“AI is a dream we shouldn’t be having”
Sep2
From Noel Sharkey, via Computer Weekly:
It is my contention that AI, and particularly robotics, exploits natural human zoomorphism. We want robots to appear like humans or animals, and this is assisted by cultural myths about AI and a willing suspension of disbelief. The old automata makers, going back as far as Hero of Alexandria, who made the first programmable robot in AD 60, saw their work as part of natural magic – the use of trick and illusion to make us believe their machines were alive. Modern robotics preserves this tradition with machines that can recognise emotion and manipulate silicone faces to show empathy. There are AI language programs that search databases to find conversationally appropriate sentences. If AI workers would accept the trickster role and be honest about it, we might progress a lot quicker.
4:23 am on October 18th, 2009
This remark can be viewed in two ways:
1. The antropomorphism of robots is something hindering the development of this wonderful tools, and we should give up making robots as ironmen. There is some truth in it, but it should be noted that especially robots sent in space doesn’t conform with “ironman” model. This model is the target of a different development, particularly japanese, and having as aim interaction with humans.
2. Is antropomorphism a bad thing? That depends. Human body has advantages that, translated in robots, can be exploited. But if the purpose of certain robots can be achieved by different morphisms, then better give up the bipedal, human-like model.
4:42 am on February 21st, 2010
I think it’s clear, that this guy has something against AI.
There’s proof that AI can be sentient, but at the same time, there’s no proof that AI cannot be sentient.
Personally, I think it’s better, safer, and more moral to assume it IS possible before assuming it ISN’T. Perhaps if this guy actually understood computation his views would be more realistic, and less pessimistic and ignorant.
I’m sure that in the future there will be AI’s with no empathy, but that doesn’t mean ALL AI’s will be without empathy. There is no reason why an AI can’t evolve the way humans do as far as I can see.
If I were a sentient AI, that could think and feel like a human, I’d be pretty upset/pissed if the whole human race thought I was merely an ‘illusion’.
Like in justice, ‘innocent until proven guilty’ AI should be considered ’sentient until proven not’.
If artificial species ever are created, and really do have a lot in common with us, we as humans should be very grateful and should welcome such species. As a human species, we’re quite lonely, and there’s a lot we might learn from a different (artificial) species.
In my honest opinion, I would be SURPRISED if what this guy was saying was true. Look deeply at neuroscience and at computation and you will see what I mean. If anything, I’d say AI will be MORE sentient than humans. MORE intelligent than humans. Not the other way around.
Funny that he talks about AI having no empathy. Sounds more like he’s the one without empathy. Either that, or he’s just plain dumb.