Some artificial beings do not imitate us primarily as workers or companions.

They stand between inside and outside.

They decide who may approach, enter or survive.

Talos is the bronze guardian of Crete.

He patrols the island and prevents outsiders from landing.

human guard → artificial guard → tireless guard

Protection has been delegated to an artificial body.

Talos also exposes the ambiguity of protection.

The same autonomous force that protects one community threatens whoever approaches it.

protector for us = weapon against them

Who gives the command?

Who defines the enemy?

The guardian archetype is broader than the machine.

Cherubim guard the Tree of Life.

The Sphinx guards passage through a riddle.

Talos guards an island.

Artificial watchdogs guard a palace.

boundary + test + permission

The Sphinx:

Prove that you know before I let you pass.

The CAPTCHA:

Prove that you are human before I let you pass.

When machines learn to pass the test, the ancient threshold problem returns in inverted form.