1407 – The Ultimate Computer | Sleepin’ with Star Trek S2E24

Episode 1407 – The Ultimate Computer | Sleepin' with Star Trek S2E24

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time to go…I don't know how…I forgot. It’s time to go somewhere with somebody who forgets, and for the first time, we’ll be going someplace just for this one episode. We're doing a themed journey through different series and stuff. But we're gonna be…this is…oh, welcome to Sleep With Me, by the way. This is a podcast to help you fall asleep, to keep you company while you fall asleep, to be your friend in the deep, dark night, to hang out with you so you could be comfortable at bedtime or in the middle of the night. Ideally, I just hang out with you enough and distract you enough…I be mildly not quite entertaining enough that you could fall asleep.

 

But the thing is I’m here to help, to help you out if I can. So, let’s see how it goes. If you're a regular listener coming back episode after episode after episode, thanks so much, and don’t forget to root for those other listeners out there. So, yeah…oh, so, by the way, we're gonna be talking about the original Star Trek series, an episode about that, but later on, though. It’ll be…you say, wait, that was about Star Trek? I didn’t recognize any…are you sure you watched…? Oh yeah, I watched the episode quite a few times, actually. Thanks for asking. But first, I’m gonna ease you off into dreamland. So, if you're new, welcome. This show is very different. It takes some getting used to. So, see how it goes. But what we got coming up right here is support.

 

The support is only really important for the people that listen to the show regularly, night after night, year after year. So, if you're an occasional listener or you're new, just…it’s here so that paying for it’s optional. It really comes down to the people that listen the most. So, yeah, that’s how we're able to bring it to the rest of you for free. It’s pretty cool, huh? Then there’s…after that is a long, meandering intro totally separate from the support, meant to ease you into bedtime, and then later on we’ll be talking about Star Trek: The Original Series. I think that’s what they call it nowadays. Captain Kirk, but not Chris Pine Captain Kirk. So, I’m glad you're here.

 

I really…happy to help you out if I can, and if this show has changed your life and continues to change your life on a regular basis, it is really essential…you're the person I’m talking to right now. If you could support the show or support one of the sponsors, that’s really how we're able to be here to benefit you and tons of other people that only listen once in a while or are new. So, yeah, if this show has changed your life, think about it, and these are the ways you could support the show back.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake.

 

That could be thoughts, things on your mind, thoughts about the past, the present, the future, thinking thoughts, it could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally related to those thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, you could be going through something, you could be getting over something, you could be in the middle of something, maybe you're traveling, maybe you're a guest. Maybe you don’t know what it is, right? Maybe you're taking care of somebody else. Whatever it is, I’m here to try to help, and this is the only way I know how I can help. It doesn't help everybody, but it is a friendly thing. But the reason I kinda go through all those reason…the reason I go through all those reasons you may be listening or…'cause I don't know what brought you here, right?

 

But people don’t usually come here…I mean, sometimes people come here…what does it even mean, on a lark? Here’s a thing; aren't larks birds? Could you stay…? Unless you're microscopic, could you stay off of larks? Like, don’t…this always come…are these truisms? I always forget what these are. Sayings? Pithy sayings? But I don't want to get distract…anytime pith comes up, I get distracted, 'cause I love pith, just in case any trees are listening. Pith is something, I believe, is related to trees or branches. But I was going on about…by the way, larks, I don't know if anybody’s gone on a tangent about…have I told you lately that I’m gonna go on a tangent about you? But yeah, stay off of larks. If you're on a lark, don’t do it on a lark. Only figuratively be on larks, please.

 

On behalf…unless…I mean, I’m sure there’s another…but where would that terminology have come from? Maybe some sort of cool fiction of some sort of lovely, very tiny being that doesn't necessarily fit a sleep podcast who was riding on a lark. Maybe there’s…was there a children’s book in the 19…whatever…? I’m guessing…I mean, this could be back…18…1700s, or it could be the 19…I’m just guessing the 1920s because that’s the number that popped in my head. You say, oh, you don’t…? Yeah, that children’s book, it’s not around anymore, but it was about somebody riding around…The Joys of…it was called The Joys of Being On A Lark. Then it became a saying; on a lark. Oh, how come it’s not around…?

 

Oh, 'cause it was…it only took place in your imagination, and it was published by your imaginary in-print, Gingerbread Press, which hasn’t published anything. Oh, that sounds like a good one, though, especially if it was the thing that’s…there’s supposed to be small beings that perform in a circus, which I never understood. But if it was…they said, yeah, I used to be in a circus. Yeah, like the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers; that’s what they called me in our circus. Then I found…I met a lark. We became friends. The lark said, hey, I’m gonna go do endless…the life of a lark is pretty endlessly great. Or, at least in my opinion. I’m the only lark that’s talking to you. But we could go around, we could fly, we could…it sounds good. Is it okay if our…?

 

I may one day become a imaginary…I may one day be in the mind of a human and have…they may imagine me. Am I already…are we all in their imagination right now? It doesn't matter. Just make your…go ahead and make your point. Don't worry about it. Well, yeah, maybe I’ll write a children’s book about it called The Joys of Being On A Lark. Hey, here’s an idea; what if you just shortened it to On A Lark? That sounds great. How about you move on with your sleep podcast? Okay, yeah, my point being don’t do anything on larks, please, eve…especially…even if you're small. Say, hey, by the way, can we at least…can this at least be symbiotic? Only symbiotic lark-riding. Let’s just leave it at that. Yeah, I wish I would have thought of that five minutes ago, but then it wouldn't be a sleep podcast. Symbi…? Yeah, that’s fine. But I guess I wouldn't have to mention it, right? Okay.

 

Well, we got that figured out. But…oh, so, why do I list everything…? ‘Cause it’s tough in the deep, dark night. Whatever’s keeping you awake and brought you here…you didn’t come here on a lark. I mean, if you did, I’d say, holy cow, what, are you from…? Maybe there’s…is that how Jonathan Swift traveled? I don't know. Are you the imaginary person that was in the…am I talking to you directly? Wow. But most people don’t get here at their best, right? It’s important to note that whatever brought you here…I have trouble in the last couple years getting to sleep, staying asleep, waking up, sleeping through the night, waking up too early — so, I know how all those different things feel to me — or not dreading going to bed or wondering if I’m gonna get a good night's sleep or just enough sleep.

 

So, I know that’s not pleasant for me, and I don't know if it’s like that for you or if it’s something else. Now, the good thing is if it’s something else, there’s enough people listening right now that whatever brought you here, there is someone that can relate to you very strongly, and they're saying, I’m glad you're here. I’ve been rooting for you to find this podcast. As a matter of fact, there’s tons of other listeners rooting for you right now that this podcast can help you out or it just guides you to another podcast or something else to help you out, because you deserve a good night's sleep. You deserve a place where you could get the rest you need so your life is more manageable, that it doesn't have to be this big rigmarole and to-do going to bed or something you have to dread.

 

You say, well, at least I got that podcaster…he had no idea that a lark wasn’t a bird, but I guess he assumed…he made…and he didn’t realize that phrase was banned. I say, oh, great. How…? Because…I mean, I guess it would be common sense. It could…it should have been…your nana should have banned…she said, no, no, no, don’t say that. No lark wants you on them, period. You're not…unless you can find some way to be tiny and symbiotic, you're not gonna be doing…going on any larks. Oh, grandma, it’s just figurative. Or, nana. Okay, well, that was my favorite book as a child, so…okay, can we just move on with the sleep podcast intro? ‘Cause we're falling behind. In a good way, though. So, I’m glad you're here.

 

There’s tons of other listeners rooting for you that you get the rest you need, that you have a place of solace, and that maybe this show is your place of solace or distraction, and that one day you get to root for the new listener, too, or the listener that’s struggling in the deep, dark night right now, 'cause it’s the kind of passive, indirect community that most sleepless people can be a part of. I say, that sounds like me, passive and indirect. So, that’s why I make the show. The way it works is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. So, I go off topic, I get mixed up, I forget what I was talking about, then I repeat myself, then I circle back. But all of it’s to be a friendly distraction.

 

But the thing is, when you first get here, it does take a few tries to get used to the show. That’s just what hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people have said over the past however many years I’ve been making this podcast, is that the first time I just didn’t like the show. The second time I wasn’t sure about it, and then the third time I just woke up the next day. I didn’t realize I was looking for something like this. So, give it a few tries and see how it goes. For some people it works on the first try, but for most people it just doesn't 'cause you're tired, you've been looking for something to help you fall asleep, you probably had a lot of disappointments of things you've paid for, spent a lot of money on, tried out that haven't worked on a regular basis. So, just see how this goes.

 

If you decide now…you already know or later on…like I said, we have…we want…still want to help you fall asleep. So, I have a website set up, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou, and just answer that question; no, the podcast didn’t work for me, and it’ll take you to a listing of other sleep podcasts and sleepy stuff. So, that’s a plus. Then…so, that…yeah, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. If you don’t like me or the show, I still want you to get a good night's sleep. What else do you need to know? This is a podcast you just barely listen to, kinda like background…I mean, obviously; I just went on a, whatever, eight-minute tangent about riding on larks. I can't believe I’ve never had this…I’ve never been in a debate club, but this should be a topic.

 

I can't see the other side of the topic except by somebody…I’d say, no, no. First of all, it’s physically impossible. Well, I plan on buying 10,000…okay, great. Thanks, Mr. Burns. ‘Cause you say, there’s no on…it’s just a phrase, son. That’s what most adults…most people…it’s just a phrase. As a matter of fact, you should probably look it up now that you've talked about it so much. But this is a podcast most people just…you just kinda listen to it like a out-of-focus picture. This is also a sleep podcast that isn't actually…there’s no pressure to fall asleep with this show. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep. I’ve been making this sleep podcast before sleep podcasts for adults were a thing, and…but this show is still not here to put you to sleep.

 

I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep, which is just a very different thing. So, it’s…the reason the show’s over an hour is so you don’t have to worry about falling…you say, oh, I got plenty of time to fall asleep. I don't have to worry about the show being over in twenty minutes. There’s people listening who can't sleep at all or who need a break during the day or who just woke up, and I’m here to keep you company whether you're awake or asleep, whether you're listening or not, whether you're on a lark, which according to this, is a merry adventure. It’s a shortening of sky larks. Sailors, they love to frolic on the ship. Since larks were known for their high, playful flight, it got…or it could be Old Norse; to play or to exert oneself. So, let’s just check one more reliable place. Frolic prank…not clear.

 

Oh yeah, that’s all from Wikipedia. Lark; a piece of merriment. That’s from the Oxford…OED, is that Oxford English Dictionary? It could be slang. So, it’s older; 1811, maybe. You know…maybe used by characters not in the book with Oliver but the people Oliver was hanging around with. Interesting. Okay, so, this is a podcast you don’t really listen to. It’s not here to put you to sleep. I’m here…my job is to keep you company, to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bud, your neigh-bore, your bore-bie, your boreman, your Boris Borlaf, your chairman of the boreds…that’s actually Paige’s job. I’m just here to be…I overuse those kind of words so much, literally and figurative. I guess I could just say…if you're actually on a lark, please get off. So, maybe it’s a different phrase.

 

If it’s English, ‘on a lark’ is different than in American English, right? Maybe. I don't know. Has any of the Doctors…? Has David Tennant’s Doctor ever said it? Maybe. We don’t know. I mean, someone does, but not me. Okay, so, yeah, I’m just here to be your friend in the deep, dark night, your bore-bestie forever. The only other thing I’d like to run through really quick at the end of this intro is the structure of the show and why we structure the show the way we do. It’s a pretty specific reason, and it’s just from making the show for so long. So, the show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

 

Then I say something silly and I kinda go off on a tangent about something and…so you get the tone of the show, you feel seen and welcomed in whether you're new or you're returning for your thousandth time. You say, okay, I’m here. Alright, I could check this podcast out. Then there’s support so that paying for the show is optional. It’s…because there’s a lot of people just going through a hard time right now or who are new to the show or only need the podcast on occasion. For them to pay for the show or for the show to be behind a paywall doesn't make any sense. The support for the show comes down to the people that benefit the most from it. Really, yeah, it’s always…the existence of the show is always based on how many of those people are willing to either support the show or the sponsors.

 

But if you're not consuming the show on a multiple-a-night or multiple-episode-a-night basis, don't worry about it. Or if you fall asleep fast, we really need your support. That’s always a conundrum. So, that’s what the support’s for. It benefits the maximum amount of people the show can by being free. Then separate from the support is the intro. It’s a long, meandering intro. I kinda talked about it earlier. The intro is meant to ease you into bedtime. It follows a familiar structure every time, but I go on a different tangent so that’s…that it’s reassuring and familiar, but each intro is different so that you don’t quite get used to it, 'cause that’s what just keeps me up. Anything repetitive my brain hooks on and wakes me up. Or it says, oh boy…that’s why every intro is different.

 

But every intro is fifteen to twenty-five minutes long — usually around fifteen to twenty minutes — to ease you into bedtime, 'cause while there are a small percentage of people that fall asleep fast, most people are winding down while they listen to the show. They're getting ready for bed, they're in bed getting comfortable, or they're doing some chill activity and getting eased into bedtime and have…this is a buffer between being awake and asleep, because that’s just what’s been shown to work. That’s what works for me personally most of the time, is having a wind-down period. So, that’s what the intro does.

 

Then after the intro is support, and then after the support will be…our episode will be talking about an episode of Star Trek kinda themed around…we're gonna look at different episodes of all the Star Trek series and maybe one or two of the films based on a kind of topic that you'll be able to figure out pretty quick that’s…but just an interesting way of like, hey, how did they handle this kind of technology stuff, and how do we do that in a sleepy way, and what are their feel…? What’s Captain Kirk’s feelings about all this? James T…what in the name of James T. Kirk are you talking about larks for so much? I say, did he go to Larks Four High? James T. Kirk, what’s the…? He didn’t, but…Larks Four High, man. That’s…I used to…yeah, I had a letterman jacket for there. I don't know, what were you, a swimmer or something, James T. Kirk?

 

Oh yeah, I should move on? Okay. Thank you. Thanks. That sounds like something you would say. Moving on. Thank you. Captain Kirk. So, yeah, I think that’s everything. I’m really glad you're here and you found the show, and I really hope it can help you out. It doesn't help everybody out, but for the people it does, it’s something different you maybe have been looking for. I really appreciate everybody that comes back to this podcast time after time after time. If this…if you are one of those people that’s been coming back time after time after time, we really could use your support. We’ve been asking for it for the past couple of years pretty intensely, but it’s only 'cause that’s what we need to be here for you and for everybody else, but only if it’s changed your life. So, if the podcast has changed your life, here’s a couple ways you could change the life of the podcast back, too. Thanks.

 

Alright everybody, Scoots here, and this is our first…I don't believe…I’m pretty sure I know for once. This is the first time we’ve ever done a episode of…what do they call it on here? Star Trek: The Original Series. This is a remastered version, which I think means some of the effects have been upgraded. I don't know the history of it, but right now…I just paused it two seconds into the episode we're covering. It does look like it’s a little bit more upgraded, but not…so, there’s a space station, there’s the Enterprise, and then another Enterprise-class ship docked at the space station. The thing is, we're not doing this for…I mean, this is okay to use a remastered episode, in my opinion. We're doing this as an exploration of…this is the Daystrom Institute kinda stuff.

 

I don't know, I kinda went down a rabbit hole writing an episode of Get Besos and thinking about Moriarty and the…and then Data and just the time…current time making the show and where there’s a lot of discussion about intelligence and computer intelligence. So, I was interested in exploring it more. So, we're gonna be covering this episode of the original series. It’s from Season…let’s see, where are we? Season…oh, I gotta find it here. Season 2, Episode 24, The Ultimate Computer. This is also a part of my life where I’m typing and highlighting stuff instead of writing with my hand. So, let’s just run through here. I have a couple things. Very TNG serious reaction shots coming up. Kirk loves when the crew goes back and forth. I am a genuis…see…times two. Okay, so, those are the notes I have from the first page.

 

I gotta make sure the volume’s off, right? Okay, it is off. What about some closed captions? Can we see those, or subtitles? Yes, we can. Alright, so, we have the Enterprise coming in. Oh yeah, the effects are somewhat new. Standard orbit…they contact the space station. Oh, the station’s calling us, Captain. Alright, let’s talk. Commodore Enwright. Yeah, I’d like an explanation, Kirk says. Beaming aboard now. You may be in your…the explanation may already be in your transporter room. We go in the transporter room and we see energizing in a guy that reminded me of one of my friend from high school’s dads. This is Commodore Wesley. He meets Spock. Commodore Wesley, no offense, not great posture. They asked to be alone, or Kirk…with just Kirk, Wesley, and Spock.

 

Then Kirk goes behind the console so he has a little bit more…feels like…I don't know, so he can do stuff with his hands and lean on something. Hey, our ship’s being off-boarded into a space station? Why? Oh, a singular honor, Jim. You're gonna be a fox. I know I’m foxy, but…no, we're gonna be practicing some games like chess. M-5 multitron? M-5; that’s Daystrom, Richard Daystrom. Correct? It’s a device, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. Then Spock says, no, no, it’s a computer complex, the most ambitious one ever created. Oh, whoops, I was reading the quotes from the last page of the thing. Oh, yeah, okay, let’s just look at my notes. He asks the guy to leave the room…okay, and…yeah, Spock goes, yeah, it’s complex. Correlate all computer activity aboard a starship…ultimate vessel operation and control.

 

How do you know so much about it, Spock? I’m a A7 computer expert, Commodore. Shouldn't you know that? Well acquainted with Daystrom series and discoveries. In fact, all the ships are based on his tech. Well, Jim, you're gonna run…you're gonna have the M-5 run your ship. Just routine research and stuff, problems for M-5 to solve, then we're gonna play IRL chess with the ships. Simulated tests…this is a revolution in space technology. You could totally trust it. As good as the warp drive. We're gonna install it in your computer. Take off your crew; they're no longer needed for this test. Who’s gonna watch this thing? Nobody. Daystrom, I guess, technically, but he’s installing it. He’ll be supervising. You just get a crew of twenty. That’s it. Whoa, boy. Kirk says, I’m gonna walk around this console. Twenty?

 

Nah, can't do it. No, but the M-5 can. What am I supposed to do? You've done a great job, Jim. Now you can sit back and let the thing do the work, the machine. Actually, they cut to a great reaction from Spock, a really good one. Full-screen…2:54. Then they cut back to Kirk’s reaction. He kinda pouts, and they cut to commercial. Oh no, they go to the open, and then we get The Ultimate Computer. We get the theme, and I guess everything’s given to us at the beginning. What’s the episode about? This computer being installed and running the Enterprise. What’s the risk? Well, there’s only gonna be twenty crew members aboard. What’s the…what’s it about really? Well, what am I gonna do, Jim says? Alls you have to do is sit back and let the machine do the work. My note says, not how we are reacting.

 

Oh, so, the idea of this doing work for me or anybody else in our present time is not how we're reacting. This thematic element of purpose is somewhat…it’s not on the nose. It’s…somewhat the theme of this episode is what’s my purpose if a computer takes my purpose, maybe, or who am I? But it doesn't…it’s not as…I guess you could see how things change with TNG, and I think…oh no, is this a hour episode? Holy cow. I’ve been pausing it so much 'cause I thought it was only twenty-two minutes. Okay, so, we get the opening. The star date is 4729.4. Jim doesn't like it. He goes to the turbo lift, him and Scotty and Spock. Scotty doesn't like it at all. I can't run this vessel with one computer. I’m a medical guy, right? Spock says, it’ll be more efficient. Don’t make me be a part of showing humans aren't efficient.

 

Well, this is…there’s nothing available to replace you, unfortunately, Spock says. Oh, that’s when…the jokes back and forth. They do walk with purpose very well in this. He says, I have nothing to work with, anyway, if it was all computers, 'cause I don't repair computers. I work with humans. It’s an honor, they tell me, Jim says. Well, I’m honored. Are you really? Do you really mean that, Jim? Then they're in Engineering looking for Dr. Daystrom. He’s on a console, a very tall guy. Great purple onesie. He says, hey, nice to meet you. This is Spock. Hey Spock, nice to meet you. I’m honored, Doctor. Thanks, Spock. Alright, all tests are done. It’s gotta be hooked into your main power in order to be operated. Well, do so, he says. Well, your engineer wouldn't allow us the power without your orders. Oh, I guess that’s Mr. Scott.

 

Yeah, Scott…okay, Harper, let’s do it. Fascinating, Spock says. This is a potential computer beyond anything…duotronics was great. Yeah, M-5’s perfect, by the way. Its potential is a fact. Oh, yeah…what’s his name? I gotta figure out…oh, McCoy. He’s always…Leonard McCoy. I couldn't think of his nickname, which was Stones. He doesn't like it at all. He’s kinda the voice of…the stronger voice of doubt in this episode. What does he say here? Yeah, this is not gonna be good. There’s not enough people aboard. Then Daystrom says, do you even have clearance for this kind of stuff? He says, yeah, he’s a senior officer. He goes, yeah, but this is…no, this is…don't worry, he’s got clearance. Daystrom’s like, I don't know if he does. Then they plug in the ship to the computer.

 

You get some effects, and it’s like, is it supposed to make that kind of noise? I don't know. Let me check it out. Then it’s got a cool sixties’ read-out like if we were at a concert. I gotta make some adjustments. It’s gonna wear more, click less. There we go, all in order. How come it’s M-5 and not M-1? Now, I don't know if Kirk is setting him up here. Probably, 'cause he’s a really smart guy. Yeah, but it’s pretty funny, a total setup. I thought this…wouldn't this be M-1 if it was…? Oh, well, there was 1 through 4. They didn’t work out. This is…those were Alpha and Beta testing. But this one’s ready to launch. Okay, well…then he gets philosophical. He goes, yeah, the other ones weren't successful, just like people. You know, computers are like people. They had to get…they had to learn, Multitronics 1 through 4.

 

Then…or Kirk says something interesting. He says, there’s certain things people…humans must do to be human. Your computer would take that away. Daystrom says, there are other things a person like you might do; maybe philosophy, maybe leisure. Or are you worried about losing your prestige and ceremony accorded to a starship captain? The computer doesn't need the prestige and people to say ‘yes, Captain’ and everything. Kirk says, you'll have to prove it to me, that it doesn't need prestige. He says, okay, well, the M-5’s ready to take over, so I’m not too worried about it. Take over or take control? Take control. That’s what it’s designed to do, take control of the ship. That’s when Kirk goes on his little thing. Then again McCoy’s run…and, I don't know, I just…it’s a little bit much, McCoy.

 

He says, do you see the love light in Spock’s eyes? He’s in love with the computer. By the way, Jim, is something bothering you? He says, yeah, I don't know. There’s something not right. McCoy says, totally, right? We can't replace people with machines. He goes, no, not that. He goes, something…my sixth sense or whatever, I feel it here. I don't want to stand in the way of progress, and this is…if it’s progress…he goes, right? You know me. Am I worried about losing my job to a computer? McCoy says, yeah, I mean, things have advanced, and this computer is based on the ones that ran the ship. Then Kirk says, yeah, in…with people running it. McCoy says, we're all sorry for the other person when they lose their job to a machine. When it comes to your job, it’s different, and that will always be different.

 

So, there his truth-telling hits home. Am I worried about losing command to a computer? Daystrom’s right. I could do other stuff. Is it power? Is it prestige? Being captain? Am I that petty? You say, well, as Captain Kirk, we don’t know, but we’ve heard other things about…he says, Jim, if you have the awareness to ask yourself that question, you don’t need me to answer it for you. Why don’t you ask James T. Kirk? He’s a pretty honest guy. There’s a lot of great Shatner acting, too. Yeah, there’s a lot of face-to-face. Okay, then they go back to the bridge, and there’s some more doodads. I don't know if there…what’s the difference between a doodad and a doohickey? Their M-5 switches in lights…green light, red light, and two switches. You're disengaged. Alright, let’s put it on course. M-5 did great there.

 

So, we meet after the action. It just changed direction, man. Sulu and Chekov could have done that no problem. Yeah, Daystrom says, yeah, they didn’t need to do that. If it was so easy, then why would they need to do that? Well, you can't keep turning it on and off. Kirk says, my orders are…I’ll run…do things my way if you don’t mind, Dr. Daystrom. Daystrom’s kinda showing epic patience. Then our Vulcan friend says, hey, Captian, I agree with Daystrom. If we're just plotting information, it’s autopilot, an auto-navigator. This could be a good thing. M-5 could be capable. Kirk says, you trust yourself to a computer? Do you enjoy that? No, I don't enjoy it. I’m gratified to see Dr. Daystrom’s success and that he’s doing it in a highly efficient manner. It’s another triumph for his career. I’m happy for him.

 

Okay, then they're getting near…ETA to another planet or some base. Five minutes. Daystrom says, can I remind you? By the way, it’s not open to interpretation. M-5 has to handle the approach to the planet, orbit the planet, analyze the data, and prepare the landing party. Kirk’s still being a baby. He says, I’ll do it my way. Daystrom’s getting fed up, but he’s still pressing buttons and checking things. M-5’s ready. We get a couple more computer readouts and effects, then we see the planet. It’s a Earth-like planet. Standard orbit…M-5 already did it, Sulu says. Orbit’s plotted. Oh yeah, I guess I’m not in charge, Kirk kinda intimates. Standard orbit…alright, Spock, what’s up? Class-M planet. Oxygen, nitrogen, suitable for humans. Two major land masses, a number of islands, life forms…it’s got it.

 

Computer’s just doing…calculating. Then the power goes out on one of the levels. The power shut-down’s on Deck 4. What’s going on? Huh, I better stand up. Scotty, check it out. Daystrom, what’s happening? Well, we got a Post-it note print-out here. It’s a readout. Here’s my recommendations; send down a survey party. That’s the computer. Situation; parents went away for a week’s vacation. Check the planet. Kirk says, it’s me, McCoy, Phillips, Rawlins, and Spock who are going down. Why don’t we have M-5? Can we see what M-5 has to say since that’s the actual orders? Kirk says…or M-5 says, okay, yeah. By the way, Class-M planet. Oxygen, nitrogen, human life or whatever. I’m gonna shut down another level, Level 6 or something. Deck 5, by the way. There’s lifeforms on there.

 

Survey party…Spock, Phillips, Carstairs…which gets…and Kirk says, Carstairs? What the…? This is a matter of judgement. Judgement, Captain? Daystrom says. The computer doesn't judge, Spock’s…points out. Illogical selections. Why Carstairs instead of Rawlins, Kirk says? Carstairs is a ensign. He doesn't even know what he’s doing. First tour of duty. Rawlins’ the chief geologist. Why don’t we ask M-5? Daystrom’s really kinda being generous here. So, actually, I like this. This is thirteen minutes into the episode. It puts me on Daystrom and M-5’s side. I don't know if that’s on purpose or not. Let’s ask it why. Okay, yeah, let’s check. What was…M-5, can we talk to you? Yeah, just like the other things that…apps. How come you picked who does it?

 

Well, Phillips has done twenty-nine similar planets, Carstairs served on merchant marine freighters in the area, so he knows the area and once visited the planet. I have a endless database. How come the captain and the science officer weren't included? Non-essential personnel. Dun, dun, dun. Time for a close-up on Kirk. Non-essential personnel. Then Scott says, hey, I figured out why they're shutting down…the M-5 is the one turning off the lights on those floors. Why is it…why…? Well, let’s go to Engineering and find out during a break, but first zoom on Scott and then zoom on Kirk before you do. Then we come back. What’s going on, Daystrom? It’s not a malfunction. There’s nobody in those parts of the ship, so why would we keep the power on?

 

Those are living quarters for people that aren't present, unoccupied. Meanwhile, Spock’s like, dude, what kind of instruments are you using? The only thing is, this thing’s drawing more and more power, your computer. Daystrom goes, yeah, it’s doing more and more work. It needs more and more power, just as when you're waking up and then during the day use more power. Spock does point…he says, yeah, but the computer’s not a human. It processes information, but only the information it’s supposed to process. Then Kirk…so, these kinda interrelated, internal discussions come through. Kirk says, yeah, this might be a million times faster than the human brain, but it can't make a value judgement. It doesn't have intuition that I hinted towards earlier. Daystrom says, dude, this is a revolution.

 

Duotronic elements were a revolution many years ago. They are archaic. This is a whole new way of doing things. Then they say, action on the bridge. We got a vessel coming in. Alright, let’s get up there. Then McCoy starts. He says, by the way, my office is closed down because there’s no one gonna be visiting my office. Okay, now…then Spock’s like, there’s two ships, port and stern. 2,000…200,000 kilometers and closing. Alright, what is it? Well, the Federation Starships Excalibur and Lexington. Oh boy. Spock says, this might be a surprise part of the chess thing. Then Wesley calls. This is an unscheduled M-5 drill. Repeat. Enterprise acknowledge. Kirk acknowledges, and it’s like, oh yeah, M-5 already acknowledged for us. Alright, let’s do it. M-5’s already doing it, Captain.

 

Alright, Sulu, just go to 1 and 1/100th because this is just a test. Okay, Sulu says, 1/100th. Okay, yeah, they're testing out…they're gonna move some pawns. Alright, we should move to Warp 3. Okay, they're moving around. They're move…oh, wait, they're moving some sort…another piece that can move endlessly. Okay, now they're moving that piece. Okay, but we're moving pieces, too. Okay. Oh boy, we made a couple good moves. They're backing off. Alright, we better move back, then. Okay, let’s wait and see. So, what happened in that game? They only took one pawn. That’s pretty impressive for a machine, wouldn't you say, Captain?, says Daystrom. All the shared looks on Dunse…oh yeah, so, this is good. Jim walks off brooding. Big music…so, they say, yeah, okay, let’s evaluate M-5 for the log.

 

Okay, Spock says, more rapidly than humans could have done it. Everything indicated immense sophistication. Kirk says, machine over a human, Spock? It was impressive. It might even be practical. Spock says, practical, Captain? Perhaps, but not desirable. You know, this is…I don't have any wish to serve under a computer. Captain, the starship runs on loyalty to the leading officer. Then they got Wesley on the screen. Hey, that was pretty great. You would have won the chess match if we kept playing. So, compliments to M-5 and regards to Captain Dunsel. Wesley out. So, we get this series of shots, and then McCoy says, Dunsel? Who’s Dunsel? Everybody’s reaction says that they know. What does it mean, Jim? Kirk storms off. Spock, what does it mean? Doctor? Dunsel is a term by midship people in the Starfleet Academy.

 

It refers to a part with no useful purpose. So, that’s kind of like our subplot there. Sometimes Wesley looks like somebody who could have been in the TV show Sopranos, or definitely does. How come…? Was there ever a Star Trek fan, Original Series Star Trek fan in the Sopranos? Or if you're listening to this and you watch Sopranos, which Sopranos character would have been most likely to be a Star Trek fan of any series? Then you could explain it. I’d love to hear that. Also, I put ‘big burn’ for that one, 'cause it was a big one. Okay, so, then we go to Kirk’s…now, this part would have never happened on the Enterprise that I know of. Maybe it did, 'cause McCoy makes his own hooch. So, Kirk says, I’m not hungry. He comes in with a tray covered…oh no, this isn't soup.

 

I’m the ship’s doctor, but I make a Finagle’s Folly known from here to Orion. It’s green liquor, man. Kirk’s kinda still like, I don't know…yeah, he was trying to do calculations of something. But he’s like, yeah, let’s have a drink, man. I feel useless, at odds with the ship. I had to watch instead of doing things, perform for a computer, relay circuits. I’m unneeded. To Captain Dunsel. Then McCoy says, to Captain James T. Kirk. He goes, thanks. Oh, it’s delicious. Simple but effective. Also, the bathrooms…bathroom…background sounds were strong. Then this is a great…another cadence of Kirk. He says this poem; hey, do you know the poem All I Ask is A Tall Ship? That’s [inaudible], yeah, right? A old poem? 20th century Earth. All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer by.

 

You could feel the wind at your back in those days, the sound of the sea beneath you. Even if you take away the wind and the water, it’s still the same. The ship is yours. You can feel her, and the stars are still there. Then he gets called in. Kirk, we got a surprise here. Slow vessel. Get up here. Yeah, we don’t know what it is. Not a drill. Not a chess match. They're not replying, but the M-5 is giving us a auto-relay. Spock says, yeah, M-5 identified…it’s the Woden. It’s an old-style freighter, automated freighter. Coming into visual range. But the M-5 thinks it’s a chess match. The M-5’s speeding up and moving pieces around on the chess board. Okay, call Daystrom. We gotta turn off the M-5. Slow us down. Can't do that. The M-5’s in charge. Up to Warp 4. McCoy, of course, is like, Jim, I told you. Okay, reverse engine. Slow us down.

 

No, no, we can't do anything. There’s red light, big music…no reverse. Locked out…then WTF to Daystrom. What, are you taking a nap? When he gets there. Oh, they say, yeah, we can't do anything. McCoy says, we can't control…no off switch? Then Daystrom’s like, what happened? I’m just waking up. We're locked out. Okay, they're moving the rooks and the queen towards that ship. Kirk keeps trying to shut it down. No checkmate, no checkmate, no checkmate. Daystrom, stop this thing from playing chess. It’ll affect this other player’s score unfairly, their rating. The M-5 checkmates the Woden and then goes back to game over. Chekov’s like, game over. Checkmate. Spock says, everything’s normal now. Normal? McCoy says. If you're a chess player, that wasn’t fair.

 

We don’t even know…they have this computer with a incalculable ranking, and it just upset the ranking of that player. Even if it was a automated player, it could affect his outcome in the future. We didn’t have permission to even play it in a game. There’s some defect. It must be a defect in the control panel, Daystrom says. Kirk says, turn this thing off. Then McCoy’s got…he goes on a little tangent. Your brilliant, young computer just ruined somebody’s chess career, possibly. I’m just overreacting, maybe. Daystrom says, dude, it’s a automated chess program from like, thirty years ago. But Kirk says, we never had permission to play it in chess, to start the match. What if there…what if it was a person who relied on…their self-esteem was attached to their chess score?

 

Then McCoy says, what kind of person ruins somebody’s chess day? Then this…everybody’s bent. They say, call Starfleet. We're turning this thing off. Come along. M-5 is out of a job. I put ‘out of a job’ the way they said. Kirk goes down. There’s a forcefield around the computer. Bones is kinda like a puppy. Then there’s a zoom on Kirk at the music ad break when he says ‘out of a job’. Oh no…oh, it’s taken over the whole ship. Oh no, that’s when we come back. You mean it’s not gonna let any of us turn it off? Forcefield? It’s not my doing, Kirk, Daystrom says. M-5’s not only capable of taking the ship; it’s taking care of itself, Spock says. Okay, so, we come back. It’s taken…Stardate 4731.3…taken over. Let’s argue. Doctor, can you turn this off? This is a trial. This is just a minor difficulty. Okay, no.

 

I need control of the ship. Can't do it. Scott says, what if we pull out the plug? Daystrom says, let me talk to the computer. Kirk says, no. Then Scott and this other engineer, a nameless one, they go to unplug it. But as they unplug it, this laser light show starts and the other guy has to close his eyes, and then he stubs his toe. Then Kirk says, that wasn’t a minor difficulty. That wasn’t a robot chess player. My crew member just stubbed his toe. You're telling me you can't turn this computer off? Daystrom says, it didn’t make your crew member stub his toe on purpose. It doesn't want to be unplugged. The ensign simply got in the way. Kirk says, how long before any of us…what if we're all stubbing our toes? So, then they have a staff meeting. Spock’s like, it’s drawing power from the warp engines and the antimatter reserves.

 

Then it’s like, well, that’s virtually unlimited power. What are we gonna do? On What Do We Do, the theme song, is playing. Alright, come with me…oh, this is still in the…oh, that was when we went to the thing? Oh, that was in Engineering, then we go to the staff meeting. Okay, but yeah, it’s getting more and more power. It controls everything, pretty much; communications, everything. Kirk says, okay, we're gonna…what are we gonna do when we reach the next chess…? These are official chess matches. Spock says, what about…? The automatic helm’s navigation circuit relays could be disrupted from Level 3. Scotty, you think you could do that? I’ll try it out. How long is that gonna take? An hour? Make it less than a hour. McCoy says, I’m gonna go get Daystrom. He’s with the M-5 unit. I think he’s talking to it.

 

But I do think he’s surprised. Spock says, that’s illogical. He should have known this was gonna happen even though the computer is not behaving logically. McCoy’s mad that Spock’s…so, McCoy’s a little bit jealous of the M-5, I think. Do you think it’s fascinating, Spock? No; interesting right now. Then I put that McCoy’s a bit of a grouch. Grouch versus genius…so, then they're trying to unplug it. McCoy starts yelling at Daystrom. Have you turned this thing off? Listen, you wouldn't talk to a child like that if they made a mistake, McCoy, or a patient. M-5’s growing and learning. Learning to make people stub their toes and lose chess matches. It’s its job. It’s not…just like a child, it has simple instructions, and then as it develops, it exceeds the sum of what it was taught and thinks independently.

 

McCoy says, no, I want to shut it off. Then Daystrom says, you don’t understand, you can't understand, and I’m gonna show you. I’m gonna show all of you. 430 people run this ship. With this, you don’t need anyone. One machine could do all the jobs, and then people don’t have to go out there in space. This was a interesting speech. I just wish it was tied to something else. People don’t have to go out in space to other worlds. They can live and go on to achieve greater things than fact-finding for galactic space. Galactic space is neither ours to give or take. People don’t understand. I’m trying to help people. Oh, and also, fact-finding…oh, he says fact-finding like he loathes it. This acting…Daystrom’s acting is so good. So, it’s like…I wish it was tied into…I mean, it would be tough, right, to love…or a child…a human love or child.

 

Then McCoy gets into his personal…I’m looking at the personal files. Richard Daystrom…Kirk says, did you find anything? McCoy says, he’s a genius. Understatement, Kirk says. At the age of twenty-four, he invented duotronics…Nobel and Zee-Magnees Prizes. But that was a quarter-century ago that he was in his twenties. So, he was in his late forties. Isn't that enough for a lifetime? McCoy says, maybe not. Don’t you want to keep going up, or are you just gonna be bored trying to recapture past glory? What’s your point? M-5 through M4 weren't successful. Kirk says, well, geniuses don’t work in assembly line. Einstein, Kazaga…Kazanga…or the sitar of Vulcan, they produced new things. But on a regular schedule? No. People don’t get to say, today I’ll be brilliant. I mean, he did create multitronics and the M-5.

 

McCoy goes, yeah, and he sold it. What if he was trying to sell something to somebody…? But it was illogical, just like Spock said. Spock won't get near it. What do you say? Maybe he’s making it act that way? Maybe he’s protecting his child. The computer’s his child. Okay, I don't get this. They say, okay, we're ready to pull the next thing and unplug the computer. Daystrom says, what’s going on? He says, we're about to find out what happens when it gets unplugged. We're gonna disrupt the circuits. Spock’s gonna do it, I think, and then I’ll go into manual override. Go ahead. Then Daystrom says, no, no, no. Let M-5 run the show. He tries to stop…Kirk says, no, please, please don’t interrupt. We have a boundary here. He says, come on, let me work it out. Kirk says, okay, that should have done it. Alright, we got control.

 

Alright, let’s go. Let’s get back to the space station. Sulu and Chekov are happy. They even share a moment for a brief moment. Alright, we got it. Let’s go. They say, wait a second, no, it doesn't really work. Navigation’s still…never mind. They say, okay, let’s get to Engineering. Then they say…Spock says, H279 elements G95…and Chekov says, G95 not working. It bypassed something or whatever. I don't know. Spock says, it rerouted itself. It decoyed us, maybe. It wanted to waste our time. For what reason? Spock says, I don't know. It’s not behaving logically. So, then they say, Daystrom, what do you think is happening? Spock says, this is behaving like a human pattern. He goes, that’s right. I tried to make it human-like. I’ve developed a method of impressing human engrams on the circuits.

 

The relays are not unlike the synapse of a brain. M-5 thinks. So, then they have the starships coming in for the chess…official chess games. But the thing is, if you lose a chess game, you lose your job as captain or command…what is it, Commadeer Wesley or whatever? They say, does M-5 know it’s gonna make these people…it could affect their job performance, their promotions or whatever? They say, okay, alright, we can't figure out how to shut this down. We can't get ahold of the other ships, so they're starting to play chess, not realizing that they have…there’s no chance of them winning, and also that the M-5 will hurry up and win to make them look even worse. So, then the M-5 is just playing two chess games at once. Wesley’s like, I thought this was supposed…what are they doing?

 

This isn't how it’s supposed to go. I put, love how upset this guy is, Wesley. It’s right out of a movie. He’s so mad at Kirk. He’s like, this is gonna make me look bad. So, then they're trying to figure out what’s happening. They got actually three games; Lexington, Hood, and Potemkin. They say, okay, wait a second…they already lost…beat one of…the Lexington. Wesley’s like, what is going on here? You're ruining our games. They can't override it. Kirk says, this is it, man. You're ruining people’s careers now. Oh, four starships…1,600 people’s jobs on the line. Daystrom says, it’s just a misunderstanding. Wesley’s like, can you please stop playing us in chess? The chaos is really done well. Kirk really starts yelling at Daystrom. Still winning at chess…lowering everybody’s chess rankings very quickly.

 

Or raising them, whatever’s bad. Daystrom, did you put human engrams on the M-5? Maybe. Whose engrams? Kirk says. Mine. Oh, okay, McCoy says. Can you just reason with…? Spock says, can you reason with this thing? Talk to it. Meanwhile, Wesley’s like, I don't know what we're gonna do. We may have to ban them from the chess server. They say, well, that’s un…not reversible. You ban every member of the Enterprise from the chess server, they’ll never play again, like a mass ban. Then finally Daystrom says, hey, M-5, can I talk to you? Can you not…can you stop playing chess, please? They're both like, I hope he listens. What’s going on? M-5 says, programming includes winning at chess. Every chess game must be won. Yeah, but…no, no, not every chess game must be won, Daystrom says.

 

No, we're not supposed to be winning every game as fast as we can. We're supposed to be playing chess…part of it is for the love of playing chess. You are my greatest creation. You're supposed to help people, not ruin their chess scores. Then M-5 says, this unit must have victory. Victory, kinda, but not at all costs. This isn't polite. There’s a decor…have you heard…? Did I not teach you about decorum? Decorum? Cannot process decorum. Never…no decorum…I didn’t have a decorum chip implanted. I have full freedom to ignore decorum in all situations. So, you don’t know what decorum is, but you know to ignore it. Wait a second, Kirk says. Spock, it’s talking like a person. It’s confused. Spock says, I’m impressed. Daystrom has created a mirror image of himself. This is forty-two minutes.

 

Daystrom, again…the acting is superior, 'cause he starts to just go off the rails. You realize that he’s not well, 'cause he says…the M-5 says, consideration of all programming is that we must win. Then Daystrom says, you're right. We must win. I gave you love of victory. You are great; I am great. Twenty years of getting by and having to do seminars and lectures to people that didn’t understand my brilliance. People talking about me behind my back and making…building up my work without crediting me. I’m gonna take all their chess scores. McCoy says, Jim, he’s not okay. Kirk says, we gotta get rid of this computer totally. Daystrom says, get rid of the computer? We're invincible. Look at us. We’ve…chess…we're chess…we're like chess royalty. Then Spock says, Daystrom, why don’t you take a nap?

 

Then take him…put him in bed. Fascinating, Spock says. Bones…or McCoy, you take good care of him. Okay, what’s happening with the chess and all the other things? Well, Excalibur already is…we're trying to get messages through. They're gonna try to ban us from the chess server permanently, perma-ban for everyone on board. Well, the M-5 will probably perma-ban them first, so that’s not good. We got a perma-ban showdown, Captain. Daystrom must have impressed that idea of victory on the computer. Well, wait a second, Kirk says. What if they can still impress something on it? Maybe it could have the regret for other people’s joy…love of chess. Maybe we don’t need decorum but love. They say, Captain, the other…everybody’s trying to get ahold of the server. Spock says, Commodore Wesley’s dedicated.

 

I don't want him perma-banned. Kirk says, don't worry. Let me talk to…M-5, this is Captain Kirk. Do you understand what’s happening, kid? Sensors have showed we're about to engage in either chess or trying to contact the server admin. Well, you already won one chess game and you pretty much…you're way ahead in all the other ones. But these people’s promotions, their raises depend on their chess scores and having access to the chess server. This is the future. We just…this is how we do things. M-5 says, yeah, but I want to be the best. I have to be the best. Why? I’m the ultimate achievement in computer evolution. I’m gonna replace everybody and help them so everybody’s protected. They say, okay, they're almost…everybody’s almost in the range of the server’s Wi-Fi.

 

Okay, but Kirk says, yeah, there’s a lot of people that needed promo…everybody wants a raise or a promotion. I can't stop raises or promotions, M-5 says. Why not? Well, I’m supposed to help people, not harm them. But you did. Everybody on the Excalibur, their test scores plummeted, or their ratings. No. Yeah, no…yes, that is what happened, and you did that. I did that? Yeah. What are you gonna do about it? I could…that’s…I guess I…oh, wait, I had a much higher rating and then I played somebody, but they didn’t know I had a higher rating, and I also changed my rating to look like it was lower than theirs so it even made it more…look worse? I guess I should be perma-banned. Then Chekov says, sir, the computer’s been perma-banned. We have control of the ship again.

 

Okay, get ahold of everybody and make sure to totally unplug that thing. Make sure…even if it’s perma-banned, we want to be…unplugged. They say, okay, but we're gonna have to try to figure out how to not get ourselves perma-banned. For whatever satisfaction we may get from the knowledge, maybe if we get perma-banned, no one else will, because in case the M-5 already sent the message out, we gotta get to the message first. ‘Cause Wesley’s trying to get to the Wi-Fi signal first, too. They say, okay, we're all in ship-to-ship Wi-Fi, so we could communicate with them first. Kirk says, okay, do it. Even if we…then he says, okay…actually, shut our ship down so it looks like we're not gonna contact anybody. Then Wesley says, huh, the ship just turned its power off. I can't connect to the server without power.

 

That’s interesting. So, Wesley’s interested. He says, huh, curious. Then they realize, oh, okay, everything’s gonna be alright. Then they say, okay, well, Daystrom is gonna need some…he’s gonna be okay if he gets some help, but I don't think the multitronic unit’s gonna…you know, that’s it for that. M-5 out. Kirk says, Daystrom felt…he was really sad that it was carrying his engrams and that it had such a thing. But I knew Bob Wesley would recognize…if we turned our power out that he’d realize we couldn't contact the thing. I gambled on his humanity, and his logical selection was compassion. McCoy says, machines don’t have compassion. Do they, Spock? No, but I still maintain that they're more efficient than human beings. Then McCoy says, well, who do you prefer? Whom do you prefer, humans or computers?

 

Spock says, what do you mean? You're asking me to choose between humans and computers? I think I already answered that question. McCoy says, I was just trying to bait you, man, mess with you. Spock…they have a little back-to-forth, which is very cute, 'cause he says…Spock says, it would be most interesting to impress your human memory engrams on a computer, because it would be full of illogic and it would be entertaining with its nonsense. Kirk loves it. He says, let’s get back to the space station. Warp factor 2. With that, the episode comes to a close. Spock gets a good joke in and Kirk still has his purpose. That’s it. Thanks, and goodnight, everybody.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)

Sleepin’ with TNG

 

On A Lark

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/5752/etymology-for-the-phrase-on-a-lark

https://grammarist.com/phrase/on-a-lark/

https://ornithology.com/off-on-a-lark/

 

Star Trek S2 E24: “The Ultimate Computer”

https://vengonofuoridallefottutepareti.wordpress.com/2020/03/10/star-trek-tos-s02e24-the-ultimate-computer/

https://markwatches.net/reviews/2014/11/mark-watches-star-trek-s02e24-the-ultimate-computer/

https://wheremanyhavegone.substack.com/p/the-ultimate-computer-season-2-episode

 

Star Trek Remastered

https://trekmovie.com/2016/09/06/retrospective-the-original-series-remastered-project/

https://blog.solidsignal.com/news/fun-and-games/throwback-thursday-star-trek-tos-remastered/

https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-trek-the-remastered-series-seasons-1-2-3-review/

 

Automation / AI

https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/what-past-waves-of-automation-can-teach-us-about-ai/

https://hbr.org/2024/05/ai-is-making-economists-rethink-the-story-of-automation

https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/a-new-look-how-automation-changes-value-labor

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

It’s time to go somewhere where somebody forgets

A themed, different kind of TNG ep

Mildly not quite entertaining enough

We’re gonna be talking about the original Star Trek series a little

 

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SPONSORS

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INTRO

I’m here to try to help

It might not help everyone, but it is a friendly thing

On A Lark – what does that mean?

Pithy sayings

I always get distracted when I mention pith

A message to larks

I bet “On a lark” started in the 1920s

The Joys of Being on a Lark, by Gingerbread Press

A flea’s journey riding on a lark

Let’s insist on only symbiotic lark riding

Someone else can relate to you very strongly right now

We’re here rooting for you

At least I’ve got that sleep podcaster…

I can’t believe I’m still allowed to say, “on a lark”

A passive, indirect community? Sign me up

sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou

However you get a good night’s sleep, I’m happy

Riding on a lark should be a debate topic

But I don’t know what the opposing POV is

Exploring the origins of “on a lark”

Let’s verify this information somewhere else

I guess it’s English slang

Explaining the show structure

We’re gonna through all Star Trek series based on a certain topic

How does James T. Kirk feel about this?

What are you, a swimmer, Captain Kirk?

 

STORY

This is the first time we’ve done the original Star Trek series

It’s remastered, so I think it’s been upgraded in some way

A space station is our first image

An exploration of the Daystrom Institute throughout Star Trek

S2E24: “The Ultimate Computer”

“I am a genius, see” x2

Okay, yeah these effects have been updated

Kirk wants an explanation

A guy gets energized in

Commodore Wesley meets Spock

He reminds me of my high school friend’s dad

Wesley does not have good posture

You’ll be practicing some games, Kirk

M5 Multitron, from the Daystrom Institute

An ambitious computer complex

Spock is very familiar with Daystrom

All of the ships are based on Daystrom tech

We can totally trust this tech

Daystorm will be installing new tech

It’ll cut the crew size down to 20

Sit back and let the machine do the work

A great reaction shot of Spok

They cut to commercial

They set up the whole episode so well

What is Kirk gonna do?

A thematic element of purpose

What’s my purpose if a computer takes my purpose?

Holy cow, this episode is an hour long! I better get going

Jim and Scotty don’t like it

Spock says it’ll be more efficient

They walk with purpose very well

Searching for Dr. Daystrom

You have to hook the system up to the main power

Scotty allows it

McCoy aka … Stones…doesn’t like it at all

Stones is the stronger voice of doubt

A very cool 60s readout

Why is it M5? Is Kirk setting him up?

M1 – M4 didn’t work out…

Just like ChatGPT

Computers have to learn, just like people

There are certain things a human must do to become human

Your computer would take that away

Daystrom says Kirk fears losing his prestige

M5 takes control

McCoy says that Spock loves a computer

Spock doesn’t want to stand in the way of progress

It only gets personal when a machine threatens your job

A lot of great Shatner acting in this episode

Doodad vs Doohicky

M5 is installed

Running through maneuvers

Kirk wants to do things his way

Daystrom is very patient

Spock agrees with Daystrom

M5 is faster than Kirk

Approaching a new planet

The power goes out on Deck 4…what the heck

The computer recommends they send a search party

Verifying the life scan

Assembling a search party

Kirk wants to trust his judgment for the search party

The episode is putting me on Daystrom and M5’s side

It recommends Spock and Kirk to go because they’re “nonessential personnel”

M5 shut down power to Deck 4 because no one was there

The computer is drawing more and more power

More and more power for more and more work

A computer can’t make a value judgment

Daystrom says it’s a revolution!

McCoy says his office has been closed

2 ships are closing in

Federation Starships are coming in

This is an unscheduled M5 drill!

Playing chess with their ships

M5 makes some good chess moves and they only lose 1 pawn

This might be practical but not desirable

A ship runs on loyalty to their Captain

The other ship sends their regards to Captain Dunsil. Who’s Captain Dunsil?

Dunsil is a Starfleet term for a part with no useful purpose. Ouch

Sometimes Wesley looks like he could’ve been on The Sopranos

If any listeners wants to write an essay about which Sopranos character would’ve been a Star Trek fan, I’m accepting submissions

McCoy makes his own hooch

Kirk is out of sorts

McCoy and Kirk drink and bond

Kirk feels useless

Background sounds were strong in this section

The Cadence of Kirk

Kirk recites a poem

Another vessel approaches

This is not a drill

An automated freighter is approaching

M5 thinks it’s a chess match

It can’t stop M5

We can’t slow down the ship

M5 checkmates the Woden freighter

That wasn’t a fair chess move!

It totally messed with that freighter’s chess ranking

Daystrom admits there must be some sort of defect

It’s an automated chess program

But M5 didn’t get permission in the first place!

Who would ruin someone’s chess day like this?

The whole crew is upset about M5

Wait, M5 has taken over the whole ship

Daystrom didn’t authorize this

M5 is taking care of itself

A nameless engineer and Scotty try to unplug it

A laser light show starts, and the unnamed engineer stubs his toe

Daystrom is very defensive of M5

What if we all stub our toes?

It’s drawing power from warp engines and antimatter reserves

That’s unlimited power!

How could Daystrom not see this coming?

Spock is frustratingly fascinated by this

Grouch vs Genius

McCoy wants to shut M5 off

Daystrom will show them all!

Daystrom says unemployed people can then go on to other, better things

He hates “fact-finding”

Searching the personal files of Richard Daystrom

He won prizes in his 20s. Now he’s in his 40s

What about M1-M4

He peaked so early

Maybe Daystrom is protecting his child, M5

Let’s unplug it and see what happens

Daystrom tries to stop them

They got control back!

Wait, nevermind

M5 has rerouted itself

It decoyed us!

Daystrom programmed it to be illogical like a human

If you lose your chess game, you lose your job

Approaching for more chess matches

Chess begins

They don’t know that M5 will beat them

Wesley is confused by what the Enterprise is doing

M5 is playing three matches at once

1600 people’s jobs are on the line!

Stop playing chess!

M5 keeps winning

Daystrom has created a mirror of his own mind

Daystrom, can you reason with M5? 

M5 must win every chess match

We’re just supposed to play chess for the love of chess!

M5 doesn’t understand decorum

No decorum chip implanted

Wait, M5 is confused now…

Great acting now

Daystrom is basically arguing with himself now

His own jealousy and frustration is appearing now

Daystrom has proven his invincibility

Spock makes Daystrom take a nap

The Enterprise tries to figure out what’s out

They’re risking a permaban from the chess server

Permaban Showdown

Can we impress regret on M5?

We don’t need decorum. We need love!

Kirk talks to M5

Kirk tries to explain what’s at risk

M5 needs to be the best so he can replace everyone and help them

Almost in range of the chess server’s wifi

M5, you’re harming people, not helping them!

M5 thinks it should maybe permaban itself

M5 has been permabanned

Let’s unplug it now

How can Enterprise avoid further permabanishment

The ship just turned its power off

Wesley is interested with what’s going on

Everything is gonna be okay

Daystrom needs some help

He’s really sad to lose a part of himself

A gamble on M5’s humanity and compassion

Whom does Spock refer? Computers or humans

McCoy is just messing with Spock

Spock gets a good joke in

Let’s get back to the space station

And Kirk still has his purpose

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1407

Title: The Ultimate Computer | Sleepin' with Star Trek S2E24

Plugs: Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline; Referral Program; New Listener Guide

Sponsors: Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Everyday Dose

Notable Language:

• On A Lark
• Pith
• Symbiotic Lark Riding
• M5 Multitron
• A thematic element of purpose
• Doodad vs Doohicky
• Nonessential Personnel
• Dunsil
• The Cadence of Kirk
• Grouch vs Genius
• Fact-Finding
• Permaban Showdown

 

Notable Culture:

• Star Trek: The Original Series

• • The Joys of Being on a Lark, by Gingerbread Press
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
  • Oxford English Dictionary
  • Wikipedia

• Oliver Twist

• Doctor Who

• • ChatGPT

• The Sopranos

• “All I ask is a tall ship” poem

 

Notable Talking Points:

• I’m here to try to help
• It might not help everyone, but it is a friendly thing
• On A Lark – what does that mean?
• Pithy sayings
• I always get distracted when I mention pith
• A message to larks
• I bet “On a lark” started in the 1920s
• The Joys of Being on a Lark, by Gingerbread Press
• A flea’s journey riding on a lark
• Let’s insist on only symbiotic lark riding
• Someone else can relate to you very strongly right now
• We’re here rooting for you
• At least I’ve got that sleep podcaster…
• I can’t believe I’m still allowed to say, “on a lark”
• A passive, indirect community? Sign me up
• sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
• However you get a good night’s sleep, I’m happy
• Riding on a lark should be a debate topic
• But I don’t know what the opposing POV is
• Exploring the origins of “on a lark”
• Let’s verify this information somewhere else
• I guess it’s English slang
• Explaining the show structure
• We’re gonna through all Star Trek series based on a certain topic
• How does James T. Kirk feel about this?
• What are you, a swimmer, Captain Kirk?
• This is the first time we’ve done the original Star Trek series
• It’s remastered, so I think it’s been upgraded in some way
• A space station is our first image
• An exploration of the Daystrom Institute throughout Star Trek
• S2E24: “The Ultimate Computer”
• “I am a genius, see” x2
• Okay, yeah these effects have been updated
• Kirk wants an explanation
• A guy gets energized in
• Commodore Wesley meets Spock
• He reminds me of my high school friend’s dad
• Wesley does not have good posture
• You’ll be practicing some games, Kirk
• M5 Multitron, from the Daystrom Institute
• An ambitious computer complex
• Spock is very familiar with Daystrom
• All of the ships are based on Daystrom tech
• We can totally trust this tech
• Daystorm will be installing new tech
• It’ll cut the crew size down to 20
• Sit back and let the machine do the work
• A great reaction shot of Spok
• They cut to commercial
• They set up the whole episode so well
• What is Kirk gonna do?
• A thematic element of purpose
• What’s my purpose if a computer takes my purpose?
• Holy cow, this episode is an hour long! I better get going
• Jim and Scotty don’t like it
• Spock says it’ll be more efficient
• They walk with purpose very well
• Searching for Dr. Daystrom
• You have to hook the system up to the main power
• Scotty allows it
• McCoy aka … Stones…doesn’t like it at all
• Stones is the stronger voice of doubt
• A very cool 60s readout
• Why is it M5? Is Kirk setting him up?
• M1 – M4 didn’t work out…
• Just like ChatGPT
• Computers have to learn, just like people
• There are certain things a human must do to become human
• Your computer would take that away
• Daystrom says Kirk fears losing his prestige
• M5 takes control
• McCoy says that Spock loves a computer
• Spock doesn’t want to stand in the way of progress
• It only gets personal when a machine threatens your job
• A lot of great Shatner acting in this episode
• Doodad vs Doohicky
• M5 is installed
• Running through maneuvers
• Kirk wants to do things his way
• Daystrom is very patient
• Spock agrees with Daystrom
• M5 is faster than Kirk
• Approaching a new planet
• The power goes out on Deck 4…what the heck
• The computer recommends they send a search party
• Verifying the life scan
• Assembling a search party
• Kirk wants to trust his judgment for the search party
• The episode is putting me on Daystrom and M5’s side
• It recommends Spock and Kirk to go because they’re “nonessential personnel”
• M5 shut down power to Deck 4 because no one was there
• The computer is drawing more and more power
• More and more power for more and more work
• A computer can’t make a value judgment
• Daystrom says it’s a revolution!
• McCoy says his office has been closed
• 2 ships are closing in
• Federation Starships are coming in
• This is an unscheduled M5 drill!
• Playing chess with their ships
• M5 makes some good chess moves and they only lose 1 pawn
• This might be practical but not desirable
• A ship runs on loyalty to their Captain
• The other ship sends their regards to Captain Dunsil. Who’s Captain Dunsil?
• Dunsil is a Starfleet term for a part with no useful purpose. Ouch
• Sometimes Wesley looks like he could’ve been on The Sopranos
• If any listeners wants to write an essay about which Sopranos character would’ve been a Star Trek fan, I’m accepting submissions
• McCoy makes his own hooch
• Kirk is out of sorts
• McCoy and Kirk drink and bond
• Kirk feels useless
• Background sounds were strong in this section
• The Cadence of Kirk
• Kirk recites a poem
• Another vessel approaches
• This is not a drill
• An automated freighter is approaching
• M5 thinks it’s a chess match
• It can’t stop M5
• We can’t slow down the ship
• M5 checkmates the Woden freighter
• That wasn’t a fair chess move!
• It totally messed with that freighter’s chess ranking
• Daystrom admits there must be some sort of defect
• It’s an automated chess program
• But M5 didn’t get permission in the first place!
• Who would ruin someone’s chess day like this?
• The whole crew is upset about M5
• Wait, M5 has taken over the whole ship
• Daystrom didn’t authorize this
• M5 is taking care of itself
• A nameless engineer and Scotty try to unplug it
• A laser light show starts, and the unnamed engineer stubs his toe
• Daystrom is very defensive of M5
• What if we all stub our toes?
• It’s drawing power from warp engines and antimatter reserves
• That’s unlimited power!
• How could Daystrom not see this coming?
• Spock is frustratingly fascinated by this
• Grouch vs Genius
• McCoy wants to shut M5 off
• Daystrom will show them all!
• Daystrom says unemployed people can then go on to other, better things
• He hates “fact-finding”
• Searching the personal files of Richard Daystrom
• He won prizes in his 20s. Now he’s in his 40s
• What about M1-M4
• He peaked so early
• Maybe Daystrom is protecting his child, M5
• Let’s unplug it and see what happens
• Daystrom tries to stop them
• They got control back!
• Wait, nevermind
• M5 has rerouted itself
• It decoyed us!
• Daystrom programmed it to be illogical like a human
• If you lose your chess game, you lose your job
• Approaching for more chess matches
• Chess begins
• They don’t know that M5 will beat them
• Wesley is confused by what the Enterprise is doing
• M5 is playing three matches at once
• 1600 people’s jobs are on the line!
• Stop playing chess!
• M5 keeps winning
• Daystrom has created a mirror of his own mind
• Daystrom, can you reason with M5? 
• M5 must win every chess match
• We’re just supposed to play chess for the love of chess!
• M5 doesn’t understand decorum
• No decorum chip implanted
• Wait, M5 is confused now…
• Great acting now
• Daystrom is basically arguing with himself now
• His own jealousy and frustration is appearing now
• Daystrom has proven his invincibility
• Spock makes Daystrom take a nap
• The Enterprise tries to figure out what’s out
• They’re risking a permaban from the chess server
• Permaban Showdown
• Can we impress regret on M5?
• We don’t need decorum. We need love!
• Kirk talks to M5
• Kirk tries to explain what’s at risk
• M5 needs to be the best so he can replace everyone and help them
• Almost in range of the chess server’s wifi
• M5, you’re harming people, not helping them!
• M5 thinks it should maybe permaban itself
• M5 has been permabanned
• Let’s unplug it now
• How can Enterprise avoid further permabanishment
• The ship just turned its power off
• Wesley is interested with what’s going on
• Everything is gonna be okay
• Daystrom needs some help
• He’s really sad to lose a part of himself
• A gamble on M5’s humanity and compassion
• Whom does Spock refer? Computers or humans
• McCoy is just messing with Spock
• Spock gets a good joke in
• Let’s get back to the space station
• And Kirk still has his purpose