What was the earliest appearance in SF of a likeable AI character?What is the earliest work considered to be Science Fiction?Which novel has the earliest appearance of the consumption of monsters as food?What is the earliest incident where an AI Logic Bomb is ignored or shrugged offWhat was the earliest science fiction story to use nanotechnology?What is the earliest worldbuilding fiction?Earliest example of an AI being defeated by a paradoxWhat was the earliest book about “magic's first discovery”?What was the earliest work that identified the pineal gland as an ESP organ?What was the earliest story about an AI takeover before the book “Colossus”?What was the first appearance of a sword-wielding canine?
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What was the earliest appearance in SF of a likeable AI character?
What is the earliest work considered to be Science Fiction?Which novel has the earliest appearance of the consumption of monsters as food?What is the earliest incident where an AI Logic Bomb is ignored or shrugged offWhat was the earliest science fiction story to use nanotechnology?What is the earliest worldbuilding fiction?Earliest example of an AI being defeated by a paradoxWhat was the earliest book about “magic's first discovery”?What was the earliest work that identified the pineal gland as an ESP organ?What was the earliest story about an AI takeover before the book “Colossus”?What was the first appearance of a sword-wielding canine?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
In Heinlein's 1966 classic "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" the loss of self awareness in Mike (HOLMES) the computer struck me indelibly in my formative years. This speaks to Robert A Heinlein's tremendous abilities to develop his characters.
I can't think of a better example of a human created computer become conscious that was 'likable'. Hal was most definitely not likable in "2001: A Space Odyssey" and that film was from the same era.
What was the earliest appearance in SF of a likeable AI character? I'd like to read that book.
history-of artificial-intelligence
asked Aug 1 at 18:10
tgrignontgrignon
317 bronze badges
|
show 5 more comments
In Heinlein's 1966 classic "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" the loss of self awareness in Mike (HOLMES) the computer struck me indelibly in my formative years. This speaks to Robert A Heinlein's tremendous abilities to develop his characters.
I can't think of a better example of a human created computer become conscious that was 'likable'. Hal was most definitely not likable in "2001: A Space Odyssey" and that film was from the same era.
What was the earliest appearance in SF of a likeable AI character? I'd like to read that book.
history-of artificial-intelligence
asked Aug 1 at 18:10
tgrignontgrignon
317 bronze badges
2
To close voters -- how is a question specific to AI and its properties not about SF?
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:22
1
Binder's book was Adam Link, Robot -- at least in the Ace edition I've read. I, Robot was Asimov.
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:34
1
@ZeissIkon - It's SFF, it's just not on-topic because it's asking for a list of works.
– Valorum
Aug 1 at 18:37
9
Technically, the OP asked for just one work, and "earliest work" questions are considered acceptable, so I was inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
– Donald.McLean
Aug 1 at 18:49
4
Voted to leave closed, the definition of “likeable” is inherently subjective and so this is opinion based.
– TheLethalCarrot
Aug 1 at 19:20
|
show 5 more comments
In Heinlein's 1966 classic "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" the loss of self awareness in Mike (HOLMES) the computer struck me indelibly in my formative years. This speaks to Robert A Heinlein's tremendous abilities to develop his characters.
I can't think of a better example of a human created computer become conscious that was 'likable'. Hal was most definitely not likable in "2001: A Space Odyssey" and that film was from the same era.
What was the earliest appearance in SF of a likeable AI character? I'd like to read that book.
history-of artificial-intelligence
asked Aug 1 at 18:10
tgrignontgrignon
317 bronze badges
In Heinlein's 1966 classic "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" the loss of self awareness in Mike (HOLMES) the computer struck me indelibly in my formative years. This speaks to Robert A Heinlein's tremendous abilities to develop his characters.
I can't think of a better example of a human created computer become conscious that was 'likable'. Hal was most definitely not likable in "2001: A Space Odyssey" and that film was from the same era.
What was the earliest appearance in SF of a likeable AI character? I'd like to read that book.
history-of artificial-intelligence
history-of artificial-intelligence
asked Aug 1 at 18:10
tgrignontgrignon
317 bronze badges
asked Aug 1 at 18:10
tgrignontgrignon
317 bronze badges
edited Aug 1 at 19:11
tgrignon
asked Aug 1 at 18:10
tgrignontgrignon
317 bronze badges
asked Aug 1 at 18:10
tgrignontgrignon
317 bronze badges
asked Aug 1 at 18:10
tgrignontgrignon
317 bronze badges
317 bronze badges
2
To close voters -- how is a question specific to AI and its properties not about SF?
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:22
1
Binder's book was Adam Link, Robot -- at least in the Ace edition I've read. I, Robot was Asimov.
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:34
1
@ZeissIkon - It's SFF, it's just not on-topic because it's asking for a list of works.
– Valorum
Aug 1 at 18:37
9
Technically, the OP asked for just one work, and "earliest work" questions are considered acceptable, so I was inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
– Donald.McLean
Aug 1 at 18:49
4
Voted to leave closed, the definition of “likeable” is inherently subjective and so this is opinion based.
– TheLethalCarrot
Aug 1 at 19:20
|
show 5 more comments
2
To close voters -- how is a question specific to AI and its properties not about SF?
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:22
1
Binder's book was Adam Link, Robot -- at least in the Ace edition I've read. I, Robot was Asimov.
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:34
1
@ZeissIkon - It's SFF, it's just not on-topic because it's asking for a list of works.
– Valorum
Aug 1 at 18:37
9
Technically, the OP asked for just one work, and "earliest work" questions are considered acceptable, so I was inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
– Donald.McLean
Aug 1 at 18:49
4
Voted to leave closed, the definition of “likeable” is inherently subjective and so this is opinion based.
– TheLethalCarrot
Aug 1 at 19:20
2
2
To close voters -- how is a question specific to AI and its properties not about SF?
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:22
To close voters -- how is a question specific to AI and its properties not about SF?
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:22
1
1
Binder's book was Adam Link, Robot -- at least in the Ace edition I've read. I, Robot was Asimov.
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:34
Binder's book was Adam Link, Robot -- at least in the Ace edition I've read. I, Robot was Asimov.
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:34
1
1
@ZeissIkon - It's SFF, it's just not on-topic because it's asking for a list of works.
– Valorum
Aug 1 at 18:37
@ZeissIkon - It's SFF, it's just not on-topic because it's asking for a list of works.
– Valorum
Aug 1 at 18:37
9
9
Technically, the OP asked for just one work, and "earliest work" questions are considered acceptable, so I was inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
– Donald.McLean
Aug 1 at 18:49
Technically, the OP asked for just one work, and "earliest work" questions are considered acceptable, so I was inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
– Donald.McLean
Aug 1 at 18:49
4
4
Voted to leave closed, the definition of “likeable” is inherently subjective and so this is opinion based.
– TheLethalCarrot
Aug 1 at 19:20
Voted to leave closed, the definition of “likeable” is inherently subjective and so this is opinion based.
– TheLethalCarrot
Aug 1 at 19:20
|
show 5 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
1939: Adam Link, the protagonist of "I, Robot", a short story by "Eando Binder" (Earl and Otto Binder); first published in Amazing Stories, January 1939, available at the Internet Archive; reprinted in Amazing Stories, April 1961, also available at the Intenet Archive.
From Wikipedia:
"I, Robot" is a science fiction short story by Eando Binder (nom de plume for Earl and Otto Binder), part of a series about a robot named Adam Link. It was published in the January 1939 issue of Amazing Stories, well before the related and better-known book I, Robot (1950), a collection of short stories, by Isaac Asimov. Asimov was heavily influenced by the Binder short story.
The story is about a robot's confession. Some weeks earlier, its builder, Dr. Charles Link, built it in the basement. Link teaches his robot to walk, talk and behave civilly. Link's housekeeper sees the robot just enough to be horrified by it, but his dog is totally loyal to it. The robot is fully educated in a few weeks, Link then names it Adam Link, and it professes a desire to serve any human master who will have it. Soon afterwards, a heavy object falls on Dr. Link by accident and kills him. His housekeeper instantly assumes that the robot has murdered Dr. Link, and calls in armed men to hunt it down and destroy it. They do not succeed; in fact, they provoke the robot to retaliate, both by refusing to listen to it and by accidentally killing Dr. Link's dog. Back at the house, the robot finds a copy of Frankenstein, which Dr. Link had carefully hidden from the robot, and finally somewhat understands the prejudice against it. In the end the robot decides that it simply is not worth killing several people just to get a hearing, writes its confession, and prepares to turn itself off.
Binder's story was very innovative for its time, one of the first robot stories to break away from the Frankenstein clichés.
answered Aug 1 at 18:59
user14111user14111
113k6 gold badges460 silver badges578 bronze badges
Adam Link is an intelligent robot not an intelligent computer. The question asks about the first friendly computer. Certainly an intelligent robot is a form of AI, but computers are a less mobile form of AI which are the subject of the question.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 2:53
Read the context. The OP gives examples of intelligent computers. A reasonable person who consider the question about intelligent computers not robots per se which would need machine intelligences. Strangely enough some of us do distinguish between robots & computers.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 13:20
add a comment |
Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey was published in Astounding in 1938, the year before Eando Binder's "I, Robot".
Two young men build a robot intended for household duties, but end up with a sentient and beautiful female robot that falls in love with one of them. They marry, keeping Helen's robot identity a secret, and when her husband dies of old age, she begs the other guy to dissolve her.
Another possible answer predating this by more than three decades is the mechanical man Tik-Tok from Frank L.Baum's Oz books, first appearing in Ozma of Oz (1907).
Tik-Tok is a round-bodied mechanical man that runs on wound-up springs that must regularly be rewound. He is friendly and helps Dorothy out a lot. However, Baum has stated that Tik-Tok is not alive and cannot feel emotions. He is, however, a truthful and loyal servant. Not being truly sentient may disqualify him as an AI, although he certainly is likeable.
answered Aug 2 at 7:42
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
10.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges41 bronze badges
I've changed the text to say "the year before" rather than "A year before".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 10:22
What about the far future machines in Campbell's Twilight series? Are they likeable?
– user14111
Aug 2 at 11:18
@user14111: I'm not familiar with that series. If you think it qualifies, feel free to post an answer. I interpret "likeable" to mean "not even or menacing, nor coldly indifferent".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 13:24
As has been commented, it's down to individual judgement of 'likeability'. Personally I really liked Slave from Blake's 7 but many did not
– DannyMcG
Aug 2 at 18:25
add a comment |
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1939: Adam Link, the protagonist of "I, Robot", a short story by "Eando Binder" (Earl and Otto Binder); first published in Amazing Stories, January 1939, available at the Internet Archive; reprinted in Amazing Stories, April 1961, also available at the Intenet Archive.
From Wikipedia:
"I, Robot" is a science fiction short story by Eando Binder (nom de plume for Earl and Otto Binder), part of a series about a robot named Adam Link. It was published in the January 1939 issue of Amazing Stories, well before the related and better-known book I, Robot (1950), a collection of short stories, by Isaac Asimov. Asimov was heavily influenced by the Binder short story.
The story is about a robot's confession. Some weeks earlier, its builder, Dr. Charles Link, built it in the basement. Link teaches his robot to walk, talk and behave civilly. Link's housekeeper sees the robot just enough to be horrified by it, but his dog is totally loyal to it. The robot is fully educated in a few weeks, Link then names it Adam Link, and it professes a desire to serve any human master who will have it. Soon afterwards, a heavy object falls on Dr. Link by accident and kills him. His housekeeper instantly assumes that the robot has murdered Dr. Link, and calls in armed men to hunt it down and destroy it. They do not succeed; in fact, they provoke the robot to retaliate, both by refusing to listen to it and by accidentally killing Dr. Link's dog. Back at the house, the robot finds a copy of Frankenstein, which Dr. Link had carefully hidden from the robot, and finally somewhat understands the prejudice against it. In the end the robot decides that it simply is not worth killing several people just to get a hearing, writes its confession, and prepares to turn itself off.
Binder's story was very innovative for its time, one of the first robot stories to break away from the Frankenstein clichés.
answered Aug 1 at 18:59
user14111user14111
113k6 gold badges460 silver badges578 bronze badges
Adam Link is an intelligent robot not an intelligent computer. The question asks about the first friendly computer. Certainly an intelligent robot is a form of AI, but computers are a less mobile form of AI which are the subject of the question.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 2:53
Read the context. The OP gives examples of intelligent computers. A reasonable person who consider the question about intelligent computers not robots per se which would need machine intelligences. Strangely enough some of us do distinguish between robots & computers.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 13:20
add a comment |
1939: Adam Link, the protagonist of "I, Robot", a short story by "Eando Binder" (Earl and Otto Binder); first published in Amazing Stories, January 1939, available at the Internet Archive; reprinted in Amazing Stories, April 1961, also available at the Intenet Archive.
From Wikipedia:
"I, Robot" is a science fiction short story by Eando Binder (nom de plume for Earl and Otto Binder), part of a series about a robot named Adam Link. It was published in the January 1939 issue of Amazing Stories, well before the related and better-known book I, Robot (1950), a collection of short stories, by Isaac Asimov. Asimov was heavily influenced by the Binder short story.
The story is about a robot's confession. Some weeks earlier, its builder, Dr. Charles Link, built it in the basement. Link teaches his robot to walk, talk and behave civilly. Link's housekeeper sees the robot just enough to be horrified by it, but his dog is totally loyal to it. The robot is fully educated in a few weeks, Link then names it Adam Link, and it professes a desire to serve any human master who will have it. Soon afterwards, a heavy object falls on Dr. Link by accident and kills him. His housekeeper instantly assumes that the robot has murdered Dr. Link, and calls in armed men to hunt it down and destroy it. They do not succeed; in fact, they provoke the robot to retaliate, both by refusing to listen to it and by accidentally killing Dr. Link's dog. Back at the house, the robot finds a copy of Frankenstein, which Dr. Link had carefully hidden from the robot, and finally somewhat understands the prejudice against it. In the end the robot decides that it simply is not worth killing several people just to get a hearing, writes its confession, and prepares to turn itself off.
Binder's story was very innovative for its time, one of the first robot stories to break away from the Frankenstein clichés.
answered Aug 1 at 18:59
user14111user14111
113k6 gold badges460 silver badges578 bronze badges
Adam Link is an intelligent robot not an intelligent computer. The question asks about the first friendly computer. Certainly an intelligent robot is a form of AI, but computers are a less mobile form of AI which are the subject of the question.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 2:53
Read the context. The OP gives examples of intelligent computers. A reasonable person who consider the question about intelligent computers not robots per se which would need machine intelligences. Strangely enough some of us do distinguish between robots & computers.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 13:20
add a comment |
1939: Adam Link, the protagonist of "I, Robot", a short story by "Eando Binder" (Earl and Otto Binder); first published in Amazing Stories, January 1939, available at the Internet Archive; reprinted in Amazing Stories, April 1961, also available at the Intenet Archive.
From Wikipedia:
"I, Robot" is a science fiction short story by Eando Binder (nom de plume for Earl and Otto Binder), part of a series about a robot named Adam Link. It was published in the January 1939 issue of Amazing Stories, well before the related and better-known book I, Robot (1950), a collection of short stories, by Isaac Asimov. Asimov was heavily influenced by the Binder short story.
The story is about a robot's confession. Some weeks earlier, its builder, Dr. Charles Link, built it in the basement. Link teaches his robot to walk, talk and behave civilly. Link's housekeeper sees the robot just enough to be horrified by it, but his dog is totally loyal to it. The robot is fully educated in a few weeks, Link then names it Adam Link, and it professes a desire to serve any human master who will have it. Soon afterwards, a heavy object falls on Dr. Link by accident and kills him. His housekeeper instantly assumes that the robot has murdered Dr. Link, and calls in armed men to hunt it down and destroy it. They do not succeed; in fact, they provoke the robot to retaliate, both by refusing to listen to it and by accidentally killing Dr. Link's dog. Back at the house, the robot finds a copy of Frankenstein, which Dr. Link had carefully hidden from the robot, and finally somewhat understands the prejudice against it. In the end the robot decides that it simply is not worth killing several people just to get a hearing, writes its confession, and prepares to turn itself off.
Binder's story was very innovative for its time, one of the first robot stories to break away from the Frankenstein clichés.
answered Aug 1 at 18:59
user14111user14111
113k6 gold badges460 silver badges578 bronze badges
1939: Adam Link, the protagonist of "I, Robot", a short story by "Eando Binder" (Earl and Otto Binder); first published in Amazing Stories, January 1939, available at the Internet Archive; reprinted in Amazing Stories, April 1961, also available at the Intenet Archive.
From Wikipedia:
"I, Robot" is a science fiction short story by Eando Binder (nom de plume for Earl and Otto Binder), part of a series about a robot named Adam Link. It was published in the January 1939 issue of Amazing Stories, well before the related and better-known book I, Robot (1950), a collection of short stories, by Isaac Asimov. Asimov was heavily influenced by the Binder short story.
The story is about a robot's confession. Some weeks earlier, its builder, Dr. Charles Link, built it in the basement. Link teaches his robot to walk, talk and behave civilly. Link's housekeeper sees the robot just enough to be horrified by it, but his dog is totally loyal to it. The robot is fully educated in a few weeks, Link then names it Adam Link, and it professes a desire to serve any human master who will have it. Soon afterwards, a heavy object falls on Dr. Link by accident and kills him. His housekeeper instantly assumes that the robot has murdered Dr. Link, and calls in armed men to hunt it down and destroy it. They do not succeed; in fact, they provoke the robot to retaliate, both by refusing to listen to it and by accidentally killing Dr. Link's dog. Back at the house, the robot finds a copy of Frankenstein, which Dr. Link had carefully hidden from the robot, and finally somewhat understands the prejudice against it. In the end the robot decides that it simply is not worth killing several people just to get a hearing, writes its confession, and prepares to turn itself off.
Binder's story was very innovative for its time, one of the first robot stories to break away from the Frankenstein clichés.
answered Aug 1 at 18:59
user14111user14111
113k6 gold badges460 silver badges578 bronze badges
answered Aug 1 at 18:59
user14111user14111
113k6 gold badges460 silver badges578 bronze badges
answered Aug 1 at 18:59
user14111user14111
113k6 gold badges460 silver badges578 bronze badges
answered Aug 1 at 18:59
user14111user14111
113k6 gold badges460 silver badges578 bronze badges
113k6 gold badges460 silver badges578 bronze badges
Adam Link is an intelligent robot not an intelligent computer. The question asks about the first friendly computer. Certainly an intelligent robot is a form of AI, but computers are a less mobile form of AI which are the subject of the question.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 2:53
Read the context. The OP gives examples of intelligent computers. A reasonable person who consider the question about intelligent computers not robots per se which would need machine intelligences. Strangely enough some of us do distinguish between robots & computers.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 13:20
add a comment |
Adam Link is an intelligent robot not an intelligent computer. The question asks about the first friendly computer. Certainly an intelligent robot is a form of AI, but computers are a less mobile form of AI which are the subject of the question.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 2:53
Read the context. The OP gives examples of intelligent computers. A reasonable person who consider the question about intelligent computers not robots per se which would need machine intelligences. Strangely enough some of us do distinguish between robots & computers.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 13:20
Adam Link is an intelligent robot not an intelligent computer. The question asks about the first friendly computer. Certainly an intelligent robot is a form of AI, but computers are a less mobile form of AI which are the subject of the question.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 2:53
Adam Link is an intelligent robot not an intelligent computer. The question asks about the first friendly computer. Certainly an intelligent robot is a form of AI, but computers are a less mobile form of AI which are the subject of the question.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 2:53
Read the context. The OP gives examples of intelligent computers. A reasonable person who consider the question about intelligent computers not robots per se which would need machine intelligences. Strangely enough some of us do distinguish between robots & computers.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 13:20
Read the context. The OP gives examples of intelligent computers. A reasonable person who consider the question about intelligent computers not robots per se which would need machine intelligences. Strangely enough some of us do distinguish between robots & computers.
– a4android
Aug 2 at 13:20
add a comment |
Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey was published in Astounding in 1938, the year before Eando Binder's "I, Robot".
Two young men build a robot intended for household duties, but end up with a sentient and beautiful female robot that falls in love with one of them. They marry, keeping Helen's robot identity a secret, and when her husband dies of old age, she begs the other guy to dissolve her.
Another possible answer predating this by more than three decades is the mechanical man Tik-Tok from Frank L.Baum's Oz books, first appearing in Ozma of Oz (1907).
Tik-Tok is a round-bodied mechanical man that runs on wound-up springs that must regularly be rewound. He is friendly and helps Dorothy out a lot. However, Baum has stated that Tik-Tok is not alive and cannot feel emotions. He is, however, a truthful and loyal servant. Not being truly sentient may disqualify him as an AI, although he certainly is likeable.
answered Aug 2 at 7:42
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
10.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges41 bronze badges
I've changed the text to say "the year before" rather than "A year before".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 10:22
What about the far future machines in Campbell's Twilight series? Are they likeable?
– user14111
Aug 2 at 11:18
@user14111: I'm not familiar with that series. If you think it qualifies, feel free to post an answer. I interpret "likeable" to mean "not even or menacing, nor coldly indifferent".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 13:24
As has been commented, it's down to individual judgement of 'likeability'. Personally I really liked Slave from Blake's 7 but many did not
– DannyMcG
Aug 2 at 18:25
add a comment |
Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey was published in Astounding in 1938, the year before Eando Binder's "I, Robot".
Two young men build a robot intended for household duties, but end up with a sentient and beautiful female robot that falls in love with one of them. They marry, keeping Helen's robot identity a secret, and when her husband dies of old age, she begs the other guy to dissolve her.
Another possible answer predating this by more than three decades is the mechanical man Tik-Tok from Frank L.Baum's Oz books, first appearing in Ozma of Oz (1907).
Tik-Tok is a round-bodied mechanical man that runs on wound-up springs that must regularly be rewound. He is friendly and helps Dorothy out a lot. However, Baum has stated that Tik-Tok is not alive and cannot feel emotions. He is, however, a truthful and loyal servant. Not being truly sentient may disqualify him as an AI, although he certainly is likeable.
answered Aug 2 at 7:42
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
10.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges41 bronze badges
I've changed the text to say "the year before" rather than "A year before".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 10:22
What about the far future machines in Campbell's Twilight series? Are they likeable?
– user14111
Aug 2 at 11:18
@user14111: I'm not familiar with that series. If you think it qualifies, feel free to post an answer. I interpret "likeable" to mean "not even or menacing, nor coldly indifferent".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 13:24
As has been commented, it's down to individual judgement of 'likeability'. Personally I really liked Slave from Blake's 7 but many did not
– DannyMcG
Aug 2 at 18:25
add a comment |
Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey was published in Astounding in 1938, the year before Eando Binder's "I, Robot".
Two young men build a robot intended for household duties, but end up with a sentient and beautiful female robot that falls in love with one of them. They marry, keeping Helen's robot identity a secret, and when her husband dies of old age, she begs the other guy to dissolve her.
Another possible answer predating this by more than three decades is the mechanical man Tik-Tok from Frank L.Baum's Oz books, first appearing in Ozma of Oz (1907).
Tik-Tok is a round-bodied mechanical man that runs on wound-up springs that must regularly be rewound. He is friendly and helps Dorothy out a lot. However, Baum has stated that Tik-Tok is not alive and cannot feel emotions. He is, however, a truthful and loyal servant. Not being truly sentient may disqualify him as an AI, although he certainly is likeable.
answered Aug 2 at 7:42
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
10.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges41 bronze badges
Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey was published in Astounding in 1938, the year before Eando Binder's "I, Robot".
Two young men build a robot intended for household duties, but end up with a sentient and beautiful female robot that falls in love with one of them. They marry, keeping Helen's robot identity a secret, and when her husband dies of old age, she begs the other guy to dissolve her.
Another possible answer predating this by more than three decades is the mechanical man Tik-Tok from Frank L.Baum's Oz books, first appearing in Ozma of Oz (1907).
Tik-Tok is a round-bodied mechanical man that runs on wound-up springs that must regularly be rewound. He is friendly and helps Dorothy out a lot. However, Baum has stated that Tik-Tok is not alive and cannot feel emotions. He is, however, a truthful and loyal servant. Not being truly sentient may disqualify him as an AI, although he certainly is likeable.
answered Aug 2 at 7:42
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
10.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges41 bronze badges
edited Aug 2 at 10:34
answered Aug 2 at 7:42
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
10.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges41 bronze badges
answered Aug 2 at 7:42
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
10.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges41 bronze badges
answered Aug 2 at 7:42
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
10.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges41 bronze badges
10.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges41 bronze badges
I've changed the text to say "the year before" rather than "A year before".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 10:22
What about the far future machines in Campbell's Twilight series? Are they likeable?
– user14111
Aug 2 at 11:18
@user14111: I'm not familiar with that series. If you think it qualifies, feel free to post an answer. I interpret "likeable" to mean "not even or menacing, nor coldly indifferent".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 13:24
As has been commented, it's down to individual judgement of 'likeability'. Personally I really liked Slave from Blake's 7 but many did not
– DannyMcG
Aug 2 at 18:25
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I've changed the text to say "the year before" rather than "A year before".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 10:22
What about the far future machines in Campbell's Twilight series? Are they likeable?
– user14111
Aug 2 at 11:18
@user14111: I'm not familiar with that series. If you think it qualifies, feel free to post an answer. I interpret "likeable" to mean "not even or menacing, nor coldly indifferent".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 13:24
As has been commented, it's down to individual judgement of 'likeability'. Personally I really liked Slave from Blake's 7 but many did not
– DannyMcG
Aug 2 at 18:25
I've changed the text to say "the year before" rather than "A year before".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 10:22
I've changed the text to say "the year before" rather than "A year before".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 10:22
What about the far future machines in Campbell's Twilight series? Are they likeable?
– user14111
Aug 2 at 11:18
What about the far future machines in Campbell's Twilight series? Are they likeable?
– user14111
Aug 2 at 11:18
@user14111: I'm not familiar with that series. If you think it qualifies, feel free to post an answer. I interpret "likeable" to mean "not even or menacing, nor coldly indifferent".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 13:24
@user14111: I'm not familiar with that series. If you think it qualifies, feel free to post an answer. I interpret "likeable" to mean "not even or menacing, nor coldly indifferent".
– Klaus Æ. Mogensen
Aug 2 at 13:24
As has been commented, it's down to individual judgement of 'likeability'. Personally I really liked Slave from Blake's 7 but many did not
– DannyMcG
Aug 2 at 18:25
As has been commented, it's down to individual judgement of 'likeability'. Personally I really liked Slave from Blake's 7 but many did not
– DannyMcG
Aug 2 at 18:25
add a comment |
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2
To close voters -- how is a question specific to AI and its properties not about SF?
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:22
1
Binder's book was Adam Link, Robot -- at least in the Ace edition I've read. I, Robot was Asimov.
– Zeiss Ikon
Aug 1 at 18:34
1
@ZeissIkon - It's SFF, it's just not on-topic because it's asking for a list of works.
– Valorum
Aug 1 at 18:37
9
Technically, the OP asked for just one work, and "earliest work" questions are considered acceptable, so I was inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
– Donald.McLean
Aug 1 at 18:49
4
Voted to leave closed, the definition of “likeable” is inherently subjective and so this is opinion based.
– TheLethalCarrot
Aug 1 at 19:20