Through our research, our group concluded that AI is indeed a practical form of technology. Since we have become more aware of AI, it is clear that countless forms of AI already exist. As technology becomes increasingly advanced, AI at the same time becomes increasingly relevant in our daily lives. As for robots, however, there is currently much ongoing research and debate surrounding the ethical issues behind making robots more like humans.
For many people, the first thought that comes to mind when one thinks of AI is robots, and that a human-like robot - and therefore the entire concept of AI - is somewhat of a futuristic idea. While robots do comprise a large portion of current AI research, based on our definition of AI from our first post, it is the “ability of technology to perform tasks that would have previously required human intelligence.” Basically, anything that is programmed would be considered as AI. As mentioned in our first post, AI can be found everywhere in our daily lives. The recommendation programs on sites like Youtube and Pandora are examples of AI. In addition, video games, voice-recognition software, and credit card transactions are all controlled by AI. Companies and advertisements also use AI to maximize their sales. For instance, according to Will Browne, University of Reading, “AI is used in supermarkets to work out what products should be placed with other products, the colour and price the product should be compared to other products, and whether certain products should be stacked vertically or horizontally” (Hilpern) He says that companies invest large amounts of money in these kinds of technology to help them increase their profits.
Naturally, AI also includes the field of robotics. Robots have actually been around for a long time. For example, this video describes the abilities of Shakey in 1969, the very first mobile robot that could reason about its surroundings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhrLHkVuerc
Robotics are also employed extensively in manufacturing to increase production output, minimize mistakes, and decrease expenses. They are also used to “construct our cars, clean our floors and even perform delicate microsurgery on us“ (Hilpern). AI applications are increasing in the military, agricultural, and healthcare fields (Hilpern). More recent developments in robotics deal with, as mentioned in our second post, making robots more like humans. Researchers are looking into the inner workings of the brain, and, through brain emulation, trying to recreate the human brain through technology. Essentially, they are teaching robots how to learn and giving them emotions so that they can think and feel like humans. Also gaining attention is the creation of autonomous machines such as driverless cars, pilotless planes, and military drones. Driverless trains and military drones are already in use, and driverless cars are being announced in the market. In these cases, AI is operating vehicles and drones and replacing humans’ roles where they were once needed.
Of course, many ethical issues arise when discussing the humanization of robots and autonomous machines. Many people fear the domination of the world of a robot species if technology frees itself from human control. However, military expert Robert Finkelstein assures the public that this will never happen because robots have neither a survival instinct nor the ability to reproduce without human help (Turner). The mechanization of everything due to advancements in technology causes unemployment because workers are continually replaced by machines. What happens if a robot has emotions and a human wants to turn the robot off when the robot doesn’t want to be turned off (“The Rise”)? What are the ethical implications of having a robot as a sexual partner or as a slave (“Robot Ethics”)? Should robots be considered as individuals and be given the rights of an individual? As for autonomous vehicles, even though they are theoretically safer than human operators, “should a driverless car swerve to avoid pedestrians if that means hitting other vehicles or endangering its occupants?” (“Morals and the Machine”). Much of the debate surrounding robot ethics has culminated in a field called machine ethics, which aims to teach machines how to make moral decisions. However, the author of “Morals and the Machine” suggests collaboration from lawyers, engineers, policymakers, and ethicists to reach standards for the field of robotics.
AI is a rapidly developing field, and its implications for the future of humankind are tremendous. Its applications are both feasible and practical, as demonstrated by our research. In the future, researchers and engineers believe they will be able not only to create a humanoid robot species, but also control the weather, explore the universe, and cure diseases with artificially intelligent medicine. Even though AI and technology in general seems to be extremely beneficial to the human race, scientists and the public alike should always be aware of the ethical issues behind tampering with humanity.
An Interesting Podcast on the Ethics of Robots: http://www.robotspodcast.com/podcast/mp3/robots-20130419-episode128.mp3
Works Cited:
Hilpern, Kate. “Artificial Intelligence: Transforming the World We Live In.” The Independent. The Independent. 26 Oct. 2007. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
Turner, Bambi. “10 Ways Artificial Intelligence Will Affect Our Lives.” Discovery. Discovery Communications, LLC. 2013. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
“Morals and the Machine.” The Economist. The Economist Newspaper Limited. 2 June 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
Lin, Patrick, Keith Abney, and George Bekey. “Robot Ethics: The Ethical and Social Implications of Robotics.” The MIT Press. MIT. 2013. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
Group Evaluation:
Between Amanda and I, we were able to work together on our posts by using google documents in order to ensure that we all had equal portions of work for each post. We also discovered that our topic was much more elaborate than we expected and found interesting research such as videos and articles to add to our posts. Unfortunately, our work was only between two members, and the other member did not contribute in any of the posts. Even with consistent emails, communication in class, and reminders, the other member was not able to add anything to the work.
Group Evaluation:
Between Amanda and I, we were able to work together on our posts by using google documents in order to ensure that we all had equal portions of work for each post. We also discovered that our topic was much more elaborate than we expected and found interesting research such as videos and articles to add to our posts. Unfortunately, our work was only between two members, and the other member did not contribute in any of the posts. Even with consistent emails, communication in class, and reminders, the other member was not able to add anything to the work.
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