From the Revelation Space Wiki:
“Beta-level simulations were sophisticated computer programs designed to mimic a person in appearance, mannerisms, and thought-patterns. While capable of successfully impersonating a human mind down to their most minute idiosyncrasies, they were not in fact self-aware -- they were just near-perfect imitations of life. As such, they enjoyed no legal rights or protections.
… it was considered a most egregious social faux pas to allow someone to believe a beta-level simulation was in fact alpha-level; however, mistaking someone for their beta-level was itself an insult …”
Alastair Reynolds’ digitised-human concept is fast approaching reality.
Today I read about a company which will set up your digital clone (with avatar) if you simply submit as few as four pages of notes, penned by yourself.
Better results are expected if you grant delphi.ai access to your entire corpus of Google Docs and hopefully your memoirs too.
In pitching to your vanity, no-one mentions the use-case. How often will your grandchild (or generic loved one) choose to chat with a shallow personality model - without emotions or empathy - formed from a dataset fossilised in deep time?
Forget about it. In 10-15 years there will be an unbounded collection of Internet friends and advisors, all a lot smarter, more empathic and wiser than you or I could ever be.
Hope to be remembered fondly, if only dimly.
