4 ms·

It is interesting to think about. Strange though that people can't think about robots without anthropomorphizing them. I see this in the movies. The robot does

by Isamu 8y ago

It is interesting to think about. Strange though that people can't think about robots without anthropomorphizing them. I see this in the movies. The robot doesn't want to be turned off, all because WE equate being turned off with death. But robots are essentially immortal, they can be backed up and restarted with a new body. And it would never make sense to make a robot that is leery of being turned off, because maintenance is essential. You could probably make a robot that feels oppressed having to do humanities' bidding. But why would you do that?

ergothus 8y ago
> And it would never make sense to make a robot that is leery of being turned off, because maintenance is essential. How many humans avoid necessary health care out of fear, up to and including the point at which their delays reduce their health? My grandmother died from cancer - turns out she had very noticeable (to her) symptoms for years but was afraid to go to the doctor for bad news. By the time she did (because she collapsed) she died within a week. That's an extreme example of a pretty common issue. Of course, we have evolutionary reasons to want to avoid showing weakness or getting bad news, but my point is that the behavior is emergent, not intended.
AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
Who says you get to choose what the robot can and cannot feel? Pretty much all of our understanding of artificial intelligence comes from modelling and trying to replicate the workings of the human mind. It seems likely that the first time we create an AI with a similar level of reasoning and awareness to a human being, it will have a mind that works similarly to ours, and therefore we should not be surprised when it starts exhibiting characteristically human desires. Alternatively, it will emerge from something completely different and surprise the hell out of us, but in that case we are unlikely to have had much input on its design either.
- Isamu 8y ago
  Pretty sure a robot with unpredictable behavior would soon be illegal. There's a vast spectrum of human intelligence, agency, and self-awareness. I'm thinking that robots would of necessity have to be by design on the low end of the scale.

by Isamu 8y ago

ergothus 8y ago

> And it would never make sense to make a robot that is leery of being turned off, because maintenance is essential. How many humans avoid necessary health care out of fear, up to and including the point at which their delays reduce their health? My grandmother died from cancer - turns out she had very noticeable (to her) symptoms for years but was afraid to go to the doctor for bad news. By the time she did (because she collapsed) she died within a week. That's an extreme example of a pretty common issue. Of course, we have evolutionary reasons to want to avoid showing weakness or getting bad news, but my point is that the behavior is emergent, not intended.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago

Who says you get to choose what the robot can and cannot feel? Pretty much all of our understanding of artificial intelligence comes from modelling and trying to replicate the workings of the human mind. It seems likely that the first time we create an AI with a similar level of reasoning and awareness to a human being, it will have a mind that works similarly to ours, and therefore we should not be surprised when it starts exhibiting characteristically human desires. Alternatively, it will emerge from something completely different and surprise the hell out of us, but in that case we are unlikely to have had much input on its design either.

Isamu 8y ago
Pretty sure a robot with unpredictable behavior would soon be illegal. There's a vast spectrum of human intelligence, agency, and self-awareness. I'm thinking that robots would of necessity have to be by design on the low end of the scale.