Posted on

Lifestream, Diigo: SETI Scientist: Aliens Are Likely Robotic Life-Forms

SETI astronomer Shrostak suggests that alien lifeforms are likely to be sentient machines. By extension, if humans were able to transfer their minds/other essential human components to machines (becoming sentient machines), the potential to inhabit planets which do not support human biological requirements is advanced.
Looked at from a different angle, the notion of sentient machine extraterrestrials adds another layer of grey to the application of human rights. Of course, aliens, not being human, would not be entitled to ‘human’ rights. But if humans were to become sentient machines, our definition of ‘human’ would change. Would our rights then extend to all other sentient beings, regardless of their ‘shell’/housing/casing?
from Diigo http://ift.tt/2g5l0TZ
via IFTTT

Posted on

Lifestream, Liked on YouTube: If we create female robots as perfect women, how will this affect us?

via YouTube

This video, made for a school project by Eva Oaks (a graduate in robotic facial design at Utwente), asks what the impact of “perfectly” formed female androids will be on women. Oaks highlights the body image anxiety which seems to be a cultural bi-product of our time, and the increasingly young ages and high rates at which many women are undertaking plastic surgery to “improve” their appearance [links to Miller’s (2011) assertion about the increasing plasticity of the body]. Fast forward to a time in which androids exist alongside humans: what is the impact of this on body anxiety? How will definitions of beauty be influenced?

Important questions which lay bare the cultural complexity of ever increasing technologies.

Miller, V. (2011). Chapter 9: The Body and Information Technology, in Understanding Digital Culture. London: Sage.

Posted on

Lifestream, Diigo: english and tech – Growing and learning in this digital age

from Diigo http://ift.tt/2jWtwIS
via IFTTT

Kat Robb reports on a recent trip to Japan, where she spoke with Prof. Ishiguru, director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory in Osaka.

He argues that society itself is responsible for shaping humans, therefore by using a combination of computers, motors, and sensors he is able to create androids that are capable of mimicking humans. So synergistic androids are created, that with exposure to language and HRI, are able to develop a personality, therefore making them as human as any other being that depends on exposure to language, society, others and interaction to shape who they are and who they become.

I wonder what this says of current society/culture, when you consider the fate of AI systems such as Microsoft’s chatbot Tay?

Robb also suggests:

Japanese citizens openly accept robots and autonomous systems into their society so they don’t feel the need to distinguish the differences between them, and humans. Robots are considered beings, just like any other being, and take an active part in society in theatre productions, as caregivers, companions and shop assistants.

Robots are considered beings. “Beings” – not ‘human’ beings, but beings none the less. I wonder – what rights do these non-human beings have in Japan, then?  Further investigations ahead..