AI creators, take heed: Never fly too close to the sun

You know, I was thinking the other day. There is much information being reported in the news about artificial intelligence, more commonly known by its initials — AI.

In an article on his website, author Will Hurd says, "The term artificial intelligence describes a field in computer science that refers to computers or machines being able to simulate human intelligence to perform tasks or solve problems."

Sasha Reeves in an article on iotforall.com says, "Using virtual filters on our faces when taking pictures and using face ID for unlocking our phones are two examples of artificial intelligence."

Alyssa Schroer, an analyst writing for builtin.com, says, "Examples of AI in the automotive industry include industrial robots constructing a vehicle and autonomous cars navigating traffic with machine learning and vision."

Some experts have even suggested that as AI advances further, it won’t be long before machines will replace many more workers on jobs, solve space mysteries, and perhaps even design a plan to destroy the world.

Farfetched thinking, you say? Well, some of the most intriguing intellectual thinkers of the world like Stephen Hawking once proffered that very thought. Elon Musk and others have also recently sounded that alarm.

And as I sit here in my dark room with only the light on my computer screen, considering man’s inventions, a Greek myth comes to visit me.

It is a story I once read about a famous Greek inventor, Daedalus, and his son, Icarus, who lived on the island of Crete in the kingdom of a mighty ruler by the name King Minos.

Daedalus was a famous sculptor and also an inventor — something, I suppose, like some of our modern-day inventors of AI.

And during the time that Daedalus lived, there was much upheaval in King Minos' kingdom and, recognizing the important contributions of good inventions and wisdom, this powerful king had decided to keep Daedalus and his son captives on Crete.

As the relationship between Daedalus and King Minos became estranged, Daedalus longed to escape from the wicked king and leave the island with his son.

As an inventor, Daedalus had studied the flight of birds and he pondered an invention that would help him and his son in their plans.

“He [Minos] may thwart our escape by land or sea but the sky is surely open to us," Daedalus thought. "We will go that way. Minos rules everything but he does not rule the heavens.”

Soon he conceived a plan to make wings just like a bird's to navigate the sky. He laid down feathers and tied them together using beeswax and thread, and before long he had built wings for himself and Icarus.

Daedalus attached the wings, taking a successful trial flight as his son watched.

It was at this point, before giving Icarus his wings, that Daedalus gave his son some valuable advice:

“Let me warn you, Icarus, to take the middle way, in case the moisture weighs down your wings, if you fly too low, or if you go too high, the sun scorches them. Travel between the extremes."

Daedalus' warning was a serious one. His invention would help them escape from that island of despair, but if not applied properly, it would have some devastating consequence.

He loved his son and wanted him to be safe. He also wanted to escape Crete.

Daedalus and Icarus then took flight and left Crete behind them. But not long afterwards, Icarus ignored his father’s instructions and suddenly flew upward toward the sun. He must have had a moment of joy on his face as he soared higher and higher.

Unfortunately for Icarus, his joy would not last. Soon the beeswax began to melt and his body tumbled from the sky. His last word as he fell was “Father.”

His father heard his cry and searched the sky, but he couldn't see his son. He had drowned in the dark waters below, which became known as the Icarian Sea.

Eventually, Daedalus found the body of his son floating amidst feathers. Cursing his inventions, he took the body to the nearest island and buried it there.

And perhaps Daedalus leaves our AI inventors today with some valuable advice:

Travel between the extremes. Never fly too close to the sun.

Pete Waters is a Sharpsburg resident who writes for The Herald-Mail.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Programers behind artificial intelligence could learn from Daedalus