This quantum leap in technology will result in AIs that are powerful and cheap, but which use only a little power. This breakthrough will strongly affect the ways humans and machines interact. Our young people need to envision some the ways this transition could happen and to get ready. They need to understand what must be done to keep this expanding technology under human control and how to best use it for the good of society. This chapter's story, “The Matriarch,” looks at an interaction between people, animals, and artificial intelligences.

AI and the Movies

The history of science fiction (SF) in the movies is reviewed in depth. At this point in the Big Moon Dig story series, an artificial intelligence (AI) is needed placed in the new settlement on the Moon. Designing electronics for operation in space is difficult and two major AIs on Earth support this design effort. The question of whether or not the Earth-bound AIs can be considered the parents of the space-based AI is a key point of discussion. The story in this chapter, “Caterpillars on the Moon,” features the landing of an inflatable habitat section on the Moon and its movement, caterpillar fashion, into position.

AI and People

People and artificial intelligences will be working together in teams in the near future. With their ability to suggest next good actions (from driving cars) and their ability to support understanding of big data, the AIs will become valued members of the team and not just technical servants. Many questions will come up when AIs are managing people even to the point of disciplining them. This chapter brings up questions of the limits needed for AIs who are blocking humans who, in turn, are trying to take advantage of other humans. In the story for this chapter, “Seascape with Sharks,” an AI develops the technical plan for a new regional harbor and presents it to the people most affected.

Consideration of Virtual Reality as Training

In the near future, people and artificial intelligences (AIs) will often be working together. This will require special training for both the people and the AIs. Virtual reality (VR) used for training may come into its own, especially in situations where the people and the AIs must move quickly and safely together. This chapter looks at just such training. In this story, “The Triceratops,” the AIs are in charge of the training; they also control the future employment opportunities of people. This brings out a number of ethical considerations and practical considerations when people's lives are controlled by AIs in important ways, even in training.

The Greenland Ice

Human society has done great damage to the oceans of Earth. It will take the dedicated efforts of a great many people working on a great many ideas to take on these great problems of the 21st century. Some of those people will be young people. In this chapter's story, “The Cabin Boy's Tale,” a young person serves as an intern on a vessel involved in monitoring a mineralization of the seas program. In a few months, the young person learns more than he bargained for.

Technical Measurement, Control, and Forecasting of Climate Change

Ocean warming and acidification are recognized as two major anthropogenic perturbations of today's oceans. This has resulted in a number of serious problems including acidification, coral bleaching, and sea level rise. An enormous amount of scientific effort is currently being applied to understanding, monitoring, and testing solutions to these problems such as seeding the oceans with minerals to encourage plankton growth and thereby sequester carbon. The story in this chapter, “The Fid,” is about using art and games to engage people in facing major problems by educating them and building up their determination to address the ocean's problems. It is the first story in a new series, “Iron Seas.”

The Humanity of an Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a powerful tool for addressing humanity's great problems of the 21st century. The working relationship between humans and machines then is a key concept in both their futures. If powerfully implemented, this relationship may become a human/machine symbiosis. The institutions that will be needed to establish this symbiosis will require both public consideration and technical design work. The story in this chapter, “Stanford's Digs,” looks at the developing relationship between humans and AIs, particularly when working in teams together. The concerns when AI interacts with AI are then considered.