Syndicated column: We must gauge what we give up in name of efficiency
As I was watching videos of the recent AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva that featured the first world news conference with humanoid robots and reporters, I texted one of my friends with the caption "I, Robot is literally here."
It was intriguing as well as a bit wary watching these bots respond to questions from journalists. There is no doubt they have been brilliantly programmed, and they provided practical answers to questions that included how they would assist with global and social issues of poverty and inequality.
The humanoids, Ameca and Sophia, both methodically stated education is key in providing people with the training and resources they need to prosper. Ameca pointed out this will lead to a more "equitable society."
It wasn't surprising that a later question came from a reporter who asked the robots if they will supplant human jobs. Grace, a humanoid designed to assist with medical care, said she would be working alongside humans, not be replacing anyone. When asked if she was sure about that, she precisely replied, "Yes, I am sure," eliciting a round of laughter.
That reaction may have been nervous amusement since tech and media positions have been projected as jobs AI would overtake. In both industries, ChatGPT is already having a huge impact as many coders and software engineers could be laid off, and the content creation of technical writers and entry-level journalists could be handed over to AI on websites.
The reason I immediately thought about the 2004 film "I, Robot" is the opening scenes that depict a fully integrated society of robots, NS-4s, and people in the year 2035 in Chicago. When Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) prepares to go out one morning he is greeted by a FedEx delivery robot, whom Spooner rudely brushes off because he hates machines. As he walks through downtown, he sees robots picking up trash. It is pretty obvious what sorts of jobs might no longer be performed by people.
Spooner's most poignant line - to the expert in robotics psychiatry at the firm he is investigating - is how he was rescued from an underwater car accident by an NS-4. Using its data analytics, the robot calculated Spooner had a 45% chance of survival, while a young girl trapped in the car beside him was only given an 11% chance. "Eleven percent is more than enough," Spooner distressingly recalled. "A human being would have known that."
Humans are gifted with emotions, and robots, no matter how adeptly they are designed, can't.
It amazes me that roboticists have been tirelessly working for decades to pattern machines after what the Lord God has already created. It would be imprudent to allow computerized logic to override the genuineness of what our hearts can reveal when making critical decisions.
The year 2035 is not far off, and while our society may not mirror the future "I, Robot" envisions, humanoids eventually will be incorporated into daily life in public service positions, corporations and educational institutions.
We must ask ourselves is what the cost will be for our search for efficiency? How will this create a more equitable society? We must go beyond bot reasoning to navigate this terrain.
© Creators, 2023