Are you saying that humans are going to invent nanobots that think for
themselves?
- when we don't even know ourselves how we think,
or how to write programs without bugs in,
let alone how to write programs that re-program themselves?
Who is going to test that the nanobots' programs don't have bugs in?

Even if all this was possible before the oil runs out,
will the thinking nanobots think it is a good idea to (boldly) go and
inherit the universe?
If they meet other nanobots along the way, will they both decide to join
forces or try to exterminate each other?
If they have any vestige of US culture left in them at that stage, I know
what I would put my money on.
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"Richard Harrison" wrote in message
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ComputerDoctor randomly hit the keyboard and managed to write on
21/12/2003 23:46:

| Ben Bova wrote:
| " We are nearing the point where we can produce machines that are
| intelligent, and can reproduce themselves endlessly. Perhaps it is
| intelligent machines who will inherit the universe. "
|
| Does anyone have any idea what he is talking about here?
| I presume the intelligent machines are our computers.

Nanobots.

| The MTBF of these machines is pathetically short,
| and the software needs such careful tending that I can make a living at
it
| :-)

At this stage of development the nanobots will be able to
analyse/re-program
themselves.