Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 40 | Adrienne Mayor on Gods and Robots in Ancient Mythology
Apr 1, 2019
Adrienne Mayor, a Research Scholar at Stanford, explores the intriguing connections between ancient mythology and modern technology. She delves into figures like Talos and Pandora, discussing how they embody our fears and hopes around artificial intelligence. Mayor reveals that these myths served as early thought experiments about creation and mechanization, highlighting themes of ambition, consequence, and moral complexity. The conversation also connects ancient narratives of automated beings to today's anxieties about AI, showcasing the enduring relevance of these stories.
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Talos the Bronze Robot
- Talos, a bronze robot, guarded Crete, patrolling three times daily.
- He repelled invaders by throwing rocks, sinking ships, and roasting victims with his red-hot body.
Talos's Biomimetic System
- Talos's inner workings included an artery with ichor, a life fluid of the gods, as his power source.
- This makes him a biomimetic system, blending biological and technological elements.
Medea's Trickery
- Medea, a techno-wizard, tricked Talos by exploiting his desire for immortality.
- She convinced him to remove a bolt, causing his ichor to drain and leading to his destruction.
