Isaac Assimov "the Caves of Steel" February 8, 2006
What can we tolerate in a robot? What is expected in a robot? These questions, although different are closely related. When the word robot is mentioned common knowledge creates an image of a technological wonder that possesses the skills, accuracy, and efficiency to successfully complete a desired task. That said, the inability to perform said tasks would not be tolerated in a robot. The primary purpose of their existence is not accomplished if they are unable to perform. We expect the machines to complete tasks as well as anticipate problems or errors. They serve as the “all encompassing calculators” to the human mind. The inability to achieve this task would be seen as a weakness, not tolerated by our population.
However, what is tolerated by a robot also influences the threat that we perceive them to have. They have the ability to replace humans in many cases and this posses a severe threat. The power that humans hold over robots is their skills that are irreplaceable by robots. Yet, as technology increases these skills (emotions, fear, pain, etc.) are more likely to come to fruition in robots. The ability to feel, and think on their own are not far off possibilities for these machines that posses much of our worlds intelligence. These robots offer the possibility for our society to excel, but also come with a warning and a danger.
However, I feel that robots would be more accepted if they are viewed as machines. As soon as we begin to give robots more human like qualities (such as Daneel with human facial and physical characteristics) then robots will become more of a threat to our society. Once these machines are able to blend into the population as humans they pose a more serious threat. People cannot compete with machines that have the abilities that are not humanly possible. But, if they resemble machines (iron and steel) then they assume a more inanimate role in society, that of a machine, not a human imposter. Although these “human imposters” would never truly resemble humans personalities or characteristics, they still appear to posses many of these attributes which posses a threat (although sometimes only a physiological threat). What appears to be human is often times assumed to be human, much like our distant relatives the primates. Although they are not human they do display many human like qualities which lend us to see them as our “cousins.” Yet, with a robot of a more similar appearance with compatible mannerisms we more closely associate them as human, yet a human that we do not fully understand.
However, what is tolerated by a robot also influences the threat that we perceive them to have. They have the ability to replace humans in many cases and this posses a severe threat. The power that humans hold over robots is their skills that are irreplaceable by robots. Yet, as technology increases these skills (emotions, fear, pain, etc.) are more likely to come to fruition in robots. The ability to feel, and think on their own are not far off possibilities for these machines that posses much of our worlds intelligence. These robots offer the possibility for our society to excel, but also come with a warning and a danger.
However, I feel that robots would be more accepted if they are viewed as machines. As soon as we begin to give robots more human like qualities (such as Daneel with human facial and physical characteristics) then robots will become more of a threat to our society. Once these machines are able to blend into the population as humans they pose a more serious threat. People cannot compete with machines that have the abilities that are not humanly possible. But, if they resemble machines (iron and steel) then they assume a more inanimate role in society, that of a machine, not a human imposter. Although these “human imposters” would never truly resemble humans personalities or characteristics, they still appear to posses many of these attributes which posses a threat (although sometimes only a physiological threat). What appears to be human is often times assumed to be human, much like our distant relatives the primates. Although they are not human they do display many human like qualities which lend us to see them as our “cousins.” Yet, with a robot of a more similar appearance with compatible mannerisms we more closely associate them as human, yet a human that we do not fully understand.
posted by lizferneding at 5:38 PM
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