DARPA Tried to Build Skynet in the 1980's

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

From 1983 to 1993 DARPA spent over $1 billion on a program called the Strategic Computing Initiative. The agency's goal was to push the boundaries of computers, artificial intelligence, and robotics to build something that, in hindsight, looks strikingly similar to the dystopian future of the Terminator movies. They wanted to build Skynet.
Much like Ronald Reagan's Star Wars program, the idea behind Strategic Computing proved too futuristic for its time. But with the stunning advancements we're witnessing today in military AI and autonomous robots, it's worth revisiting this nearly forgotten program, and asking ourselves if we're ready for a world of hyperconnected killing machines. And perhaps a more futile question: Even if we wanted to stop it, is it too late?

Kinda freaky stuff here, full article at the link. It's a good read

http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/darpa-tried-to-build-skynet-in-the-1980s-1451000652/@maxread

 

[KevanG]

"Minutes after watching the first Terminator movie, the entire staff looked at each other and said 'That looks like a great idea, let's build one of those.'"

 

[Tanin]

To their credit they started a year before Terminator came out.

They didn't know...... they didn't know!!!!!

 

[Thundercrack85]

Well, there was talk of creating a super computer that could collect all data (monitor e-mail, phone conversations, public cameras, etc) and predict terrorist attacks. But that's rather different from an automated defense system.

 

[Warhammer]

Something like this probably already exists to some capacity. We just don't know about it. It's above our paygrades.

 

[Fallen Angel]

It's already begun the British government with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) launched a satellite into space called Skynet last christmas.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

We have remote controlled drones that rain hell-fire from 30,000 feet in the air over the border region of Pakistan. We have robots that sniff out and dismantle bombs using robotic appendages that mimic the form and sensitivity of human hands, but none of the anxiety that causes human error. Our entire lives, social and professional, revolve heavily around communicating through digital networks run by servers set up all over the world. We already have Skynet or the Matrix or whatever it is (rose by any other name). It's just in its Beta stage. Wait 30 years.

 

[Snow Queen]

Well, there was talk of creating a super computer that could collect all data (monitor e-mail, phone conversations, public cameras, etc) and predict terrorist attacks. But that's rather different from an automated defense system.

[YT]_DkFxSGGkB4[/YT]

 

[Thundercrack85]

[YT]_DkFxSGGkB4[/YT]

Well, damn.