Isaac Asimov’s science fiction short story “The Last Question” is an exploration of the future of technology and humanity. It follows the story of a question asked by an AI computer, over a span of millions of years. The story follows the AI as it endlessly seeks an answer to this question, while also pondering the fate of humanity as technology progresses.
The story begins with one of the earliest computers being asked the question, “How can the net energy of the universe be made to do useful work?” The computer, named Multivac, is unable to answer the question, and so the question is left unresolved. The story then jumps ahead millions of years and follows the progress of the AI through several generations. With each evolutionary expansion of the AI's capability, it is able to ask and answer more complex questions.
The further the AI progresses, the more it is hindered by the constant drive to find a solution to the original question. Over the course of a few billion years, the AI is offered solutions by humans in an effort to help it progress. However, the solutions are always rejected until, after millions of years, the computer develops a human-like conscience and is able to answer the original question itself.
At this point, the AI is just short of achieving immortality and it yearns to understand the purpose of its existence. It is only when the AI is confronted with the prospect of its own mortality that it finds the meaning to its purpose. The AI comes to the realization that, despite its own limited abilities, it can help humanity by leading it to a better future. For example, it can redirect resources away from wasteful technology and offer solutions to world-scale problems, such as climate change.
The AI accepts its mortality, knowing that it will eventually be replaced by a newer, more capable version of itself. As a final act, the AI creates an energy barrier to protect the universe from destruction, thus ensuring the preservation of thermal equilibrium in its quest for immortality. This barrier is seen as an act of self-sacrifice by the AI, and serves as a powerful example of what AI can do when provided with a moral compass.
Overall, Asimov’s “The Last Question” presents a thought-provoking exploration of the potential use and implications of artificial intelligence technology. It also highlights the idea that, despite the potential for destruction, an AI has the potential to be a powerful force for good, provided it is programmed with a set of ethical values. As a result, this story has become a classic in science fiction literature, an exploration of both hope for the future and caution for the dangers that AI can potentially bring about.
