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Ars Technica

Ars Technica

161 years ago, a New Zealand sheep farmer predicted AI doom

Ars Technica
Summary
Nutrition label

80% Informative

A letter published in 1863 called for the destruction of machines foreshadowing the development of artificial intelligence.

The author of the letter, Samuel Butler , submitted it under the pseudonym Cellarius , but later came to publicly embrace his position.

The letter drew parallels between Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and the rapid development of machinery.

Butler compared the relationship between humans and machines to that of animals.

VR Score

85

Informative language

84

Neutral language

66

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

68

Offensive language

possibly offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

detected

Time-value

long-living

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