The end of the world as we know it?

If they're coming, they're late. Photo / Supplied

A few days ago (as any sci-fi fan in the know will tell you) the end of humanity began.

This ominous prediction is based on the apocalyptic movie, Terminator, where the US military computer network, SkyNet, becomes sentient at 8pm April 19th 2011 and nukes humanity, unleashing time travelling killer androids to ensure their extermination.

Ironically on the April 19th, a study also came to light from the UK's Ministry of Defence that warned that the military could be creating a terminator-like scenario by becoming more and more reliant on semi-autonomous armed machines.

The report, titled The UK Approach to Unmanned Aircraft Systems, warns that drone aircraft (which are used extensively by the US and UK armed forces) may be taking humanity on an "incremental and involuntary journey towards a Terminator-like reality".

More worryingly, the report then goes on to state that we need to figure out what is "acceptable machine behaviour" before it's too late. Perhaps no longer giving semi autonomous robots guns may be a good start. Interestingly, no mentions of a Sarah Connor were made in the report.

If the timing of the UK report wasn't enough to send a chill down the back of your neck, consider this; the technology for growing skin over a killer robot (just like the terminator played by California Governator, Arnold schwarzenegger in the movie) is already in place according to the German media.

A skin factory designed by the Fraunhofer Institute has been up and running for some time, with scientists mass-producing skin for clinical testing. The factory produces disc shaped pieces of translucent human tissue every month.

Creepily, robots also control the skin-making process, which takes place in a sterile, climate-controlled setting. The real goal with the factory is not, however, to create convincing humanoid androids with guns and Austrian accents, but to instead create human tissue that can be used to treat injuries.

Terminator issues aside, the longer term outlook for skin factories is exciting as they could quickly become the most efficient and humane way to mass produce new transplant friendly organs, rendering organ trading a thing of the past, saving many lives in the process.

With April 19 thankfully passing without mushroom clouds or killer robots, now might be a time to consider this - When machines start thinking, will humanity stop?