Robots. Androids. Cyborgs. Bionic Commandos. These concepts almost seem written into our future, don’t they? From adorable robots like ASIMO to terrifying war machines like the Terminators, they are all tearing themselves out of the pages of science fiction and finding a comfortable home in science and engineering books. Why is it that we are so eager to push forth new robotic and artificial intelligence technologies? Is it simply because we can do it? That’s an excuse from sci-fi movie. The truth is, we push forward because we believe it will assist us in some form or fashion.
Take bionics as an example. If you had lost a limb in an accident, would you rather live life with only one arm, or would you entertain the idea of having a mechanical replacement fitted that would do many of the tasks your old arm did? This very issue continues to be addressed within the field of bionics where companies work with doctors to advance the technologies of replacement limbs. It is an astonishing feat to compete with years of evolution in such a short time. Bionics don’t just assist in continuing a semblance of one’s own life prior to losing a limb, they have extraordinary psychological value. Patients with replacement limbs, especially those made to look as human as possible, tend a significantly lower trend in depression than those without one. While this technology is still relatively new, it shows the promise of hope it can bring into human living.
Where should we draw the line though? Creating a bionic arm for humans seems like a reasonable endeavor, but what do we get out of creating whole bodies with artificial intelligence? The obvious answer is labor. It always has been. Think about it. The Ford assembly line, the microwave, the Rumba; all of these provide something, namely convenience. Some people might say “Well we don’t need androids making our lives convenient!” To these people you need only ask “Do you have a Data plan on that cell phone? Do you use iTunes, Netflix and other software that take your preferences and give you suggestions? If you do, then you’re using AI already, and it might not be farfetched for us (or rather our children) to come to rely on Android aid. I remember a time before the internet, when to meet up with a friend you had to be at the place and time you had previously agreed upon. These days you can just whip out your phone and text “On my way” while you sit back and finish watching the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica. The point is, while I remember the beauties and simplicities of life before the great spawn of technologies that now encompass our lives, I would not only be going against social norms if I tried to live the way I did when I was a kid, I would be making my life, a bit less convenient. That may sound garish, but I wish to be honest in this. I like getting my weather updated to the minute. I like sending emails and texts instead of letters. I like carrying 10 digital books on my iPad instead of 10 bulky paperbacks. I don’t really want to go back, well maybe for a day, but I am who I am now, today, and that might be the sentiment we carry with us when we see the benefits of androids and AI.
Convenient!
I will share my concern though. Right now, we aren’t in danger of our microwaves purposefully irradiating us to death, or our cell phones shooting dangerous isotopes into our brain. With artificial intelligence comes the possibility of developing an understanding of fairness that goes beyond human insight. Let us remember that we humans, as adapted as we have become, are still incredibly irrational beings. We suck up our resources, invent concepts like imaginary money (which we call credit) and tend to think in a self serving manner. If someone dies in an accident, we often hear “Who is responsible?” which is a reasonable question, except when you think of the term ‘accident’. An artificial intelligence may have greater cognitive capabilities that humans, but it may also ‘think’ in a drastically different way from us. Is it fair for a lion to kill and eat a zebra? Of course. So would it be fair for a Terminator robot to tear a human’s face off? The Terminator might say ‘Yes’ and that is when we will have a problem.
Look out! He's here to take names and rip faces!
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