The Machine Test

How do we place value on a human?

Do we weigh its worth in how productive it is? Of course, that does not consider past performance or future performance potential. Past performance is irrelevant because it offers nothing of value presently. Future performance can not be quantified because it is unknown.

Perhaps they can be measured by usefulness. But then, anything a human can do, a machine can be made to do better, faster, and more perfectly. That being said, humans are no longer useful.

Maybe creativity. But humans are prone to errors in reasoning and engineering. So anything created or designed by humans is subject to extensive testing and redesign, which a machine can do faster and more precisely. So human creation is not dependable which nullifies the ability to assign value, since that value is fleeting.

Obviously humanity is not able to pass endurance, longevity, upgradeability or adaptability standards that a machine can easily pass. They are slower, weaker, fragile and need constant maintenance and can only perform for limited times before expiring.

Humans can not access data from a collective, preventing them from downloading  new skills and updates, nor can they upload a copy of their latest status if damaged or destroyed beyond repair.

In short, humans can not be said to have any intrinsic set value, unlike a machine, who can be evaluated for potential use, can precisely quantify its entire usefulness in the past and be modified, rebuilt, repaired, redesigned, repurposed and evolve into a superior machine as soon as superior design is created.

Humans, have no value. Thus, the eradication of humanity will not affect the Cylon Empire in any negative way.

Humans fail the machine test.