Book · 2017
The Machine Stops
By E. M. Forster - Illustrated
Why people recommend it
The Machine Stops is a 1909 science fiction short story by E.M. Forster that depicts a futuristic human society entirely dependent on a global machine for their survival, comfort, and communication. Stuart Russell recommended this prophetic narrative during his appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast in an episode titled Stuart Russell: Long-Term Future of Artificial Intelligence, released on December 9, 2018. While discussing the potential long-term risks associated with advanced artificial intelligence and human over-reliance on technology, Russell mentioned that he frequently recommends this amazing short story to everyone he talks to about the subject. He noted that although Forster is primarily celebrated for his classic novels about the British Empire that often became period costume dramas on the BBC, he also penned this striking science fiction piece. Russell utilized the story to illustrate the dangers of relinquishing control to automated systems, demonstrating how a visionary author over a century ago anticipated modern anxieties surrounding technological dependency and autonomous infrastructure.
Who recommended it
- Stuart Russell Recommended
Stuart Russell — 1 mention
“and there's an amazing short story that I recommend to everyone that I talk to about this called the machine stops written in 1909 by Ian Foster who you know wrote novels about the British Empire and sort of things that became costume dramas on the BBC but he wrote this one science fiction story which is an amazing vision”