Welcome back to my blog for the year 2026. In the beginning of the year, we began discussing topics related to developing a permanent presence on the Red Planet. The plan was that each month I would post a short essay about a particular relevant topic.
Well, that became a little premature as SpaceX changed its focus from Mars to the Moon.
Artemis II is complete. NASA cancelled the Gateway (bummer – I loved the concept of a cis-lunar way station). Artemis III is planned for next year. Starship completed its latest launch. Lots going on, but we’ll see where we are with all that next year.
So, in good Sci Fi fashion, “Navigator, change course to new heading.”
Let’s talk about AI and Robots. I’m not an expert in either, but I’ll share my thoughts and perspective. If nothing else, I’ll share some books and movies that will highlight how some Science Fiction has addressed this broad topic.
Here’s what I’m thinking for the next several months:
Human Form Robots: Why Do We Need Them?
AI: Don’t Put Them in Charge of the Nuclear Weapons!
Robots: Cheap Labor, Companions, or Technical Marvels?
AI Sentience or Consciousness: Do They Know They’re Artificial?
Robots and Human Activities: What Will We Do with All the Free Time?
Generative AI: Better or Just Faster?
Robot Rights: How Do We Treat Them?
AI Conversations: Real or Imagined?
Robot Unions: What Happens when they Organize
This should be fun. I love research, and digging into Robots and AI means I get to cover a wide swath of our modern society. You never know when you’ll come across an idea or a surprise solution or a cool video.
I hope you will enjoy my posts, and if you’d like to discuss a particular topic or stay connected, please slide over to my Contact page and sign up for my email list to receive advance notice of upcoming stories of aliens, strange worlds, and mysteries on the short fiction tab.
Thank you again for visiting.