---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been motivated by this idea since…"
description: "\"I have been motivated by this idea since I was a kid that if we invented machines that were created in the way that people are - were aware, have free ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/david-hanson-33860_actually_i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since_1665282.jpg"
---

#  I have been motivated by this idea since I was a kid that…

![“I have been motivated by this idea since I was a kid that if we invented machines that were created in the way that people are - were aware, have free will, inventive machines, machines that would be geniuses - potentially, they could reinvent themselves. They're not just applying it to other…” quote by David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/david-hanson-33860_actually_i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since_1665282.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/david-hanson-33860_actually_i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since_1665282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/david-hanson-33860_actually_i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since_1665282.jpg)

> “I have been motivated by this idea since I was a kid that if we invented machines that were created in the way that people are - were aware, have free will, inventive machines, machines that would be geniuses - potentially, they could reinvent themselves. They're not just applying it to other things - they could actually redesign themselves.”

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Machines with human-like awareness and free will could self‑improve, leading to rapid, autonomous evolution of technology.

**In simple terms:** Self‑aware machines could redesign themselves.

Key Takeaway

Consider the ethics of self‑modifying AI.

Themes

technology future ethics creativity autonomy

Mood

cautious curious optimistic

Type

philosophical speculative

When to use this quote

- Robotics research
- AI development
- policy making
- philosophical debate

Key Concepts

Artificial intelligence self‑modification consciousness

Questions to Reflect On

- What safeguards are needed for self‑modifying AI?
- How would society adapt to autonomous machines?

A Different Perspective

Self‑improvement may lead to loss of human control.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Applying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applying/) [Aware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aware/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Geniuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geniuses/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented/) [Invented Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented-machines-800614/) [Inventive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventive/) [Inventive Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventive-machines-800612/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Machines Geniuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines-geniuses-800615/) [Motivated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivated/) [Motivated Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivated-idea-751292/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Potentially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potentially/) [Potentially Reinvent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potentially-reinvent-800613/) [Redesign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redesign/) [Reinvent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reinvent/) [Since](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/since/) [Themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/themselves/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/)

## Related quotes

> [There's a lack of people in power that are motivated by the idea of helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/there-s-a-lack-of-people-in-power-that-are-motivated-by-the-idea-of/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [There's so much more that I need to accomplish in my career before I have kids. So I'm motivated by the idea of having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciara/there-s-so-much-more-that-i-need-to-accomplish-in-my-career-before-i/)

[Ciara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciara/)

> [“Those involved in the redesign process must know what they would do if they could do whatever they wanted. Such knowledge is essential if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/those-involved-in-the-redesign-process-must-know-what-they-would-do/)

[Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/)

> [Here's where redesign begins in earnest, where we stop trying to be less bad and we start figuring out how to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/here-s-where-redesign-begins-in-earnest-where-we-stop-trying-to-be/)

[William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/)

> [I believe in singing to such an extent that, if I were asked to redesign the British educational system, I would start by insisting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-believe-in-singing-to-such-an-extent-that-if-i-were-asked-to/)

[Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/)

> [George W. Bush has much to evaluate: he has presided over the most sweeping redesign of U.S. grand strategy since the presidency of Franklin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis-gaddis/george-w-bush-has-much-to-evaluate-he-has-presided-over-the-most/)

[John Lewis Gaddis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis-gaddis/)

> [“Foxconn services offering best price for redesigning the website. Redesign your One Page website only in $59”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foxconn-services/foxconn-services-offering-best-price-for-redesigning-the-website/)

[Foxconn services](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foxconn-services/)

> [After your first job, is anyone asking you what your GPA was? No, they don't care. They ask you: Are you a good leader?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/after-your-first-job-is-anyone-asking-you-what-your-gpa-was-no-they/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Your personality redesign your belief...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lufadeju-opeyemi/your-personality-redesign-your-belief/)

[Lufadeju Opeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lufadeju-opeyemi/)

> [Many retail stores have consumer trackers that study how long your eyes linger on one product, whether you follow it through by touch, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-chipchase/many-retail-stores-have-consumer-trackers-that-study-how-long-your/)

[Jan Chipchase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-chipchase/)

> [Religions are tough. Either they make no contentions which are subject to disproof or they quickly redesign doctrine after disproof. ... near the core…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/religions-are-tough-either-they-make-no-contentions-which-are-subject/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [There is number of different efforts around the country are to try to redesign the math pathway and the courses that students have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-kamenetz/there-is-number-of-different-efforts-around-the-country-are-to-try-to/)

[Anya Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-kamenetz/)

> [I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my greatest passion, and it naturally just pulled me down the path. Same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-i-d-be-a-decorator-design-is-my-greatest/)

[Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/)

> [“Redesign, renew, and recharge your brand.” Decide what value you bring to others and give it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/redesign-renew-and-recharge-your-brand-decide-what-value-you-bring-to/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

> [The aim of human life is to know thyself. Think for yourself. Question authority. Think with your friends. Create, create new realities. Philosophy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/the-aim-of-human-life-is-to-know-thyself-think-for-yourself-question/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

## More by David Hanson

> [Most robotic heads have 20 motors. Mine have 32.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/most-robotic-heads-have-20-motors-mine-have-32/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [We're seeing the arrival of conversational robots that can walk in our world. It's a golden age of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/we-re-seeing-the-arrival-of-conversational-robots-that-can-walk-in/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [I'm Dr. David Hanson, and I build robots with character. And by that, I mean that I develop robots that are characters, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/i-m-dr-david-hanson-and-i-build-robots-with-character-and-by-that-i/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [The perception of identity is so intimately bound up with the perception of the human form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/the-perception-of-identity-is-so-intimately-bound-up-with-the/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [Robots have gotten steadily more capable, but humans' expectations that robots should have minds keeps biting robot developers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/robots-have-gotten-steadily-more-capable-but-humans-expectations-that/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [My goal is to create friend machines. Friendly genius machines. Machines with genius capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/my-goal-is-to-create-friend-machines-friendly-genius-machines/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [I was always into science fiction as a kid. I loved science and tinkering with things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/i-was-always-into-science-fiction-as-a-kid-i-loved-science-and/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [Robots will someday, or maybe, wake up. They may be really smart. They may be as creative, smart and capable as human beings, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/robots-will-someday-or-maybe-wake-up-they-may-be-really-smart-they/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [Machines are becoming devastatingly capable of things like killing. Those machines have no place for empathy. There's billions of dollars being spent on that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/machines-are-becoming-devastatingly-capable-of-things-like-killing/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [Nobody complains that Bernini's sculptures are too darn real, right? Or that Norman Rockwell's paintings are too creepy. Well, robots can seem real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/nobody-complains-that-bernini-s-sculptures-are-too-darn-real-right-or/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [If we're going to achieve compassion in the machines and also feel safe with the machines, to raise machines with human-like values, we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/if-we-re-going-to-achieve-compassion-in-the-machines-and-also-feel/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [Character robotics could plant the seed for robots that actually have empathy. So, if they achieve human level intelligence or, quite possibly, greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/character-robotics-could-plant-the-seed-for-robots-that-actually-have/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

> [I have found in experiments, people become used to the robots. The less startling they become, the more commonplace they get. If these robots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/i-have-found-in-experiments-people-become-used-to-the-robots-the-less/)

[David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

[Explore all 14 David Hanson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/)

## More Actually quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/)

[Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/)

> [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/)

[David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/)

> [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/)

[Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/)

> [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/)

[L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/)

> [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/)

[Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/)

> [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/)

[Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/)

> [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/)

[Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/)

> [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. It's often things which other people might not notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-ve-actually-got-quite-a-good-memory-i-ve-good-recall-it-s-often/)

[Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/)

> [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/)

[Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/)

> ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/)

[Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/)

[Browse all 4,248 Actually quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have been motivated by this idea since I was a kid that if we invented machines that were created in the way that people are - were aware, have free will, inventive machines, machines that would be geniuses - potentially, they could reinvent themselves. They're not just applying it to other things - they could actually redesign themselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Hanson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since-i-was-a-kid-that-if-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actually"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since-i-was-a-kid-that-if-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/david-hanson-33860_actually_i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since_1665282.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/david-hanson-33860_actually_i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since_1665282.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/david-hanson-33860_actually_i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since_1665282.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have been motivated by this idea since I was a kid that if we invented machines that were created in the…” — David Hanson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David Hanson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have been motivated by this...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since-i-was-a-kid-that-if-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/i-have-been-motivated-by-this-idea-since-i-was-a-kid-that-if-we/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
