Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

CategoryRobotics

an-image-of-a-robot-meditating-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
An image of a robot meditating. Generative AI
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 27, 2023
Categorized
Religion, Robotics, Spirituality
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Study: Robotic Preachers Reduce Interest in Religious Faith

They are certainly not the answer to declining attendance and involvement that some have hoped they would be
Denyse O'Leary
August 27, 2023
4
Religion, Robotics, Spirituality

Here at Mind Matters News, we’ve covered recent attempts to automate religious practices — for example, the android Mindar (Kannon, a deity in the Buddhist tradition), the robot Pepper performing funeral rites, and proposals for robot Catholic priests. There’s even an AI Jesus out there, spluttering from the King James Bible… Mindar, in particular, has been invested with great hopes: To learn countless things and solve everyone’s problems: Many of us have just assumed that robo-religion — often introduced to combat declining adherence — would not play well with the genuinely devout. But no one had tested that rigorously. Now someone has. Joshua Conrad Jackson, a behavioral science professor at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, studied the Read More ›

an-intricate-and-detailed-microscopic-view-of-a-nanotechnology-powered-environment-showcasing-nanobots-and-nanostructures-stockpack-adobe-stock
An intricate and detailed microscopic view of a nanotechnology-powered environment, showcasing nanobots and nanostructures
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post
Author
News
Date
June 21, 2023
Categorized
Robotics
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Using Nanorobotics to Kill Cancer

There are some major breakthroughs in nanotechnology that could hold great promise
News
June 21, 2023
1
Robotics

Shlomo Nedvetzki, CTO of Nanorobotics, discusses the panel “The New Nanocosm” at the COSM Technology Summit 2022, which explored emerging technologies that hold great promise for advancing human prosperity. Nedvetzki focused on nanorobotic machines that can target and kill individual cancer cells. There are some major breakthroughs in nanotechnology that could hold great promise. We’ve been sharing a number of lectures from past COSM conferences. This video is just one of many you can find at the Bradley Center’s YouTube page. There you’ll find several lectures, interviews, and panels dealing with issues that range from economics, Big Tech, and artificial intelligence. Notable speakers include 2022 Kyoto Prize winner Carver Mead, venture capitalist Peter Thiel, and George Gilder, co-founder of Discovery Institute and author of Beyond Capitalism: Read More ›

robot-paints-picture-at-home-humanoid-robot-creating-as-artist-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Robot paints picture at home, humanoid robot creating as artist, generative AI.
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
June 13, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Programming, Robotics
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All We Need To Do To Give a Robot a Soul Is… (Error 404)

The author of Robot Souls argues that programmers have failed to put the “junk,” that is, the soul, into machines — but that they could do so
Denyse O'Leary
June 13, 2023
4
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Programming, Robotics

Academic publisher Taylor & Francis asks in TechXplore, “Should robots be given a conscience?” (June 11, 2023). I spoil no surprise by revealing that we are meant to think that that is both doable and desirable. T & F is publishing Eve Poole’s Robot Souls later this year. Poole is a British writer and academic, and author of Capitalism’s Toxic Assumptions, Buying God, and Leadersmithing. Her thesis is that, in our quest for the most functional software, we left out the “junk,” which includes our “emotions, free will and a sense of purpose”: Our junk code consists of human emotions, our propensity for mistakes, our inclination to tell stories, our uncanny sixth sense, our capacity to cope with uncertainty, an Read More ›

robot soldier
Armed super soldier with supersonic gun in the cyber city. cyberpunk city. cyborg. Robot. Generative AI
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 28, 2023
Categorized
Robotics
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“It All Comes Down to Ethics”

Robert J. Marks interviewed for recent article on "killer robots"
News
February 28, 2023
1
Robotics

Robert J. Marks and his book The Case for Killer Robots: Why America’s Military Needs to Continue Development of Lethal AI were mentioned in a Fortune Magazine article by Jacob Carpenter, which discussed the issue of robotic and AI-controlled weapons in police and military forces. Marks was interviewed for the article and his phrase “in the end, it comes down to the ethics” was also featured in the article’s title. The article weighs different perspectives on weaponized AI and whether this is the direction the country is headed in the future. Marks notes the parallels with the gun rights issue in the debate over weaponized robots. The issue will inevitably extend to the question of AI deploying firearms, not just Read More ›

military-bomb-defusing-robot-with-shepherd-dog-in-the-background-stockpack-adobe-stock
Military bomb defusing robot with shepherd dog in the background.
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
January 6, 2023
Categorized
Law, Politics, Robotics
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How San Francisco’s Gun Fears Prevented Lifesaving Innovation

Killer robots in law enforcement would reduce the death toll but they are a bridge too far for many politicians
Robert J. Marks
January 6, 2023
4
Law, Politics, Robotics

In November, 2022, San Francisco voted to allow police to deploy killer robots. Less than a month later, the city reversed their decision. Initially, in an 8-3 vote, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors allowed law enforcement to use robots “as a deadly force option when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other force option available to SFPD.” Sounds like reasonable policy, but protestors held up “NO KILLER ROBOTS!” signs at City Hall and the Board of Supervisors caved. This may be a case of hoplophobia, an irrational fear of firearms. So-called “killer robots” can deploy explosives to allow passage through blockaded doors or, in extreme situations, kill those who put innocent Read More ›

Group of female robots close to each others cyborg army concept 3d rendering
Type
post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
December 24, 2022
Categorized
Arts & Culture, Ethics, Robotics, Science Fiction
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Is It Technically Genocide If We Kill a Planetful of Robots?

Orville Season 3, Episode 9, features an EMP-like device that could wipe out the robotic Kaylon
Gary Varner
December 24, 2022
7
Arts & Culture, Ethics, Robotics, Science Fiction

This is the best episode of the third season, but there was still plenty to question about the ethical underpinnings. The first scene shows the Krill’s Supreme Chancellor, Teleya, forming an alliance with the Moclans, who have just been ousted from the Union. This doesn’t make any sense. The Moclans hate women. Teleya is a woman. Now, the writers do take the time to address this discrepancy, but it’s a superficial attempt, and therefore, not enough to convince the viewer that this alliance could really happen. Stop and consider who the Moclans are: They don’t just have a bias against women. They hate women. So much so that they turn every child on their planet into a man. There is Read More ›

3d-illustration-roboter-auge-stockpack-adobe-stock
3D Illustration Roboter Auge
Type
post
Author
Richard W. Stevens
Date
November 7, 2022
Categorized
Law, Robotics
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Why Don’t Robots Have Rights? A Lawyer’s Response

Robots are hardware and software packages that lack a nature or any abilities outside of whatever their designers imagine
Richard W. Stevens
November 7, 2022
8
Law, Robotics

“Free the Robots!” “Equal Rights for Robots!” Or maybe: “Set Us Robots Free!” Such future protest signs might well pop up in social media, to judge from “Why don’t robots have rights?” (Big Think, October 31, 2022) Writer Jonny Thomson worries that “ future generations will look back aghast at our behavior” when humans can “no longer exploit or mistreat advanced robots” as will presumably be the case in the 21st century. Dig into the article and get techno-whiplashed as Thomson suddenly starts talking about “the 22nd century [when robots] are our friends, colleagues, and gaming partners.” Thomson’s article considers robot rights as analogous to animal rights. The summary asserts: When discussing animal rights and welfare, we often reference two Read More ›

an-elderly-man-with-a-backpack-on-his-back-is-slowly-walking-along-a-mountain-hiking-trail-on-the-seashore-he-leans-on-a-walking-stick-stockpack-adobe-stock
An elderly man with a backpack on his back is slowly walking along a mountain hiking trail on the seashore. He leans on a walking stick.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
October 20, 2022
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Robotics
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How Robotics Can Help Speed Up Post-Stroke Rehabilitation

Robotics can help the therapist put the partially paralysed stroke patient’s thoughts and intentions back in the driver’s seat
News
October 20, 2022
3
Medicine and Health, Robotics

In the United States alone, about 795,000 people suffer strokes each year, leading to varying degrees of paralysis. Post-stroke rehabilitation has come a long way in recent decades and one area of focus is robotic-assisted rehabilitation for both the upper and the lower body. That’s partly a medical issue and an economic one. As Physiopedia explains, It is used to supplement or facilitate rehabilitation by assisting in the repetitive labor-intensive manual therapy that is normally administered by therapists. This decreases the time demands on therapists as the robotic devices can help move the patient’s limbs during exercises, thereby increasing the amount of therapy for each patient and increasing the number of patients undergoing therapy simultaneously.” Here’s a demonstration of a Read More ›

close-up-picture-of-beautiful-charming-female-in-pale-pink-silk-shirt-sitting-on-floor-on-colorful-carpet-holding-laptop-on-knees-with-prosthetic-bionic-hand-made-of-black-metal-mechanical-device-stockpack-adobe-stock
Close-up picture of beautiful charming female in pale pink silk shirt sitting on floor on colorful carpet holding laptop on knees with prosthetic bionic hand made of black metal mechanical device
Type
post
Author
News
Date
October 18, 2022
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Robotics
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Bionic Hands? Not An Improvement on Mechanical Hooks!, Says User

Right now, says a woman born without a left hand, electronic prostheses don’t function as well as mechanical extensions
News
October 18, 2022
5
Medicine and Health, Robotics

Writing in the engineering journal IEEE Spectrum, Britt H. Young looks at bionics from the perspective ofa user. Her left forearm failed to develop prenatally. She offers a number of concerns about the direction of bionics, especially the expense of bionic limbs and their difficulty of use compared to simpler prostheses: Today, the people who design prostheses tend to be well-intentioned engineers rather than amputees themselves. The fleshy stumps of the world act as repositories for these designers’ dreams of a high-tech, superhuman future. I know this because throughout my life I have been fitted with some of the most cutting-edge prosthetic devices on the market. After being born missing my left forearm, I was one of the first cohorts Read More ›

senior-woman-is-receiving-post-from-an-futuristic-robotic-delivery-service-stockpack-adobe-stock
senior woman is receiving post from an futuristic robotic delivery service
Type
post
Author
News
Date
October 10, 2022
Categorized
Business and Finance, Machine Learning, Robotics
Tagged

Amazon Abandons Robot Home Delivery Service

Scout is in mothballs. We are told that “the program did not completely meet its customers' needs.”
News
October 10, 2022
3
Business and Finance, Machine Learning, Robotics

Delivery folks, don’t quit your jobs yet: Oct 6 (Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) will stop live tests of its automated delivery robot “Amazon Scout”, a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Thursday, after the U.S. retailer realized the program did not completely meet its customers’ needs. The company is now scaling back or “reorienting” the program, and it will work with the involved employees to match them to other open roles within the organization, Amazon spokesperson Alisa Carroll said, adding that it was not abandoning the project altogether. Technology, “Amazon abandons live tests of Scout home delivery robot” at Reuters (October 6, 2022) Amazon insists that it is not abandoning the idea. But problems with the model Read More ›

white-futuristic-robot-crossed-arms-unhappy-face-stockpack-adobe-stock
White futuristic robot, crossed arms, unhappy face
Type
post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
October 8, 2022
Categorized
Arts & Culture, Psychology, Robotics, Science Fiction
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When a Robot Commits Suicide — an Elegy for What?

What’s frustrating about Episode 1 of Orville, Season Three is that robot Isaac’s claim to personhood is not ambiguous so much as confused and contradictory
Gary Varner
October 8, 2022
9
Arts & Culture, Psychology, Robotics, Science Fiction

Last time, we began our review of The Orville, Season Three, by discussing the unorthodox relationship between Isaac, the ship’s token robot, and Dr. Claire Finn. The bottom line is that they were romantically involved until Isaac turned out to be a sleeper cell for his race of robots, the Kaylon, who controlled an entire planet. In a climactic moment, Isaac — because of his attachment to Dr. Finn’s son Ty — defeats his programming and saves the Orville. Unfortunately, however, in the battle between the Kaylon and the Union fleet, many Union soldiers were killed defeating the Kaylon — and most in the Orville’s crew have not forgotten it. Dr. Finn and Isaac’s relationship remains somewhat ambiguous. What feels Read More ›

robot-hand-putting-fresh-cherry-on-top-of-the-cupcake-stockpack-adobe-stock
Robot hand putting fresh cherry on top of the cupcake
Type
post
Author
News
Date
October 6, 2022
Categorized
Economics, Robotics, Work
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As the Robot Fry Cook Takes Over the Kitchen …

… Jay Richards’ new short “Science Uprising” special dismisses philosophical claims that humans are mere “meat machines”
News
October 6, 2022
4
Economics, Robotics, Work

Science Uprising released an extra feature on Tuesday, following Science Uprising 10, in which philosopher Jay Richards discusses what underlies the myths of artificial intelligence: It isn’t a superior grasp of the technology involved that drives some (Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, and others) to warn that AI will achieve superiority over human beings, drive us out of work, and finally out of existence. It’s the hidden premise that humans are just “meat machines” rather than spiritual beings in a creator’s image. If that were true, of course it would follow that other, faster machines would likely overtake and replace us. David Klinghoffer, “Jay Richards: Myths, Metaphysics, and Artificial Intelligence” at Evolution News (October 4, 2022) However it plays out among Read More ›

silly robot
Friendly crazy robot handyman on orange background. Creative design cyborg toy. Copy space photo
Type
post
Author
Jonathan Bartlett
Date
October 3, 2022
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Robotics

Tesla’s Optimus is Sub-Optimal

With other robotics programs far outrunning Tesla, it can be hard to see what Elon Musk is adding to the field and why he's even trying
Jonathan Bartlett
October 3, 2022
4
Artificial Intelligence, Robotics

As promised, Elon Musk demonstrated his prototype robot “Optimus” at the 2022 Tesla AI Day.  The original plan for the robot included: Navigating the world through AutoPilot (the Tesla vehicle’s driver assistance system) Being able to perform repetitive or dangerous tasks safely Being able to be instructed using natural language instead of programming A year later, the Tesla robot has not even remotely demonstrated the ability to do any of these things with any sophistication.  That’s not surprising given Elon Musk’s penchant for promising things and not delivering them, but it does drive home the point that many of Musk’s mistakes stem from his more general misconceptions about the nature of the world.  Musk is great at organizing people, capital, Read More ›

thinking-robot-stockpack-adobe-stock
Thinking robot
Type
post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
October 1, 2022
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture, Robotics
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Should We Love or Hate an Intelligent Robot? Or Care at All?

In Season 3 of Orville that becomes a serious question
Gary Varner
October 1, 2022
6
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture, Robotics

The Orville Season 3 was recommended to me by a reader. I recall seeing a large portion of the first season and enjoying it. I had not watched the second season until preparing for this series of reviews. Unfortunately, I must say at the outset that I found myself very disappointed in Season Three, ironically called New Horizons because it only retreads about half of Season Two. This latest season fell far short of my expectations which were based on my memories of the first season. Still, we’re going to take a look at each episode and see where the problems lie. Before beginning our review of the first episode, a little prologue is required. During the midpoint of the Read More ›

closeup-of-hummingbird-hawk-moth-butterfly-macroglossum-stellatarum-feeding-of-red-valerian-flowers-centranthus-ruber-in-flight-its-a-species-of-hawk-moth-found-across-temperate-regions-of-eurasi-stockpack-adobe-stock
Closeup of Hummingbird Hawk-moth butterfly (Macroglossum stellatarum) feeding of red valerian flowers (Centranthus ruber) in flight. Its a species of hawk moth found across temperate regions of Eurasi
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 23, 2022
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Military, Robotics
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Machine Uses Live Hawk Moth Antenna for Smell Detection

Human-created sensors are not sensitive, fast, or discerning enough to identify and process smells in the danger zones for which the Smellicopter was designed
News
September 23, 2022
3
Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Military, Robotics

We’ve often written about electronic prostheses that link up with the human nervous system — which essentially means controlling the prosthesis by thoughts alone. A reversal is also possible, as the University of Washington demonstrated in 2020: A machine (the “Smellicopter”) used an insect’s antenna to identify and seek out smells: “Nature really blows our human-made odor sensors out of the water,” said lead author Melanie Anderson, a UW doctoral student in mechanical engineering. “By using an actual moth antenna with Smellicopter, we’re able to get the best of both worlds: the sensitivity of a biological organism on a robotic platform where we can control its motion.” Sarah McQuate, “The Smellicopter is an obstacle-avoiding drone that uses a live moth Read More ›

robot-dog-delivering-pizza-3d-illustration-stockpack-adobe-stock
Robot dog delivering pizza. 3D illustration
Type
post
Author
News
Date
August 22, 2022
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Robotics
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New AI Institute Aims at “World’s Smartest” Intelligent Machines

Boston Dynamics’ Marc Raibert thinks they’ll make progress at machines that think like humans if they keep at it long enough
News
August 22, 2022
5
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Robotics

Hyundai Motor Group and Boston Dynamics recently announced the launch of the Boston Dynamics AI Institute, with more than US $400 million to start. Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert is to head it up, for the purpose of “creating future generations of advanced robots and the world’s smartest and most capable intelligent machines.” Boston Dynamics, founded in 1992, is already famous for its robot dogs: Raibert has bigger plans for smarter robots, as he detailed in a recent interview, as he told Evan Ackerman at IEEE Spectum: The new thing that’s clearly different from what Boston Dynamics is doing, is to make robots smarter, in the sense that they need to be able to look at the world around them Read More ›

3d-render-beautiful-woman-computer-generated-photo-realistic-to-to-illustrate-the-uncanny-valley-effect-stockpack-adobe-stock
3D render beautiful woman computer generated photo realistic to to illustrate the uncanny valley effect
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
July 12, 2022
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture, Psychology, Robotics
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AI: The Shadow of Frankenstein Lurks in the Uncanny Valley

The fifth and final excerpt from Non-Computable You (2022), from Chapter 6, focuses on the scarier AI hype
Robert J. Marks
July 12, 2022
8
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture, Psychology, Robotics

Wrapping AI in an impressive physical package can magnify the perceived impact of new technology. Doing so uses seductive optics. The confusing of AI packaging with AI content was evident in media excitement about a Buddhist robot who delivers messages to the faithful. “The world’s first sutra-chanting android deity, modeled after Kannon the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, was introduced to the public last week,” the report reads. The robot can “move its eyes, hands, and torso, make human-like gestures during its speech, and brings its hands together in prayer. A camera implanted in the left eye to focus on a subject gives the impression of eye contact.”1 Technologically speaking, nothing special is happening here. The messages from the Buddhist robot Read More ›

old-lonely-woman-sitting-near-the-window-in-his-house-stockpack-adobe-stock
Old lonely woman sitting near the window in his house.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
July 1, 2022
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Relationships, Robotics
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Is a Robot Pal Really a Solution to Old Age Loneliness?

New York State is buying a companion bot called ElliQ in a pilot project that is likely among the first of a trend
News
July 1, 2022
4
Medicine and Health, Relationships, Robotics

New York State is buying 800 ElliQ robots from Israeli firm Intuition Robotics to help seniors cope with the familiar problem of loneliness — which worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic: ElliQ, a tabletop device that resembles a virtual assistant like Alexa or Siri, can make small talk, answer questions, remind users to take medication, help contact friends and family, initiate conversation and help with other daily activities. Users interact with the robot an average of 20 times per day, according to the company. Margaret Osborne, “New York State Purchases Robot Companions for the Elderly” at Smithsonian Magazine (June 22, 2022) Greg Olsen, director of the state’s Office for the Aging, says that seniors accept new technology like the ElliQ model Read More ›

robot assistant
Girl in orange shirt standing near house robot
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 4, 2022
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Robotics
Tagged

Is the World Running Out of Humans? Are Robots the Answer?

But then why have we “run out of human beings,” as some claim?
News
May 4, 2022
2
Medicine and Health, Robotics

So some claim: The pandemic and the U.S. labor shortage are starting to change the conversation about robotics and automation from threat to opportunity — from putting jobs at risk to filling critical gaps in the workforce. “The biggest shift that has happened from 2018 to now is that we’ve literally run out of human beings to do the things that we need to do,” said roboticist Siddhartha “Sidd” Srinivasa, a professor at the University of Washington’s Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering in Seattle who founded Carnegie Mellon University’s Personal Robotics Lab during his 18-year tenure in Pittsburgh. That shift is giving a new spark to robotics engineers and entrepreneurs who have long aspired to change the world Read More ›

a-humanoid-robot-with-a-shopping-trolley-is-shopping-at-a-grocery-store-future-concept-with-robotics-and-artificial-intelligence-3d-rendering-stockpack-adobe-stock
A humanoid robot with a shopping trolley is shopping at a grocery store. Future concept with robotics and artificial intelligence. 3D rendering.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
March 7, 2022
Categorized
Relationships, Robotics
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, ,

Engineering Mag Editor Dislikes Androids That Make People “Feel”

That’s not really the job of a robot, says Evan Ackerman, who“hugs robots” himself
News
March 7, 2022
4
Relationships, Robotics

Evan Ackerman, a senior editor at the prominent engineering mag IEEE Spectrum, thinks — even though he “hugs robots” — that we don’t really need androids in daily life. Ackerman, who has a degree in Martian geology, focuses on “Nicola,” an android under development at Riken, a research institute in Japan, modeled on a boy and intended to ““to promote natural interactions with both adults and children.” So far, it is only a head. The reason that this research was necessary is because androids can be tricky to read at times, especially when making expressions associated with negative emotions, which are more difficult to distinguish. And that’s one of the reasons why I’m so skeptical that androids are the best Read More ›