Humans: Nothing More Than Machines?

Brooks, Rodney. “I, Rodney Brooks, Am a Robot.” IEEE Spectrum Magazine.IEEE Publications, June 2008. Web. 24 April 2010 <http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/hardware/i-rodney-brooks-am-a-robot/0>.

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Rodney Brooks is the former Director of the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (1997-2007) and the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab. Before that, he held a faculty position at Stanford and a research position at Mellon Carnegie University. He is an entrepreneur in the field of robotics and has written extensively. In his article, Brooks presents his beliefs about what is is to be human and what the future holds in the field of robotics. Brooks believes that all humans are machines. He believes that humans and animals operate on a series of bimolecular interactions based on physics and chemistry, and that "if we learn the rules governing our brains, then in principle there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to replicate those rules in, say, silicon and steel. I (Brooks) believe our creation would exhibit genuine human-level intelligence, emotions, and even consciousness." In other words, he believes that man will one day be able to create human-level artificial intelligence. He says that robots will gradually become more like humans and humans will become more like robots. Brooks says that that is already occurring with tiny computers and microchips that are being implanted in humans to help with hearing and vision, as well as the use of artificial hips, etc. Among Brooks' many predictions is one that says that our world will some day be comprised of technologically augmented people who still have their emotions, intelligence and consciousness - and their machines will have them, too.

Brooks has been a leader in the research and development of many of the robots that are being studied today. His ideas are relevant because he is one of the leaders guiding the direction of robotic technology. Brook's beliefs are very controversial because he operates on the assumption that humans are nothing more than machines. Although he did not state it in the article, "I, Rodney Brooks, Am a Robot," he did say in a 2003 speech (www.ted.com/talks/rodney_brooks_on_robots.html) that he believes that a "soul" has nothing to do with human life and that "we need to get over the idea that we are anything special". Anyone who is concerned about how robots are being utilized in relationship with humans should be aware that at least one of the leaders in the development of sociable robots does not regard human life as anything special and is comfortable with the idea of the line between human and robot becoming blurred. This awareness should cause one to of keep informed of technological advances and to understand that many ethical questions will arise, including what if any rights should be awarded to robots and should humans continue to be regarded as more important than machines. This information might be helpful to those who are determining how patients can benefit from robotic therapy without allowing the line between human and machine to become blurred.

Will Robots of the Future Be Conscious and Deserve Rights?

Singer, Peter., and Agata Sagan. “Do Humanoid Robots Deserve Rights?.” The Japan Times. The Japan Times Ltd., 17 Dec. 2009. Web. 22 April 2010 <http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20091217a1.html>.

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Peter Singer is a professor of bioethics at Princeton University. Along with researcher, Agata Sagan he has written an article about the potential consequences of developing very complex social robots. In the article entitled, "Do Humanoid Robots Deserve to |Have Rights?", one of the consequences he mentions is that robots might take over the jobs of babysitters and other jobs that usually go to people with little education who need employment. He also voices concern about the possibility that as intelligent machines design ever more intelligent machines, the day may come when humans are no longer in control. The Association for Advancement of Artificial Intelligence has set up a panel to discuss that possibility. The most mind-boggling consequence that Singer describes is one that is being studied by cognitive scientist, Steve Torrence. Torrence points out that new technologies spread quickly and uncontrollably. What if robots become so complex that they are capable of having feelings? What if they are programmed not just with the capability to copy human behavior, but with the capability to produce consciousness? Would they then deserve rights?

The article by Peter Singer and Agata Sagan is relevant to the question about whether sociable robots should be used in therapy. It deals primarily, however, not with the impact that the relationship would have on the human patient , but with the potential impact that the relationship would have on the robot. As robotic technology advances, Singer's concern about the consciousness of robots could very likely become an issue. The difficulty would come in knowing what is mimicked behavior and what is actually conscious behavior. Singer's observation that it might become possible for robots to be programmed with the ability to produce consciousness, raises a controversial issue about the relationship between humans and robots.. Singer is concerned that, based on the way humans treat animals; humans might not treat the robots very humanely. If robots were being used to serve humans either in therapy or other capacities, it would be important to determine their level of consciousness and to consider what rights they should be afforded.