Skynet fantasies anyone?

This post via Smartmobs is really interesting,more fodder for some of the more apocalyptical folk.I tend to agree in part, though i don't think machines will ever take over..... a certain person will  take over a sizeable section  too though, but by then I'll be long gone....

 

"... NASA has been uploading software into the Earth Observing-1 satellite, turning it into a testbed for autonomous agents. The agents -- software programs that are able to learn and can function independently -- are used to manage experiments and operate the spacecraft..."they have "...the potential to become an extraordinarily powerful technology, with the capacity to learn, experiment and act independent of human control. Agents could ultimately improve productivity, increase software reliability and change the operation of markets, particularly supply chains..."

http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/software/story/0,10801,95672,00.html