Fresh off the optimistic idea of artificial intelligence improving our lives, an article in the Times Online warns of a secret emergency conference with leading artificial intelligence researchers about the growing possibility of computer-based systems turning against us.
The alarmist article lists many possible technologies that could prompt an nightmare scenario, including an autonomous sentry robots that can shoot-to-kill and an army of “nursebots” that simulate empathy to hospital patients. Fortunately, the scientists at the conference admit that we’re a long way from technological singularity and suggests new artificial intelligence technologies should undergo a review board like many other scientific endeavors, hopefully following the Three Laws of Robotics written by Isaac Asimov. The Times Online reports,
At the conference, held behind closed doors in Monterey Bay, California, leading researchers warned that mankind might lose control over computer-based systems that carry out a growing share of society’s workload, from waging war to chatting on the phone, and have already reached a level of indestructibility comparable with a cockroach.
The scientists who presented their findings at the International Joint Conference for Artificial Intelligence in Pasadena, California, last month fear that nightmare scenarios, which have until now been limited to science fiction films, such as the Terminator series, The Matrix, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Minority Report, could come true.
Now enjoy this impressive and thoroughly nonthreatening video of robotic hands dribbling a ball at incredible speeds:
[image adapted from Flickr user: The Rocketeer]
[via Kottke and Times Online]
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