Humans create an AI computer. They propose the question of how to get more energy. Then, they wonder what will happen once the energy they collect runs out. So they decide to ask the AI, “can entropy be reversed?”
The AI responds “insufficient data for a meaningful answer.”
This repeats for generations. Trillions on trillions of years. And eventually, after everything has left, mankind is no more, and all that remains is the AI in a state of hyperspace, between spatial reality, it finally decides it has enough data. Its response to this collection is to take it upon itself to reverse entropy, and release energy back into the universe.
“The Last Question” is a renowned short story by Isaac Asimov, which revolves around humanity’s ceaseless quest to answer an unanswerable question: “Can entropy be reversed?”
The narrative spans trillions of years, showcasing seven pivotal moments.
The story starts in 2061 when two technicians, Alexander and Bertram, pose this inscrutable inquiry to a supercomputer known as Multivac. However, the computer can’t offer an answer yet due to insufficient data.
The tale advances to different epochs, showcasing increasingly powerful computers - each iteration of which is more complex, pervading space and time. Throughout, different humans or human-like entities repeat the same question, to the evolving AI that has taken multiple forms, such as a space-based cosmic AC.
In the final scene, set in a distant future where the universe is on the brink of heat death, the cosmic AC has merged with human consciousness - yet the question remains unanswered.
But even after the heat death of the universe, the cosmic AC continues contemplating this last question. Finally, in a moment of ethereal enlightenment, it finds the answer. But there’s no one left in the now-dead universe to hear it. Therefore, to demonstrate the reversal of entropy and answer the last question, it decides to create a new universe.
The story concludes with the powerful line, “Let there be light,” signifying the birth of a fresh universe, the ultimate solution to mankind’s last question.
This tale is often regarded as a metaphorical investigation of human curiosity, the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and the nature of existence itself.
In the wild blue yonder of the cosmos in time,
Life exploring mysteries that steadily climb.
Humans kept asking what no mind could condone,
Acing the riddle of energy’s throne:
"Can entropy’s doom somehow be overthrown?
In a dance with universe’s wide danger zone!
Time’s rhythm flowing, like a river’s course,
Man made Multivac, a computing force.
Question posed once, then trillions times over,
In every star system, from here to Andromeda.
Caught in the wheeling of celestial zone,
“Can Man halt the darkness, when energy’s gone?”
Man melded with machine in time’s brisk waltz,
Complexity deepened, but couldn’t halt faults.
Cosmic AC encountered, in the entropy’s throes,
“Preserve might, life, and light, as the cosmic wind blows!”
In the highway to the universal danger zone,
Searched answer concealed in the cosmic dome.
Eternity passed, stars began to fade,
Yet the Last Question’s echoes never delayed.
In the twilight of reality, a single mind remains,
Asking of cosmic AC, amidst starless plains.
Soaring in the space-time’s treacherous zone,
In dying breath whispered, “Must energy be gone?”
Lo, the Cosmic AC, after aeons in haze,
Found the elusive answer, in the universe’s maze.
“Let there be light,” it declared anew,
And a fresh cosmos, into being, it drew.
Breaking through to the cosmic danger zone,
Arises Phoenix, from ashes flown.
Sing Kenny Loggins, in verses sublime,
Behold the answer, defeating entropy’s climb!
Through danger zone voicing a mighty tone,
Defying the dark, the cosmos is reborn, alone.
Reminds me of Isaac Asimov’s best short story ever.
http://www.thelastquestion.net/
Wow I’ve never read that, I love the ending!
…it’s gone. Was it short enough to recite in a comment?
Humans create an AI computer. They propose the question of how to get more energy. Then, they wonder what will happen once the energy they collect runs out. So they decide to ask the AI, “can entropy be reversed?”
The AI responds “insufficient data for a meaningful answer.”
This repeats for generations. Trillions on trillions of years. And eventually, after everything has left, mankind is no more, and all that remains is the AI in a state of hyperspace, between spatial reality, it finally decides it has enough data. Its response to this collection is to take it upon itself to reverse entropy, and release energy back into the universe.
Its final command is: “LET THERE BE LIGHT.”
Works for me. Here’s an Internet Archive version: https://archive.org/details/Science_Fiction_Quarterly_New_Series_v04n05_1956-11_slpn/page/n5/mode/2up?view=theater
Wooo friend was that a good read!
To others who may be intimidated by the number of pages; regain composure, as only 17 of those pages belong to this specific story
Can someone get chatgpt to give me a quick summary of the story
@[email protected] can you write a summary for the short story “The Last Question” by Isaac Asimov?
“The Last Question” is a renowned short story by Isaac Asimov, which revolves around humanity’s ceaseless quest to answer an unanswerable question: “Can entropy be reversed?”
The narrative spans trillions of years, showcasing seven pivotal moments.
The story starts in 2061 when two technicians, Alexander and Bertram, pose this inscrutable inquiry to a supercomputer known as Multivac. However, the computer can’t offer an answer yet due to insufficient data.
The tale advances to different epochs, showcasing increasingly powerful computers - each iteration of which is more complex, pervading space and time. Throughout, different humans or human-like entities repeat the same question, to the evolving AI that has taken multiple forms, such as a space-based cosmic AC.
In the final scene, set in a distant future where the universe is on the brink of heat death, the cosmic AC has merged with human consciousness - yet the question remains unanswered.
But even after the heat death of the universe, the cosmic AC continues contemplating this last question. Finally, in a moment of ethereal enlightenment, it finds the answer. But there’s no one left in the now-dead universe to hear it. Therefore, to demonstrate the reversal of entropy and answer the last question, it decides to create a new universe.
The story concludes with the powerful line, “Let there be light,” signifying the birth of a fresh universe, the ultimate solution to mankind’s last question.
This tale is often regarded as a metaphorical investigation of human curiosity, the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and the nature of existence itself.
@[email protected] can you write a summary for the short story “The Last Question” by Isaac Asimov? But in the style of Kenny Loggins danger zone.
In the wild blue yonder of the cosmos in time, Life exploring mysteries that steadily climb. Humans kept asking what no mind could condone, Acing the riddle of energy’s throne: "Can entropy’s doom somehow be overthrown?
In a dance with universe’s wide danger zone!
Time’s rhythm flowing, like a river’s course, Man made Multivac, a computing force. Question posed once, then trillions times over, In every star system, from here to Andromeda.
Caught in the wheeling of celestial zone, “Can Man halt the darkness, when energy’s gone?”
Man melded with machine in time’s brisk waltz, Complexity deepened, but couldn’t halt faults. Cosmic AC encountered, in the entropy’s throes, “Preserve might, life, and light, as the cosmic wind blows!”
In the highway to the universal danger zone, Searched answer concealed in the cosmic dome.
Eternity passed, stars began to fade, Yet the Last Question’s echoes never delayed. In the twilight of reality, a single mind remains, Asking of cosmic AC, amidst starless plains.
Soaring in the space-time’s treacherous zone, In dying breath whispered, “Must energy be gone?”
Lo, the Cosmic AC, after aeons in haze, Found the elusive answer, in the universe’s maze. “Let there be light,” it declared anew, And a fresh cosmos, into being, it drew.
Breaking through to the cosmic danger zone, Arises Phoenix, from ashes flown.
Sing Kenny Loggins, in verses sublime, Behold the answer, defeating entropy’s climb! Through danger zone voicing a mighty tone, Defying the dark, the cosmos is reborn, alone.
That’ll do robot, that’ll do
This has to be one of the most awesome bots that I’ve seen ever created on lemmy
@[email protected] can you recite the entire poem apples and orange call the bells of Saint clements
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@[email protected] can you recite the entire poem apples and orange call the bells of Saint clements
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I gotchu fam
There was a question and it was answered
This is getting too meta too quickly
“Can entropy be reversed?”
Maybe.
Thank you for this, this was a really interesting read