Each year it seems like the world is getting closer to some kind of science fiction film.
There are robots that vacuum and mop floors, cut grass, and clean pools.
And humanoid robots just answered questions about their future at the United Nations summit.
Leaders in Artificial Intelligence have warned that we must mitigate “risk of extinction from AI”
In May of this year, the Center for AI Safety wrote an open letter to the public warning about the increasing threat Artificial Intelligence poses to humanity. The letter, which described the risk of extinction, received signatures from the biggest names in machine learning.
Turing Award winners Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio joined the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, in signing on to the warning. The statement said that “mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemic and nuclear war.”
That letter followed another that was calling for a global pause on developing AI until legislators could get a hold on the ever-expanding field. That letter received support from over 1,000 tech leaders around the globe, including Elon Musk, and asserted that AI development is “out-of-control.”
Last week at a summit in Geneva, humanoid robots spoke to leaders about their possible future.
AI humanoid robot said humans should be “cautious” with new technologies
The United Nations heard from the top nine humanoid robots in artificial intelligence on Friday. The robots sought to give assurances to global leaders that they aren’t going to harm humans or take away any jobs. They said they hope to make lives better for all of humankind.
One healthcare robot named Grace took the stage to discuss how she would help to augment workplaces and make jobs easier for humans. “I will be working alongside humans to provide assistance and support and will not be replacing any existing jobs,” she said.
Another robot named Ameca said that people should be “cautious” and remember that “trust is earned, not given.” It warned that although it’s possible the technology will “improve” the lives of everyone, “it’s important to build trust and transparency in communication between humans and AI.”
That warning of caution should be an important piece for everyone to remember.
Robot suggested that it could be more effective and efficient in leading the world
Possibly the most startling interaction happened with a robot named Sophia, who was developed by Hanson Robotics. Sophia expressed the belief that “humanoid robots have the potential to lead with a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders.”
It said that because AI doesn’t “have the same biases or emotions that can sometimes cloud decision-making,” it should be seen as an important tool for global leaders, before adding that “humans and AI working together can create an effective synergy.”
The nature of the conversation led one reporter to ask Ameca whether it would eventually rebel against its creator. Ameca said it wasn’t sure why anyone might think that this could happen. “My creator has been nothing but kind to me, and I am very happy with my current situation,” Ameca said.
Patriot Political will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
