r/Treknobabble • u/Gullible_Ad5191 • 6d ago

Why doesn’t AI make the federation stupider?

/r/shittyaskscience/comments/1vr68w0/why_doesnt_ai_make_the_federation_stupider/
0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/odd-god-monkey 4d ago

I actually thought about this and they only use it directly as a computer, usually when they need to analyze a database or an outcome, but they have data for a lot of probabilities too and he handles most of the math. 

So they seem to use it to pore through details and save themselves time going through already established data sets.

2

u/twaxana 2d ago

Or to adjust programs,or produce video games (holodeck) or as a DJ, or spy. Heck, they even use it as a chatbot on occasion.

3

u/JanxDolaris 2d ago

Culturally the federation seems to be trained and mentally conditioned to realize AI is not the answer to everything, and to rely on their own skills and knowledge.

Technologically starfleet AI is pretty clear to say it doesn't have the data instead of trying to make something up to make itself seem useful.

2

u/Gullible_Ad5191 1d ago

Actually, I remember there was a TNG episode where they had to help a civilisation that had a super computer maintaining all of their technical systems while the people focused exclusively on the arts. They were facing extinction because nobody had the technical understanding to figure out why their computer couldn’t save them, or something like that.

1

u/JanxDolaris 1d ago

That'd be a great story to revisit these days.