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| Photo by Erik Möller |
The relation between humans and robots relates to the dystopia and utopia of how robots have been represented and our thoughts surrounding this case. Robots are anthropomorphic in a sense, depending on their use. The idea of robots being beneficial in the work place was first sourced around 320 BC. It was then brought into reality years later by Leonardo da Vinci in 1496, plans and sketches were made for a robot. These plans included mechanical automation that could allow movement. Due to the plans and drawings being in a human like form, this has been an early step into why we portray robots in the way that we do today.
An idea by philosopher Aristotle proves we have a difficult relationship towards robots. He states; "If every tool, when ordered, or even of its own accord, could do the work that befits it… then there would be no need either of apprentices for the master workers or of slaves for the lords.”. Saying the creation of machine than can complete tasks for would be better than needing a human to do it. This maybe the first motive behind the production of robot’s due to the notion of timesaving and convenience.
The portrayal of robots is commonly negative, with destructive connotations. We can begin to understand why, by looking into the history of robots and the commerciality of them. Starting in 1972, Metropolis was released, this film was a fetishisation of technology, a robot was built as a pure sign of affection. 5 years later, Japan released its first toy robot, ‘Lilliput 5357’, aimed for younger audiences, it was to be seen as a form of companionship. Now in 2018, we are still treating robots in the same way, yet still scared to progress into the future with them.
Artificial Intelligence is the next step of the future, machines learning from human input. Self-driving cars are a good example of the potential AI can have, but they’re known as dangerous. Why is that? The possibilities we are opened to when we combine artificial intelligence with machine learning are almost endless, many of which are done to protect our safety even more so. There are now new ways to predict and safeguard natural disasters, such as earthquakes by creating simulations to 'practice' possible situations. So while AI is being used for our safety people still don't want to live together with digital systems. Sophia is the worlds first ever robot with a citizenship which was granted in Saudi Arabia. This got a mixed response and a lot of people are 'worried' for the future of humanity. The thing is, people don't feel the same way when embracing the life saving technology that can help us.
A MIT Technology Review about Waymo cars claims they’re intelligent machines. They’re put through a series of simulations to learn how to follow routes and avoid obstacles. Making this possibly the most tested mode of transport to date. It allows us to reduce human error by using machine learning in conjunction with simulation yet whilst some lust over robots, others can’t trust.
Along with the development of Artificial Intelligence, the ethical consequences are something to always bear in mind. Left is an image displaying the timeline of occurrences of ethical issues of AI in last year. A good example being; when art produced AI and gets sold, who gets the money for it? Not all of these examples have been portrayed in the media, yet are crucial towards our understanding in the future collision of AI and us living in harmony.
If we can ever learn to embrace robots, to live and learn with them, I feel it would have positive impacts on us in the future. Factory robots have been critical to the revolution and human-free manufacturing is something we’ve been familiar with for years; however, people aren’t as willing to share that enthusiasm when AI is concerned.
Hao, K. (2018). Establishing an AI code of ethics will be harder than people think. [Blog] MIT Technology Review. Available at: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612318/establishing-an-ai-code-of-ethics-will-be-harder-than-people-think/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2018].
Photo by Erik Möller - Leonardo da Vinci. Mensch - Erfinder - Genie exhibit, Berlin 2005.
Robotics, R. (2018). 18 Defining Moments In The History of Robotics. [Blog] Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@ReachRobotics/18-defining-moments-in-the-history-of-robotics-761de7a2fbba [Accessed 11 Dec. 2018].
Simonite, T. (2017). Intelligent Machines AI Software Learns to Make AI Software. [Blog] MIT Technology Review. Available at: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603381/ai-software-learns-to-make-ai-software/?fbclid=IwAR3RZVc1VM5yyf5D1zdD_VyIl3TZBw-S41CMtrVFG5OztX8YbFjLShng46o [Accessed 11 Dec. 2018].
The Jakarta Post (2017). Meet Sophia: The first robot declared a citizen by Saudi Arabia. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Ox6H64yu8 [Accessed 13 Dec. 2018].
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