Why Do We Fear Artificial Intelligence?

Do we really need Chess?

Yes, we really do need AI, just for their sheer enormous computing power to solve our day to day needs.

Some people clearly have too much time on their hands ! 

We need enormous computing power to solve our day to day needs?  Nah, man, you're livin' too far out.  We need muscle and initiative.

I'm watching you closely, comrade.

Oh, no!  You're one of them, aren't you Goldendog?  Is your name really O'Brien?  I thought I lost you in the Steppe!

You can't stop the message though:  "computing power" much like bullshit, never really got anything done. 

Computers are far more efficient and handle much more than humans can. Just imagine how many people it would take to create the same number of screw-ups that automation can achieve.

I suggested an imaginary book in another thread:

"Loopholes in the Three Laws of Robotics" - Deep Blue

That was classic.

"A program known as IDMBH (an acronym for "I did my best, honest," the computer's most frequently heard lament). Not only has IDMBH thus far failed to solve a single problem or even retrieve one piece of data, it has also generated an impressive variety of inane excuses, ranging from I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WANTED IT TODAY to THE DOG ERASED IT."

When I was in software, my approach was:

1. Engineer the disaster.
2. Propose the solution.
3. Save the day.

I was very good at step 1 and 2.

"Why do we fear artificial intelligence?"

I don't know who is "we" in your question. You and your pocket protector?

I don't know of anyone who fears artificial intelligence. I know of no research suggesting people fear artificial intelligence. In fact, fearing artificial intelligence seldom comes up in conversation.

I've decided not to add it to my list of things to worry about.

Open the pod-bay door, HAL !

We've just installed a new washing machine. With previous models, if the power was off, it was possible to open the door. With this new machine, by contrast, the door can only be opened when the power is on - or by accessing the emergency manual override (and you have to open the door to reach it).

 "...minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic and with a rinse cycle, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us."

--H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds

You might think that robots and computers could someday be the same as humans, but that is in the veiw of science only. You must look deeper than just matter and motion. The difference between a human and robot is that robots can not have have minds. You might make something like a mind, mabye something that could do all the functions o a mind but you never could create a conchisness. You see computers someday could take over the humans but they wouldn't do so. They wouldn't have conchesness so it wouldn't have a reason to do so. And the most important is that humans have a soul and, robots don't. God made the humans so nothing could ever be quite the same.

And I thought the wash code was scary enough ... that's why I don't usually stray into this domain ...

You may think that robots can never have "conchesness", but that is only because when robots play chess they are always honest.

Robots play chess because they're rubbish at soccer.

Kick all humans

Fear on some level is a response to the sensation that something is 'evil' or intends to harm us.  The human definition of evil has arisen as a reaction to separate or distinguish ourselves from nature.  It's a byproduct of how we make sense of ourselves and our situation as human beings.  So, it's not surprising some fear artificial intelligence.  In fact, thinking about it seems trivial from the basic angle.

I like AI.  I think all the humans should be destroyed!  Jk...

 Crap...I was hoping no one noticed. This is a much better way of repeating it.