"Robots are our friends" or the "terminator" scenario?

[Leonid]

Ever since I watched the first release of the Terminator quite a while ago, my mind was busy thinking about the possible outcomes of the so-called IT revolution.
In my opinion, the main reason for an incredibly fast development of both Web and IT, is its convenience for the public. It is worth while mentioning that many Web (often, mistakenly called the Internet) and IT gurus are interested in conducting studies in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Artificial Life (AL)

At Trent University we have came across two interesting articles describing some of the latest advancements in this field.



The first one, called “Robots Are Your Friends ... or They Will Be” describes Albert, the robot with the face of Albert Einstein, who has already met Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Bush.

Albert’s father, professor Jun Ho Oh, states that Einstein’s face was chosen because it is “likely the most recognizable face in the entire world”. "It is also [a] synonym of peace and intelligence."

Albert's creators (both, Oh and Hanson) agree that "in 25 years, robots will be proactive and able to read their owners' intentions."

The article was published in the ABCnews.com. It can be read here


Another interesting recent headline is that researchers in the Penn State University are successfully “teaching” computers how to name images by ‘thinking’.

I could not find the original article on this topic, but the news like this make me realize that it is not too long before every second house hold in Europe and North America will have their tamed electronic helper.


What is your opinion on this subject?

How much time, do you think, it will take for robots to be as common as personal computers are today?

Ones robots have cognitive abilities, will they ‘respect’ their creators, or will they decide to take over, to make this world a better, safer place?

[Andreea]

Science fiction plays an integral role in our technological development. The term robot for example comes from the Cech writer Karel Capek in 1920 meaning worker.

As for the robots nowadays, it is a well proven technology already. Whether we are talking about industrial robots ( first one in 1962) or the ones used for scientific research (space explorations or example) they already play an important role in our discoveries.

As the word robot means ( worker) personally i think we should make sure that they work for us not really side by side with humans. No doubt that there is a need for further development in the robot world but for those of you who are science fiction fans you must have heard about the Laws of Robotics (I. Asimov):

0. Law Zero
A robot may not injure humanity
1. Law One
A robot may not injure a human being
2. Law Two
A robot must obey orders given by human beings except where such orders would conflict with a higher order law ( the 2 laws stated above)
3. Law Three
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with a higher order law (the 3 laws stated above)

So qustions:
Do we want them side by side with us , can we make them not only think but also have feelings in order to obey these rules?

If we divert from using them as workers under our control would they sill be called robots?

Do these laws make sense for a machine? By definition a robot is an artificial technical system that is mobile and responsive. I emphasize on the word responsive hence they have to follow orders .
Do we really want them and trust them in taking initiatives?

Cheers!

[Ioshpa]

meh
people at current state are already robots..... look at all the artificial body parts.... or worse, some mates are clueless 9-5 tools with limited vision of world and even less will to understand it

[Stanislav]

Yeah,
I pretty much agree with Ioshpa about the body parts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOkph...elated&search=

Robotics is very common nowadays, especially in Japan and S. Korea. These guys make trully amazing things. Check how the modern robots move:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoqdYPXN1q0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYYI5...elated&search=

Of course it's a big breakthrough comparing to the way robots walked in 90's, but still it is far away from the human-like movements.

I personally think that in next 10-15 years robots will be very common in our homes, but just like a multimedia toy.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives...r_of_r2d2.html

I am sure that there won't be any major changes to AI until we will understand how our own brain works. And as we know it was studied for the past century - and we did not move any much further ever since. Only now there appeared to be some studies going on about the integration of microelectronical devices into the brain to simulate natural impulses, which can be used in medicine to cure people with disabilities.
Probably, if we will be able to simulate the work of human brain, then there will be some threat. But for now, robots gonna be as harmless as little girls with lollipops:

http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/13/l...obot-for-home/


Cheers

[Sveta]

I think that robots that are used for scientific purposes can be beneficial to the society and can play important role in the development of science. After all, robots can do things that humans are not able to do. However, the purpose of creation of human-like robots is very questionable and vague. Why would someone want a robot in their household? Definitely not for socializing. Robots don’t have feelings or real emotions, thus can never understand humans. No matter how advanced the robot is, it can never replace the presence of a real human being. Some people might use robots to do their housekeeping, so they would no longer have to worry about cleaning or cooking, but wouldn’t it be better to hire a housekeeper or do everything by yourself?

It’s not like I am against the development of robotics. What worries me is how society will choose to use robots. Unfortunately, lots of people became lazy consumers, who blindly purchase everything that will make their lives more “convenient” and “easy”, consequently, robots will became just another popular gadget that will reduce our thinking and work habits to minimum.

Personally I would not want a robot in my house; I am quite capable of cleaning after myself. I also would rather talk to a real person than to a machine. Plus it would be kind of annoying to have this creepy thing wondering around the house.

I also think that if human creates a robot, there should be no questions like “will they ‘respect’ their creators, or will they decide to take over”. Robots should NOT be produced if they bring any sort of danger to the humanity. People should have total control over the things they create.

[Stanislav]

Here is another interesting article looking at the perspective of further development of robotics. Looks like we are going to get only benefits...



http://informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=Y2PAXHONAD50UQSNDLPSK HSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=195200003