milfchaser said: Being that we are solidly in the internet age, where the internet is now "media" -- that is, the internet is now unilaterally what we used to call "mass media", I think AI is going to change, or affect society to a greater extent than clones, at least within the next couple of decades.
AI is developing at an astonishing rate, and even now some AI 'people' are almost so realistic that it's hard to tell them from their human, physical equivalents. In maybe 5 years the voice synthesis, video synthesis, and machine thinking and adaptable learning will be good enough that an AI 'person' on the internet may fool most real people. If VR truly takes off (it hasn't yet) that could also have an effect on greater society more than clones ever will.
Cloning will undoubtedly come into play, but I think it really comes into its own much later on. Obviously, there are some bugs to be worked out.
Robotic 'people' may have more use for the rich and powerful than clones, because -- unless there is a way to create a genetic 'supersoldier' or genetically modified 'superhuman' -- robots are probably more accessible and presently workable technologically. Asimov's fictional scenario in his "I Robot" series (or at least the way it was presented in the Will Smith movie) could eventually become a reality.
You know, a good conspiracy theory would say that Hollywood has been conditioning us for AI takeover. Just sayin' 😲😎.