"In twenty (2035) or thirty (2045) years the self-learning computers will outsmart the species 'homo sapiens'. For them discussing with us then, is like us discussing with earthworms now."
Just a random quote that triggered my mind during a masterclass a couple of weeks ago. Like discussing with an earthworm! I never talk to earthworms. Do you? For me they are: fish bait or those animals who keep the soil airy. I never talk to them - I talk to the chickens but not to earthworms. I never discuss with them.
What do earthworms think? Earthworm language - an aptitude test:
# begin #
I need food! I crawl further. Tasty little worms. Eat! Nice, another one. Eat! Stone material, I must go around those. Annoying also a tree root. Underneath! Corridor. I've been here before. I move further. More food. Eat this! That! And that! I am about to explode. Let me take a nap under that big tree. Sleep! Awake, what do I feel above me? It's the rhythm of rain. Quick! Move up, on the surface there's always enough to nibble between the grass: dung and decomposing animals. Yummy. It's nice here. Just eat a little more. Never stay too long on the surface because it's danger. Later tonight I will return to have sex with other worms. With others is better than have sex alone. Much better. Move back.
# end #
And just before she/he [note] went back in her/his corridor to 'Sleep!' a blackbird came along. Who quickly grabbed - veni, vidi, vici - our protagonist in her mouth. A few moments later the senses of our earthworm stopped getting fresh input.
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I need food! I crawl further. Tasty little worms. Eat! Nice, another one. Eat! Stone material, I must go around those. Annoying also a tree root. Underneath! Corridor. I've been here before. I move further. More food. Eat this! That! And that! I am about to explode. Let me take a nap under that big tree. Sleep! Awake, what do I feel above me? It's the rhythm of rain. Quick! Move up, on the surface there's always enough to nibble between the grass: dung and decomposing animals. Yummy. It's nice here. Just eat a little more. Never stay too long on the surface because it's danger. Later tonight I will return to have sex with other worms. With others is better than have sex alone. Much better. Move back.
# end #
And just before she/he [note] went back in her/his corridor to 'Sleep!' a blackbird came along. Who quickly grabbed - veni, vidi, vici - our protagonist in her mouth. A few moments later the senses of our earthworm stopped getting fresh input.
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Imagine that we are the earthworm in 2045. Who or what is the blackbird? And whose eyes write and read this fable?
[Note] Earthworms are hermaphrodites. They are 'she' and 'he' at the same time because they have both female and male sexual organs.
[Note] Earthworms are hermaphrodites. They are 'she' and 'he' at the same time because they have both female and male sexual organs.
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