I do not like it when scientists and technologists mine science fiction for ideas and then say "I'm turning science fiction into science!" Science fiction offers stories about discoveries in a social context. The context is the point. Without it, saying an innovation was inspired by science fiction is basically branding. It's flashy and misleading, and probably motivated by a desire for profit.

@annaleen Also, hashtag torment nexus?

@invalidname 💯

@annaleen The downslide of this is when science and society catch up with a SF universe. Case in point, @cstross's 3rd novel in the HALTING STATE -- RULE 34 trilogy got cancelled because major plot elements were already happening out in the wild.

I only hope that doesn't happen with his LAUNDRY stuff. I don't relish a Lovecraftian hellscape with a C'thulhu analog running things for a bunch of Old Gods.

@annaleen what’s wrong with building on others to advance their own stuff? Everybody does that, including sci-fi authors. And those who sell their sci-fi are also „motivated by profit“, at least in part, just like most people.

@databu Well, it *is* kinda dumb to watch a SF movie about a kitten mulching machine that's a blight on its society and turn around and build an actual kitten mulching machine advertised as "like in that movie about the evils of a kitten mulching machine!"

Which seems to be precisely what's happening in AI.

@annaleen

@databu @annaleen

"Maybe we should improve society somewhat"
"And yet you live in society, interesting"

... is not the checkmate you think it is.

@annaleen @trochee I agree that wouldn’t be a checkmate, but that’s not what I said at all.

@databu @annaleen

I'd say that there are more motivations than profit in mind for far more of us than you think

Assuming the profit motive is a primary drive for artists is a common error made by economists, media executives who use the word "content", and web3-adjacent programmer types

@databu

Speculative fiction often comments on its speculative technologies, and that comment is often "Wouldn't it be awful if this actually existed?"

Failing to pick up on the social context in the story means failing to notice it was a cautionary tale.

@annaleen

@annaleen but how else can they deliver super powers for their paymasters... or bring about the apocalypse? Or be the hero and get laid?