I’m finding some of the references to artificial intelligence contradictory. On page 6 I find:
“Imperial culture embraces the judicious use of artificial intelligence to produce wondrous technologies and manage massive populations in the tens of billions.”
Then on page 7-8 I find:
“Despite all of this, there remain several forbidden realms of technology where the old Vilani caution creeps in. Foremost among these is artificial intelligence. The war machines that were left on Vland by the Ancients, destructive automatons that posed an existential threat to humans, left their indelible mark on the culture. The Vilani were driven to reach beyond their world but also chastened by a history in which technology was a thing to be feared.”
In the space of a couple of pages we’re told that artificial intelligence is embraced, and then that it is a forbidden technology. If these are two different types/aspects of artificial intelligence that are treated differently I think some more explicit clarification would help.
“Imperial culture embraces the judicious use of artificial intelligence to produce wondrous technologies and manage massive populations in the tens of billions.”
Then on page 7-8 I find:
“Despite all of this, there remain several forbidden realms of technology where the old Vilani caution creeps in. Foremost among these is artificial intelligence. The war machines that were left on Vland by the Ancients, destructive automatons that posed an existential threat to humans, left their indelible mark on the culture. The Vilani were driven to reach beyond their world but also chastened by a history in which technology was a thing to be feared.”
In the space of a couple of pages we’re told that artificial intelligence is embraced, and then that it is a forbidden technology. If these are two different types/aspects of artificial intelligence that are treated differently I think some more explicit clarification would help.