AI and Robotics

1. AI and Robotics Definitions and Ethical Consequences

2. Artificial intelligence (also known as machine intelligence and often abbreviated as AI) is intelligence exhibited by any manufactured (i.e. artificial) system. Robotics is a branch of engineering that involves the conception, design, manufacture, and operation of robots. This field overlaps with electronics, computer science, artificial intelligence, mechatronics, nanotechnology, and bioengineering.

3. Alan Turing – Pioneer of AI • Wrote “Computing machinery and intelligence” in 1950 • Created the “Turing Test”

4. Turing Test • Inspired by the party game known as the “Imitation Game” • A man and woman go into separate rooms • Guests try to tell them apart by writing questions to them and reading their responses • Both the man and woman try to convince the guests that the answers are coming from the woman

5. Turing Test • The Turing test would test a computer’s capability to perform human-like conversation. • If the “guest” couldn’t tell the difference between the human responses and the computers, the “test” was passed by the computer.

6. Is the Turing test valid? • Is simulating human conversation the same thing as simulating intelligence? • A computer could be “intelligent” but might not be able to communicate effectively. • Even some humans might not pass the test. It’s difficult to determine who is intelligent.

7. Robots and the Rest of Us by Bruce Sterling • Sterling addresses the fact that robot ethicists are meeting in the mansion that once belonged to Alfred Nobel. • He ascertains that recent automations are challenging human-kind on four fronts

8. One – War time • Machines that can track and kill by remote control • Unmanned roadside bombs are triggered by transmitters designed for radio-controlled toys

9. Ethical Questons • Who is to be held responsible for an unmanned war crime? • Should machines be giving orders?

10. Two – Brain Augmentation • Machines controlling us • A remote-controlled rat was created at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn • Its direction of travel can be determined by a human with a transmitter standing up to 550 yards away.

11. Three – Physical Aspects • Japanese roboticists are working on walking wheelchairs and mobile arms that manipulate and fetch things for their aging population • The elderly person will be controlling these devices. • What if the human in control is weak, limited and or senile?

12. Four – Social impact • Sony created the robot dog, Aibo. It was a commercial success. • Qrio won’t be on the shelves soon • It is a human-shaped, self-propelled puppet than can walk, talk, pinch and take pictures • It has absolutely no ethics “programmed” into it

13. Ethical Questions • Whom should we fear, the robots or the roboticists? • What could robotics/AI “add” to the terrorists arsonals of terror?

14. Humanoid with Attitude by Anthony Faiola • Hiroshi Kobayashi has invented a cyber-receptionist named Ms. Saya.

15. Humanoid with Attitude • Mr. Kobayashi told her, “You’re so stupid!” • She responds, “Eh?” her face wrinkling into a scowl, “I tell you, I am not stupid!” • He claims she has a temper!

16. About Ms. Saya • She has voice recognition technology that allows 700 verbal responses • She also has an infinite number of facial expressions: from joy to dispair, surprise to rage! • When her energy is low, she is prone to making mistakes

17. The future • Officials predict that every household in Japan will have at least one robot by 2015 • Scientists have dubbed 2005 the “unofficial year of the robot”

18. Ethical Questions • You’ve already seen where the Patriot Act has impacted our privacy • How do you feel about the prospects presented here regarding AI and robotics? • Are you excited or anxious about the future?

19. Group Assignment • Break into groups and answer the questions that are brought up on the following link: • http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/view.html?pg=1