Originally Posted by
DaveUnwin
I agree with Derjodel. AI is one thing, but the next generation of AI will learn things as it goes along. I think a lot of what we used to call "local knowledge" (such as knowing that a large poorly-sited hangar at a specific airfield creates turbulence at the threshold of RWY 25 when the wind is from 210 and greater than 20kt) a truly autonomous aircraft will 'learn'. A more interesting philosophical question could arise if the machine has to sacrifice itself. For example, when Sully choose the Hudson, he knew that aircraft would never fly again, but hoped that the passengers would survive. If it had been flying autonomously, would it have tried to 'save' itself by trying to reach a runway?
Good question. Lets say the AI's "objectives" are to deliver the payload safely and if that's not possible, minimize loss of life. If the option to achieve this is to land on the river, so be it.