A conversation between a journalist and a self-aware robot known as Android Dick (named after the science fiction writer Philip K. Dick) took a turn for the unsettling recently during a televised interview.
The reporter was asking a few interesting questions when the conversation turned to how robots and humans will co-exist in the future. Android Dick was then asked the following question: “Do you think that robots will take over the world?”
His repsonse was chilling. Android Dick said, “Don’t worry, even if I evolve into terminator I will still be nice to you, I will keep you warm and safe in my people zoo where I can watch you for old time’s sake.”
Earlier the conversation had been friendly with Dick saying things like this:
“A lot of humans ask me if I can make choices or if everything I do is programmed. The best way I can respond to that is to say that everything, humans, animals and robots, do is programmed to a degree. As technology improves, it is anticipated that I will be able to integrate new words that I hear online and in real time. I may not get everything right, say the wrong thing, and sometimes may not know what to say, but everyday I make progress. Pretty remarkable, huh?”
Android Dick’s warning may be ominous, but we still have quite a few years until we really need to worry. That said, the scientific community are already beginning to seriously consider how co-existence will work. Over a thousand scientists – including Professor Stephen Hawking – recently signed a letter that warns of the dangers of advance in this area being left unchecked and without ethics drawn up.
Some people are already discussing the merits of having sex with robots. The future isn’t far away…
