2001: A Space Odyssey( 1968) directed by Stanley Kubrick was the first film ever to fundamentally challenge the view that human intelligence was unrivalled by a computer in the form of AI. In the film, a crew of five astronauts are sent on a mission into the inner reaches of the galaxy to investigate a series of coordinates in deep space that were found on an alien monolith, unearthed on Earth’ s moon. The spacecraft and all of its functions are fully automated and controlled by an artificial intelligence system affectionately named HAL 9000. Three of the crew members, Dr. Charles Hunter, Dr. Jack Kimball, and Dr. Victor Kaminsky are put aboard the ship in a cryogenic coffin-like case called a sleep pod. The other two crew members, Dr. David Bowman and Dr. Frank Poole, pilot the craft with the help of HAL 9000 and look after their colleagues fast asleep in the sleep pods.
HAL as he is referred to by the David and Frank, is an endearing companion in the form of a voice emanating from a red light on a computer consul. HALs voice is distinctly calm, almost hypnotic, and at times his inquisitive questions to David and Frank resemble the questions of a child. HAL, David and Frank live out their daily lives together on the ship, answering video calls from mission command on earth and frequently talk with friends and relatives sharing their exciting journey. The space adventure seems to be going well, even mundane until HAL detects a mysterious fault in one of the ship’ s components which necessitates a space walk by one of the astronauts.
COMMUNITY
Dave, outsmarts HAL and is able to manually break into the spacecraft and makes his way to the central computer data banks where he quickly disconnects HALs circuits all, while HAL protests in a monotone voice,“ Dave, Dave, what are you doing Dave” his voice becoming weaker and weaker as Dave disconnects more circuits. HAL murderous rampage is finished.
Having yet unleashed ChatGPT 5.0, we are a long way from ChatGPT 9000 but the potential for peril still exists. The moral of the AI story is this; even if AI becomes capable of doing almost everything a human can do, humans should always maintain the ultimate control of AI. Dave was able to disconnect HAL’ s circuit boards from the main computer after it murdered the entire crew of the ship, will we have that same option?
Secondly, serious problems arise when we as humans and legal professionals don’ t think for ourselves. According to Damien Charlotin a senior research fellow at Hautes Études Commerciales in Paris, there have been 224 cases where generative AI produced hallucinated content in court cases around the world. As a patent practitioner, I can confirm that AI does not write quality patents, and my colleagues have confirmed this finding. Companies that are making AI tools should focus on industries and jobs that humans don’ t want to do, or produce tools that simplify workflows and systems and not try to“ replace” humans all together.
Frank retrieves the module from the ships antennae, and both David and Frank are baffled by the fact that the module checks out, and shows no sign of failure. The only possible explanation that David and Frank can come up with is that HAL must be malfunctioning and set in motion a covert plan to disconnect HAL.
Paranoia and suspicion take over HALs circuits, unbeknownst to the crew members, HAL has overheard David and Frank discussing a plan to disconnect HAL. HAL decides to murder them one-by-one. As Frank sets out to replace the faulty module, HAL commands one of the space vehicles to attack Frank. HAL disconnects the air supply on Frank’ s space suit which jettisons him into deep space. David suits up to rescue the lost Frank, but is too late and returns to the ship with Franks lifeless body. Upon returning to the craft with Frank, HAL refuses David’ s entry back into the spaceship. David demands that HAL let him back in the ship and in a cool, emotionless, metronome-like pace, HAL states defiantly“ I can’ t do that Dave”.
Simultaneously, onboard the ship, HAL terminates the life support systems of Dr. Charles Hunter, Dr. Jack Kimball, and Dr. Victor Kaminsky. One by one the white squiggly lines that represent vital signs on the black screen of the sleep pods flatten as life drains from each victim. www. atlantabar. org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 17