[continued from previous message]   
      
   theoretically compose a near-infinite number of poems in a fraction of a   
   second.    Moreover, since cyberspace has no physical existence, it is   
   not inconceivable to surmise that at some point in the future it may   
   reach a state wherein it can exist *outside of* the confines of   
   Space-Time as *sentient energy.*  For the present, it is dependent upon   
   computers to keep it running -- but that is because it was created by   
   humans.  AI is already designing its own programs, and its limitless   
   potential exceeds the capabilities of human thought.   
      
   Of course, an infinite number of poems would be too much for any human   
   being to be capable of learning (even with a computer chip implant, our   
   physical brain would be unable to process that much information over the   
   course of a lifetime).  But AI would, again, theoretically, be able to   
   not only "know" all of these poems, but to examine, critique, compare,   
   and rank them against one another.  Can you imagine the *quality* of the   
   100 greatest poems as ranked by computers that have knowledge of an   
   infinite (or near-infinite) number of great poems?   
      
   And, ultimately, it is the poem that matters -- not the poet.  And   
   certainly not whether the poet was a human (who, as Emerson notes, is   
   prone to "miswrite" the poem) or AI (which, theoretically, should be   
   able to capture it in its truest, Ideal form).   
      
   --   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)