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Robots: The Possibilities of Artificial Intelligence
If you’d have told me back in 1994 that in 20 years’ time I would be talking to the robots in my iPhone, I’d have replied with … well, nothing actually (I was born in ’93) but don’t let that detract from the statement I’m trying to make. The world of technology has come a long way since the end of the 20th century, and we are just now beginning to realize the immense possibilities of artificial intelligence and its potential threat to our own “natural” brainpower.
After becoming enthralled with an article I had read on the Internet entitled “When Robots Can Kill, It’s Unclear Who Will Be To Blame,” I decided to bring the topic up during a recent dinner conversation with my immediate family. Amongst the usual mealtime phrases in our house such as, “Is it supposed to be this burnt?” and “I slave over a hot stove …” (mom, it was a microwaveable ready-meal, what the hell were you doing with a stove in the first place?) I managed to edge the chatter towards technology, and in particular AI.
Everyone seemed to look upon it rather favorably at first, and at the moment, why shouldn’t they? AI has allowed us humans to tailor-make robots that fit perfectly into our daily lives, suggesting faster routes to work, recommending TV shows we might like, even telling us jokes when we’re feeling down. I mean, where else would we get all that?
“Humans,” chirped father. Of course, here we are talking about robots and the possibilities of artificial intelligence, when what scientists are trying to create is actually already right in front of us. My boss could suggest a faster route to work, my friends could recommend a TV show, and my brother could tell me a joke (it probably wouldn’t be funny, mind). Our fellow man will always be one step ahead of artificial intelligence anyway, on account of the fact that every robot is man-made.
“Not the case,” argues my sister, “technology is fast allowing robots to teach themselves, meaning their intelligence can grow in the same way it does with a human.” This is a good point, research is being done at the University of Queensland into robots that talk to each other in a language that they have created themselves. The Australian “Lingodroids” play location games that eventually lead them to establish a shared vocabulary for distances, directions and places, meaning it’s only a matter of time before AI simply becomes I.
So that’s it, we’re producing robots that will become just like every other man and woman in this world, only smarter? Great idea! At the end of the day they’re still just lights and clockwork, they can do everything we don’t want to do with no ethical burden on our shoulders at all. “Doesn’t that worry you?” Mother asks, “infinitely clever robots that bare no emotional attachments at all?”
We hadn’t thought of that. A machine that can learn to pick up a gun and fire a trigger wouldn’t hesitate to kill someone, not morally at least. How do we prevent these things with unlimited knowledge and no conscience from becoming a sincere threat to us? And even if we did, if scientists one day built a robot with genuine soul and a sense of right and wrong, wouldn’t we just be replacing ourselves on this planet in the most literal sense possible? Will we one day be looking at a mirror, deeply gazing into our own eyes, only to notice wires and cogs behind them?
It was at this point in the conversation that we all turned to my brother in the expectation that he would also contribute some point of great debate that would have us rethink our stance on the matter, but he didn’t. He sat there eating his chicken like a well-mannered young man. This decision not to weigh in with his opinion made perhaps the most telling note of the evening (despite the fact that I’m pretty sure the whole issue simply went over his head). At this moment in time, AI is improving the lives of the people who use it, and the idea that a robot could intentionally kill someone is as likely as Elvis playing at his own remembrance concert.
So why worry? If someone is clever enough to create a machine that is capable of teaching itself, of operating weapons, and of replicating human achievements without fault, then they’re probably clever enough to include an off switch. Right now, we should embrace the idea of robots and the possibilities of artificial intelligence as an exciting and useful form of evolving technology.
Opinion by Zachary John
Sources:
Source: http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/robots-the-possibilities-of-artificial-intelligence/
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Founded by Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Itskov in February 2011 with the participation of leading Russian specialists in the field of neural interfaces, robotics, artificial organs and systems.
The main goals of the 2045 Initiative: the creation and realization of a new strategy for the development of humanity which meets global civilization challenges; the creation of optimale conditions promoting the spiritual enlightenment of humanity; and the realization of a new futuristic reality based on 5 principles: high spirituality, high culture, high ethics, high science and high technologies.
The main science mega-project of the 2045 Initiative aims to create technologies enabling the transfer of a individual’s personality to a more advanced non-biological carrier, and extending life, including to the point of immortality. We devote particular attention to enabling the fullest possible dialogue between the world’s major spiritual traditions, science and society.
A large-scale transformation of humanity, comparable to some of the major spiritual and sci-tech revolutions in history, will require a new strategy. We believe this to be necessary to overcome existing crises, which threaten our planetary habitat and the continued existence of humanity as a species. With the 2045 Initiative, we hope to realize a new strategy for humanity's development, and in so doing, create a more productive, fulfilling, and satisfying future.
The "2045" team is working towards creating an international research center where leading scientists will be engaged in research and development in the fields of anthropomorphic robotics, living systems modeling and brain and consciousness modeling with the goal of transferring one’s individual consciousness to an artificial carrier and achieving cybernetic immortality.
An annual congress "The Global Future 2045" is organized by the Initiative to give platform for discussing mankind's evolutionary strategy based on technologies of cybernetic immortality as well as the possible impact of such technologies on global society, politics and economies of the future.
Future prospects of "2045" Initiative for society
2015-2020
The emergence and widespread use of affordable android "avatars" controlled by a "brain-computer" interface. Coupled with related technologies “avatars’ will give people a number of new features: ability to work in dangerous environments, perform rescue operations, travel in extreme situations etc.
Avatar components will be used in medicine for the rehabilitation of fully or partially disabled patients giving them prosthetic limbs or recover lost senses.
2020-2025
Creation of an autonomous life-support system for the human brain linked to a robot, ‘avatar’, will save people whose body is completely worn out or irreversibly damaged. Any patient with an intact brain will be able to return to a fully functioning bodily life. Such technologies will greatly enlarge the possibility of hybrid bio-electronic devices, thus creating a new IT revolution and will make all kinds of superimpositions of electronic and biological systems possible.
2030-2035
Creation of a computer model of the brain and human consciousness with the subsequent development of means to transfer individual consciousness onto an artificial carrier. This development will profoundly change the world, it will not only give everyone the possibility of cybernetic immortality but will also create a friendly artificial intelligence, expand human capabilities and provide opportunities for ordinary people to restore or modify their own brain multiple times. The final result at this stage can be a real revolution in the understanding of human nature that will completely change the human and technical prospects for humanity.
2045
This is the time when substance-independent minds will receive new bodies with capacities far exceeding those of ordinary humans. A new era for humanity will arrive! Changes will occur in all spheres of human activity – energy generation, transportation, politics, medicine, psychology, sciences, and so on.
Today it is hard to imagine a future when bodies consisting of nanorobots will become affordable and capable of taking any form. It is also hard to imagine body holograms featuring controlled matter. One thing is clear however: humanity, for the first time in its history, will make a fully managed evolutionary transition and eventually become a new species. Moreover, prerequisites for a large-scale expansion into outer space will be created as well.
Key elements of the project in the future
• International social movement
• social network immortal.me
• charitable foundation "Global Future 2045" (Foundation 2045)
• scientific research centre "Immortality"
• business incubator
• University of "Immortality"
• annual award for contribution to the realization of the project of "Immortality”.
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