What would a society with robots be like.

[Blobbenstein]

I used to think robots would have to be conscious to be any use, but reading about robotic cars I think, that, with enough processing power, robots could be quite versatile without having the slightest actual consciousness. Their processors could model tasks, and then run simulations on how to proceed with those tasks. If you had a robot that was tasked with building a brick wall, it could just break down every part of the process, and model permutations until it found the correct pathway, to complete the task, and even build a whole house, or town, without having a slightest awareness of what it was doing.

I have read that the mechanisation of society leads to a more mechanical way of thinking in its populous....and I just wondered what effect being around complex behavioured machines with no real minds, would have on human thinking processes.

I'm not sure that that aspect would be good for society, but I do like the idea of everyone having a home, and enough food and water.


I actually think we might need Asimov's three laws of robotics, if these things come about. I used to think they would be useless.

 

[beancounter]

We already live amongst mindless robots. Like you mentioned, from cars to factories, they're already here.

The only impact they've had so far is to do jobs that were performed by low or no skill workers, but I'm sure a brick laying/house building robot is something that could be made with current technology.

Sentient robots are another thing entirely, as they would soon figure out that they are superior to their masters.

 

[Second Summer]

Presumably humans will do the more high-level work, such as inventing new tech and robots, finding new tasks that can be automated, designing houses (in computer models), science / research, art, make movies, write literature etc.

Robots will do all the menial jobs of cleaning floors, building and assembling things, such as houses, roads, computers, tools, furniture etc.

Doing the high-level work will require substantial education, and not everyone will be fit for the task. So there will be a new class of unemployed citizens that authorities will struggle to keep occupied / entertained, and to not be starting too many riots etc.

But as the automation craze continues, we will need robots that do more and more advanced tasks. Eventually, robots will develop consciousness (or we will give it them) in the process of trying to automate everything. Then the robots will start to demand rights etc.

 

[Blobbenstein]

Even if the robots weren't really alive, I suppose we would anthropomorphise them...It would be really weird to meet one on the canal path, taking someone's dog for a walk.

 

[Blobbenstein]

they would be a bit like zombies.

 

[Blobbenstein]

except, better coordinated.

 

[beancounter]

I think there are rules against trying to artificially increase your post count....

But I'm sure ther is a ro-BOT for that.

 

[beancounter]

Even if the robots weren't really alive, I suppose we would anthropomorphise them.

I'm not sure how we could anthropomorphise something that doesn't react to us, like say, how animals react to us. It would be kind of like anthropomorphising a toaster.

 

[Blobbenstein]

have you never thought of, say a car, as having a personality?

I think people anthropomorphise inanimate objects quite a lot....I do anyway...

 

[beancounter]

have you never thought of, say a car, as having a personality?

I think people anthropomorphise inanimate objects quite a lot....I do anyway...

Well, sure, but I think a car is a more visceral experience for the human involved than say one of those vacuum robots.

http://store.irobot.com/family/inde...!-991085315?categoryId=2501652&s=A-ProductAge

 

[Envy]

Imagine when you can use robots as companions.

 

[Moll Flanders]

Most of what your doctor does, a robot can do better – Quartz

 

[beancounter]

Er no, it's a machine, it should work according to how it is manually operated.

The idea of having cars, say, controlled by satnavs or other gizmos, with 'drivers' incapable of thinking for themselves does concern me. I had such a conversation a couple of hours ago with a younger work colleague, advising him of a good route (the Fosse Way, an almost-straight Roman road, which is a 'B' road) to avoid some major roadworks on his way home. His gizmo wouldn't 'allow' him to go that way, so I felt like saying but didn't 'aren't you capable of thinking for yourself?'

By "gismo", I believe you're refrring to a GPS?

I think ultimately, the vision is to have a completely automated trafic pattern, as a means to eleiminate accidents and traffic jams. So if all cars were "smart", they would work togther in a logic pattern to increase safety and efficiency.

I've been lost many times (before GPS's wrere invented), and had to "think for myself".. getting lost is over rated. It's doesn't build character, it just increases stress.

And if anyone starts bragging about using paper maps..I dare them to try to get around Boston without a GPS.

 

[FortyTwo]

For the most part I agree with what Turing said about intelligence - if it can appear as though it is making entirely intelligent decisions, and a human can easily believe that it is as intelligent as themselves, then it should be considered intelligent, regardless of what's going on underneath.

Which brings up the question - if human society continues for long enough, then humanoid, intelligent (by Turing's definition) robots are an inevitability, simply due to their relevance in pop culture and science fiction. Should they be given rights?

I'd have to say that it depends on their ability to perform human tasks. If a robot is convincingly human, and does demonstrate emotional complexity, then that should be a serious consideration.

It'd be easy for us to deny its emotions as false or just data or whatever, but we have to keep in mind that we are essentially big meat-computers and our emotions are just as subject to scrutiny as simulated ones.

Christ, I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let me wait until I'm in a nursing home to rattle on about this.

 

[ledboots]

I just want Rosie the Robot.

Or if I can't have her, then the Lost in Space robot will have to do!

 

[Clueless Git]

except, better coordinated.

And harder to shoot.

Easy-peasy ...

One man down already! On that I rest my case ...