Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagAndroids

restaurant-automation-service-concept-robot-waiter-serving-a-tray-with-a-bottles-and-wine-glass-two-wheels-robotic-character-on-yellow-wall-gray-floor-background-copy-space-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Restaurant automation service concept. Robot waiter serving a tray with a bottles and wine glass. Two wheels robotic character on yellow wall, gray floor background. copy space
Type
post
Author
Gary Smith and Jeffrey Funk
Date
May 26, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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A World Without Work? Don’t Hold Your Breath

Predictions of mass unemployment caused by robots continue to be wildly inaccurate
Gary Smith and Jeffrey Funk
May 26, 2021
9
Artificial Intelligence

Will we soon be sitting on couches watching reality TV shows while robots work 24/7 doing all of the work humans used to do? The idea that robots will replace most human labor has been around for almost 100 years and has become more popular with each new advance, from sensors and microprocessors to enterprise software, data analytics, and AI. The latest wave of robot hysteria was tweaked by The Singularity is Near in 2005, emboldened by Race Against the Machine in 2012, and sent over the top by The Second Machine Age and The Rise of Robots in 2016, and A World Without Work in 2020, all best sellers. A World Without Work was shortlisted for the Financial Times & McKinsey 2020 Business Book of the Year, in addition Read More ›

3d-rendering-of-female-robot-looking-sad-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
3D rendering of female robot looking sad.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 24, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
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Can We Apply Tests for Consciousness to Artificial Intelligence?

A robot could be programmed to say Ow! and withdraw its hand from a hot object. But did it feel anything?
News
May 24, 2021
5
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind

In Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks’s second podcast with philosopher Angus Menuge, where the big topic is the perennial “Hard Problem of consciousness, they established that one of the implications of quantum mechanics is that consciousness is a “thing”; it exists in its own right. How can we apply that finding to claims for artificial intelligence? https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-134-Angus-Menuge.mp3 This portion begins at 25:33 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Robert J. Marks (pictured): Here is the big AI question: I know that I am conscious. Is there a way we can test for consciousness in others? And if we can, could we apply this test of consciousness in others to artificial intelligence? Can I test Read More ›

a-black-cat-plays-with-a-robotic-vacuum-cleaner-that-cleans-the-floorpet-playing-with-robot-vacuum-cleaner-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
A black cat plays with a robotic vacuum cleaner that cleans the floor.pet playing with robot vacuum cleaner
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 13, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture
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Sci-fi Saturday: The Disabled Robot Vet Gets a Job Grooming Cats

Definitely worth your five minutes, in part in order to see what cartoonists can do in sci-fi with animated stills.
News
February 13, 2021
6
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture

“A Robot is a Robot” at DUST by Danish cartoonists Emil Friis Ernst and Nilas Røpke Driessen (February 2, 2021, 05:49 min) tells a tale: “A disabled robot war veteran finds its home among humans in the tender care of an old lady, and her hair salon for cats.” The story is told, intriguingly, as a series of cartoon stills and animated stills, beginning with the robot veteran begging on the sidewalk, whereupon the old lady takes him in. The robot floats on a single wheel and has a body like a metal tea cozy — a nice change from the more “android” type. She employs the robot to groom cats, who seem to appreciate his work, until he encounters Read More ›

robot-eyes-closeup-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Robot eyes closeup
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 12, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Natural Intelligence
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Can Robots Be Engineered To Actually Feel Pain?

The descriptions of recent robotics successes slide effortlessly from “can experience” the sense of touch down to “simulate” sensations of pain
News
February 12, 2021
7
Artificial Intelligence, Natural Intelligence

Recently, an article in Neuroscience News made some confusing claims, especially the claim that robots can have experiences in the same sense as living entities can. Let’s look at some of them: In an article from HSE University in Russia about about developing robotic intelligence based on the human brain, we read: Today, neuroscience and robotics are developing hand in hand. Mikhail Lebedev, Academic Supervisor at HSE University’s Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces, spoke about how studying the brain inspires the development of robots. HSE University, “How Modern Robots Are Developed” at Neuroscience News February 3, 2021 One identified goal is to merge “biological organisms with machines, to create cybernetic organisms (cyborgs).” Given that the human brain does not really behave Read More ›

walking-difficulties-aged-bearded-man-leaning-on-his-walking-stick-while-thinking-about-his-helplessness-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Walking difficulties. Aged bearded man leaning on his walking stick while thinking about his helplessness
Type
post
Author
News
Date
January 23, 2021
Categorized
Arts & Culture
Tagged
, ,

Sci-fi Saturday: A Robot Helps an Old Fellow Rediscover Life

The robot is very well done and how he gets a name is charming
News
January 23, 2021
4
Arts & Culture

The short sci-fi film, “This Time Away” (13:23) is by Magali Barbe Nigel is an elderly man living as a recluse, haunted by his past and memory of the family he once had, until an unexpected visitor arrives and disrupts his lonely routine. No spoiler, the visitor is a robot, abandoned by children in his back yard. The relationships seem a bit unrealistic. Lots of people abandon their elderly relatives, of course. But we are being asked to believe that a robot was the big solution. In this case, it feels like magic. Well, watch it and see what you think. The robot is done really nicely. Worth watching. Other reviews from the “We are but DUST” files: Sci-fi Saturday: Read More ›

mensch-und-roboter-in-der-medizin-der-zukunft-beruf-arzt-am-arbeitsplatz-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Mensch und Roboter in der Medizin der Zukunft, Beruf Arzt am Arbeitsplatz
Type
post
Author
News
Date
January 23, 2021
Categorized
Programming
Tagged
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Can Robots That Work With People Ever Be Safe?

Robot IQ offers five reasons why not
News
January 23, 2021
2
Programming

Cobots are robots designed to be friendly to people. But some doubt that friendship will work: It can be tempting to think of risk as an either/or situation — either your application is safe or it isn’t. In reality, risk is a sliding scale and you can never get rid of all risks completely. You can only know the true risk of a particular task by performing an adequate risk assessment. You need to do this whether the robot is collaborative or not. Truth: cobot safety can be changed to suit task performance The reality is that cobots have always been high-performance robots suitable for a range of industrial applications. Instead of being lesser robots, as some people mistakenly believe, Read More ›

the-head-of-a-cyborg-with-wires-on-a-gray-background-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
The head of a cyborg with wires on a gray background.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
January 2, 2021
Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science
Tagged
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Sci Fi Saturday: Kiko: A Great Short But Key Questions Unanswered

A lonely retail service robot longs for a world beyond her store
News
January 2, 2021
3
Arts & Culture, Science

“Kiko,” (9:20 min) by Jamil Munoz, tells the tale of a lonely retail service android who longs for a world beyond her store. Her signature line, “Goodnight, Charlie,” is priceless, as she is then all alone again, a mere as part of the business equipment. It’s an agreeable short (no spoilers, except that the kid who comes to her rescue is great). The android is wholly believable but the film never addresses the question of how the proprietor of “Charlie’s” computer retail store could have created or acquired a robot that had attributes like wanting a different type of life. A farmer can’t “create” a horse who wants to go to university. Even if the farmer could create a horse, Read More ›

the-face-of-a-child-robot-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
The face of a child robot.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
December 26, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture
Tagged
, , , ,

Sci-Fi Saturday: Can Parents Get Back a Dead Child as an Android?

They aren’t even united in their grief; they just think they must “do something” to get back a facsimile of what they remember.
News
December 26, 2020
2
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture

Are you in lockdown at home? Hey, here’s another one we found, in our weekly foray into free short sci-fi. This is from SkillLab Creative Studio: “Article 19-42” (14:29 min) A French couple (subtitles in English) drive to an old barn in northern woods, on a seemingly curious mission—to resurrect a dead child as an android: One wouldn’t offer a spoiler, such as above, except that the film goes on way too long without making that part clear. The ambience—one suspects that the lab is illegal—is wonderful. The central characters are pitch perfect: parents of an only child, united by and obsessed with her death. They aren’t even entirely united in their grief; they both want to get back at Read More ›

big-data-analytics-through-machine-learning-artificial-intelligence-concept-background-using-deep-learning-algorithms-for-neural-network-data-analysis-abstract-ai-3d-illustration-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Big data analytics through machine learning, Artificial Intelligence concept background, Using deep learning algorithms for neural network data analysis, Abstract AI 3d illustration
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
December 17, 2020
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AI Dirty Dozen 2020 Part I

Robert J. Marks
December 17, 2020
2

There are many forces that shape the hyped AI stories we read. Media is everywhere and competition is fierce. Articles with provocative headlines and content are clickbait for the browsing consumer. We’re going to count down the AI Dirty Dozen: the top twelve AI hyped stories for 2020. Join Dr. Robert J. Marks as he discusses some of these stories with Read More ›

white-robot-woman-using-digital-sphere-connection-hologram-3d-rendering-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
White robot woman using digital sphere connection hologram 3D rendering
Type
post
Author
News
Date
December 13, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture
Tagged
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Robots Really Don’t Explain It All for Us—But They Helpfully Try

And what else can they do? The literature written about their efforts is often a lot of fun!
News
December 13, 2020
3
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture

When computer whiz Rosalind Picard gave a course at MIT in 1997,“Toward Machines That Can Deny Their Maker,” she included some dialogue from a play she had written. As she tells it, The dialogue was inspired, in part, by the 1921 play of Karel Čapek, entitled “R.U.R.,” which stands for Rossum’s Universal Robots. This play is where the word robot originated, from the Czech “robotit,” which means “to drudge.” In R.U.R., humans have figured out the secret to making robots that are emotional and alive. However, the robots can only live for 20 years. Afterward, they expire (die.) Karel Čapek (pictured) invented the concept and maybe even the word, robots: As Picard tells it, “The robots in this dialogue share Read More ›

dozens-of-drones-swarm-in-the-cloudy-sky-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Dozens of Drones Swarm in the Cloudy Sky.
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
November 19, 2020
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Robert J. Marks on Killer Robots

Robert J. Marks
November 19, 2020
1

Robert J. Marks discusses AI and the military, autonomous weapons, and his book The Case for Killer Robots with hosts Robert D. Atkinson and Jackie Whisman from the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF). Dr. Marks’ book The Case for Killer Robots is available at Amazon.com in print, audio and Kindle formats. For a limited time, the Bradley Center is Read More ›

smart-retail-concept-robot-service-use-for-check-the-data-of-or-stores-that-stock-goods-on-shelves-with-easily-viewed-barcode-and-prices-or-photo-compared-against-an-idealized-representation-of-store-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
smart retail concept, robot service use for check the data of or Stores that stock goods on shelves with easily-viewed barcode and prices or photo compared against an idealized representation of store
Type
post
Author
News
Date
November 3, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Work
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WalMart Shelves Its Robot Inventory Clerks

These costly experiences are helping businesses better understand when automation works and when it just doesn’t
News
November 3, 2020
5
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Work

The WalMart automation project started in 2017, as part of an effort to compete with Amazon: Walmart, which posted record online sales in its recent quarter, now has more workers walking the aisles to package online orders, extracting new data on inventory problems, people familiar with the situation told the Wall Street Journal, which was the first to report this news. Reuters Staff, “Walmart drops plans to use robots for tracking inventory” at Reuters Here’s some background: Walmart ended the partnership because it found different, sometimes simpler solutions that proved just as useful – something that came to light during the coronavirus pandemic as more shoppers flock to online delivery and pickup, forcing Walmart to have workers physically walk store Read More ›

Astronaut and robot or artificial intelligence.jpg
Astronaut and robot or artificial intelligence handshake on alien planet.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 17, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind, Science
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Should Robots, Instead of Humans, Go Into Space?

They might be better at life in space than humans. But could they be counselors too?
News
September 17, 2020
9
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind, Science

Are we here to re-create ourselves as robotic humanoids? In a recent podcast, Robert J. Marks discusses what robots can do for us with retired internist and author Geoffrey Simmons. In his most recent book, Are We Here to Re-Create Ourselves?: The Convergence of Designs (2019), Simmons argues that in creating artificially intelligent robots, we are trying to recreate the human being. But can we really recreate everything about ourselves? For example, they discussed, can robots be counselors? Should robots go into space instead of humans? As a writer, Simmons has found audiences for both fiction and non-fiction. For example, he wrote Z-papers (1976), a medically based crime thriller in which “In a Chicago hospital, the U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Read More ›

robot-make-a-relationships-with-human-it-use-for-match-and-make-satisfaction-for-love-buddy-by-pair-the-personality-data-with-algorithms-technology-combine-deep-machine-learning-digital-twin-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
robot make a relationships with human, it use for match and make satisfaction for love buddy by pair the personality data with algorithms technology combine deep, machine learning, digital twin
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
September 17, 2020
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Are We Here to Re-Create Ourselves?

Robert J. Marks
September 17, 2020
2

What are the capacities of human-like robots? Will they ever replace humans? Dr. Geoffrey Simmons and Dr. Robert J. Marks discuss artificial intelligence, outer space, consciousness, and Dr. Simmons’ book Are We Here to Re-Create Ourselves?: The Convergence of Designs. Show Notes Additional Resources

artificial-robot-hand-touch-human-hand-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Artificial robot hand touch human hand
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 13, 2020
Categorized
Ethics, Religion, Social Media
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Will We Outsource Religion and Spirituality to AI ?

A philosopher makes the case. But he worries, are we really outsourcing caring about others?
News
September 13, 2020
6
Ethics, Religion, Social Media

Last Sunday, we looked at the question raised by Professor David O’Hara of Augustana University (South Dakota) as to whether AI could someday have mystical experiences. Of course, a lot depends on whether AI can have any experiences at all. An agnostic himself, O’Hara has also asked us to consider how robot priests will “change human spirituality”: What matters is not whether we have invented true artificial intelligence, but whether we believe we have invented it. If we trust the machine, we might let it function as a mystic or a priest, even if it isn’t one. This raises the interesting question of what to do when someone makes a machine that is actually intended to play the role of Read More ›

machine-god-human-palm-and-cog-wheels-3d-rendering-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Machine God. Human palm and cog wheels. 3D rendering
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 6, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Religion
Tagged
, , , ,

And Now… Can AI Have Mystical Experiences?

A philosopher wonders whether technology could be part of some bigger plan to enable us to perceive other dimensions
News
September 6, 2020
7
Artificial Intelligence, Religion
Remember A.I. Jesus? He’s so last week. We’re now told that AI in general might have a mystical side. Read More ›
robotic-arm-catch-for-electronic-assembly-line-the-robot-for-smart-technology-manufacturing-process-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
robotic arm catch for electronic assembly line. The robot for smart technology manufacturing process.
Type
post
Author
Adam Nieri
Date
June 27, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture
Tagged
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What to make of Erica, the AI Superstar Robot?

I have a hard time conceiving of a way that this film could be successful without a little bit of cheating.
Adam Nieri
June 27, 2020
3
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture

An AI super star? In case sci-fi fans haven’t heard, there is a new actress on the block. Her name is Erica and she is a… robot. According to the Hollywood Reporter Erica will star in a sci-fi film called b, “b follows a scientist who discovers dangers associated with a program he created to perfect human DNA and helps the artificially intelligent woman he designed (Erica) escape.” A part of me chuckles, thinking of the creepy uncanny valley Youtube videos of failed attempts at human-like robotics. However, robotics doesn’t seem to be the center of attention here. As Hollywood Reporter also reports, b is, “a $70 million science fiction film which producers say will be the first to rely Read More ›

gray-vehicle-being-fixed-inside-factory-using-robot-machines-stockpack-unsplash.jpg
gray vehicle being fixed inside factory using robot machines
Type
podcast
Author
Jay Richards and Larry L. Linenschmidt
Date
May 28, 2020
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Bingecast: Jay Richards on The Human Advantage

Jay Richards and Larry L. Linenschmidt
May 28, 2020
2

Will machines take over human jobs? Jay Richards discusses artificial intelligence, virtue, job displacement, and collaboration using technology with Larry L. Linenschmidt. This interview is about Jay’s book, The Human Advantage: The Future of American Work in an Age of Smart Machines. This interview was originally aired by the Hill Country Institute and is included here in its entirety. This Read More ›

robot sit down and thinking
Type
post
Author
Eric Holloway
Date
February 19, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind
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A Philosopher Explains Why Thinking Matter Is Impossible

He’s right but Captain Kirk tumbled to it before him. So did a medieval poet
Eric Holloway
February 19, 2020
6
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind

According to analytical philosopher Richard Johns, we cannot represent ourselves completely mathematically so we cannot generate fundamentally contradictory thoughts about ourselves. Some part of us lies beyond mathematics. An android would not be so lucky, as Captain Kirk realized in an early Star Trek episode.

Read More ›
Pleasant girl and robot working in the office
Type
post
Author
News
Date
January 9, 2020
Categorized
Business and Finance, Work
Tagged
, ,

Robots Move? Tax Them!

Some policymakers see robots as a direct threat to jobs and hope taxes will slow them down
News
January 9, 2020
5
Business and Finance, Work

Jay Richards asks: Just imagine if our government had taxed earlier technological innovations because they threatened jobs. Does anyone think a targeted “tractor tax” would have been a good idea in the early twentieth century?

Read More ›