Arthur C. Clarke, the writer who predicted Artificial Intelligence. “How inappropriate it is to call this planet Earth, when it is clearly an Ocean”
Arthur C. Clarke (1917 – 2008) was a renowned British science fiction writer, particularly famous for his visionary ideas that remarkably foreshadowed many of the technological advances and social changes we see and experience today. Clarke’s ability to predict future technologies with remarkable accuracy earned him a place among the most influential futurists of the 20th century.
Some of Clarke’s most notable predictions were the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. In his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, published in 1968, Clarke introduced HAL 9000, a sentient computer that controlled the spaceship Discovery One, displaying advanced cognitive skills and the ability to converse, demonstrating Clarke’s foresight in the development of technology As you know, AI has become an integral part of various industries, from self-driving cars to virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa. Rapid advances in machine learning and neural networks have brought us closer to Clarke’s vision of artificial intelligence that can assist humans in complex tasks.
In his 1979 novel The Fountains of Paradise, Clarke imagined a world where telecommuting and telecommuting were commonplace. It described a scenario where individuals could work from anywhere in the world using advanced communication technologies, a vision that is more than relevant today, given that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and normalized the shift to remote working methods .
“(…) These things will make possible a world where we can be in instant contact with each other wherever we are, where we can contact our friends anywhere on Earth, even if we don’t know their actual physical location.” (Arthur Clarke)
In addition to all of this, he also made several other predictions that have come to fruition over the years, including satellite communication. Clarke proposed the idea of geostationary satellites for global communication in a paper published in 1945, the concept laying the foundation for modern satellite communication systems that enable worldwide connectivity. He also spoke about space exploration, expressing his support for the potential of human colonization of other planets, about personal computers – in his novel “Profiles of the future” (1962), mentioning about the concept of personal computing devices that will revolutionize access to information and communication, a vision that foreshadowed the development of personal computers and smartphones that have become ubiquitous in modern society.
Arthur C. Clarke was born on December 16, 1917 in Minehead, Somerset, England. In 1936 he moved to London, where he joined the British Interplanetary Society, where he began experimenting with astronautical materials at BIS, writing the BIS Bulletin and also writing science fiction. During the Second World War, as an RAF (Royal Air Force) officer, Clarke was in charge of the first communication radar equipment, the Ground Controlled Approach, during its experimental tests, after the war, returning to London and BIS (The Bank for International Settlements, an international financial institution providing banking services for national central banks and a forum for discussing monetary and regulatory policies), which he chaired in ’46-’47 and ’50-’53.
In 1945 he published “Extra-terrestrial Relays”, in which he discusses the principles of satellite communications with satellites in geostationary orbits – a speculation materialized 25 years later, for which Clarke received numerous honors, including the Marconi International Fellowship in 1982 , a gold medal of the Franklin Institute, the Vikram Sarabhai Professorship of the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, the Lindbergh Award and a fellowship of King’s College, London. The geostationary orbit is at 36,000 kilometers and is called “The Clarke Orbit” by the International Astronomical Union.
The first short story that Arthur C. Clarke sold was “Rescue Party”, written in March 1945 and published in Astounding Science in May 1946, also a distinguished work which achieved first class honors in physics and mathematics at King’s College, London, in 1948.
In 1954, Arthur C. Clarke wrote to Dr. Harry Wexler, then chief of the Scientific Services Division of the US Weather Bureau, discussing the potential applications of satellites for weather forecasting. This correspondence marked the beginning of a new branch in meteorology, with Dr. Wexler becoming a driving force behind the use of rockets and satellites for meteorological research and operations. Clarke’s transition from space exploration to oceanography in 1954 marked a turning point in the history of meteorology.
“Now I realize that it was my interest that led me to the ocean. Both involve exploration, of course – but it’s not the only reason. When the first skin-diving equipment began to appear in the late 1940s, I suddenly realized that here was a cheap and simple way to imitate one of the most magical aspects of space flight – weightlessness.”
In the book Profiles of the Future (1962), Arthur C. Clarke analyzes the likely shape of the world tomorrow, formulating three laws that have become emblematic in the field of futurism and technological progress. These laws provide insight into the possibilities and limits of scientific progress, as well as the blurred boundaries between advanced technology and seemingly magical phenomena.
Clarke’s First Law: “When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is more than likely right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very likely to be wrong.”
Clarke’s Second Law: “The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to venture beyond them into the impossible.”
Clarke’s Third Law: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
In 1964, Arthur C. Clarke began collaborating with renowned director Stanley Kubrick on a science fiction script that eventually materialized into the groundbreaking film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Filming on 2001: A Space Odyssey began on December 29, 1965, at Shepperton Studios in England, and production costs were estimated to be between $10.5 million and $12 million. The film was well received upon release and grossed between $138 million and $190 million worldwide. The film earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Screenplay (Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke) and an Oscar for Best Special Effects (Stanley Kubrick).
Arthur C. Clarke broadcast the Apollo 11, 12 and 15 missions with Walter Cronkite and Wally Schirra for CBS, in 1985 he published a sequel to his famous novel “2001: A Space Odyssey”, entitled “2010: The Second Odyssey”, collaborated with director Peter Hyams on the film adaptation of “2010”. Despite being geographically separated, with Clarke in Sri Lanka and Hyams in Los Angeles, the two worked together using a Kaypro computer and modem for communication. He produced several television series broadcast worldwide, including “Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World” (1981), about mysteries and unexplained phenomena, “Arthur C. Clarke’s World of Strange Powers” (1984), about supernatural occurrences and paranormal phenomena.
He is the author of more than 70 books, non-fiction and science fiction, in March 1998 his last novel appeared: 3001: The Final Odyssey.
In 1988 he was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, after contracting polio in 1962, after which he was confined to a wheelchair most of the time.
He died at his home in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 19 March 2008 at the age of 90.
“I am sometimes asked how I would like to be remembered. I have had a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer and space promoter. Out of all that, I’d like to be remembered as a writer.”
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