Well, as well all know, technology is advancing.

Just a few years back we didn't have iPods, Myspace, Cell phones, none of this technology. Now look, there already are humanoid robots being built! I was thinking, what if they ran on AI? (Artificial Intelligence) They would be smart, have the ability to learn, and basically be like a superhuman. Do you think this would be a good idea? They could help make our lifes A LOT easier, but think about it for a while.

List some ups and downs you think we might run into if we DID get Humanoid Robots that ran on AI. I will as soon as this get's some replies.

(Why yes, I HAVE been reading Chobits. I wanted your take on robots that ran on AI. Like Chii.)

... I would like a robot maid..

It would name him Napolean and give him Fierce clothes.
:3

Well I know the US has already contracted a company to make robot soldiers for them. This is good and bad in both ways.

Good because I'm not the poor sod who has to go out there and shoot the enemy.

Bad because poorer countries would just die.

And also. When would they know when to stop killing???

Here is the article -

The U.S. Army is Developing robotic soldiers
Salt Lake City- Sarcos, Inc. has been contracted out by the United States Army to build the "robotic soldiers of tomorrow." Sarcos, who was awarded the 10 million dollar two year contract, plans initial field test next year. However, the prototype has already been released and is currently being demonstrated.

In past attempts at developing robotic suits, the major obstacle was the lag time between the human intent and the movement of the suit. However, Sarcos claims to have overcame this obstacle through the use of super-rapid microprocessors and sensors that detect movement.

Just what are the obstacles at this point?

Sarcos representative Obusek claims, "the number one obstacle is probably a power issue." At this point the suit can draw power from a generator, tank, or a helicopter. In addition, there are gas engines that can be utilyzed. However, there are safety concerns with this notion.

Price is the second concern. Sarcos is developing cheaper manners in developing this technology so that is can be used on a grand military scare. Obusek failed to comment on what is the current cost of these suits. Yet, he laid claim that there will be a day when they cost no more than a small car.

The Future

Initially, the military's plan is to utilize the technology for primarily loading cargo, due to its ability to increase any man's natural strength. A recent demonstration the suit was worn by Rex Jameson, who claims he is lucky if he bench presses 200 pounds. However, he bored the crowd with hundreds of bench press repetitions at 500 pounds. However, it is planned that these suit will be worn someday in combat. Even possibly to help the handicap.

I was recently looking at some of the new robotic technologies at the Museum and an expo last year.

Recently in japan a robot called topio was announced that could play ping pong against a human player and win 2 out of 3 times.


In the year 1997 a small collection of robots the size of a toddler were released for public purchase, (I wish I had one), called Topo, Fred, Andy and B.O.B.
They were the worlds first small personal robots.
They could sing, talk feed u, get u drinks and stuff.
Give you internet.
Interact with U.
And alot more.

Sadly there aren't any on ebay right now, only a brochure and a face plate.

Then there is B.O.B. and Fred (the little one)


Also, they made 'Androman' which was the equivalent of todays robosapien.


Heres just a little peek at some of the robots that did exist during the day...


Sadly, I didn't see wall-e. :-(

We don't see robots much in our lives but they are very much a big thing.

Kevin rudd was recently given a visit to the japanese 'Toyota' hQ and had a robot play the trumpet for him.

I'm not sure if its good or not. I think we should wait and see. In the mean time, I'm going to go try and buy one of those Topo robots.

NKP

I want a Chii >/////< awesomeful.

I loved that manga xD Pantsu Pantsu!

Yes, but it would still takes years. Even then, there will always be problems. Costs, side-effects, using them for wrong, malfunctions, (we've all seen iRobot.)

There's just too many things to consider when bringing up robots-- like if they're really a priority right now.

Some good things about intelligent robots:
-They can help make our lives easier
-They can perform tasks humans don't like to (or don't want to) like cleaning houses or cleaning out sewer pipes and setting off bombs
-Their intelligence could help solve problems with solutions we never considered

Some bad things:
-I think the sci-fi bad scenario is that their AI lets them realize that life without humans would be better for them
-They could start building more and more robots that are smarter and smarter and take over
-Some low paying jobs would be taken away from people and replaced by robots

Personally, I question whether humanoid robots will really be the wave of the future. There are other forms of robot bodies that might work better (such as the Roomba floor cleaning robot)... Is it ego that makes us want to build artificial life in our own humanoid form?

I think that, as we've all seen in Sci Fi movies, it could turn out rather bad. It just depends on how it all goes.. Movies are made with as much drama / impact as possible, so they are going to show the extremes of possible (and often impossible) situations.. Still it is concerning.

Simple (well not exactly simple.. but in comparison to robots that can be used in war) robots, for example, as Admin mentioned, ones that clean the floor can be productive and useful, however.

There is no such thing as true Artificial Intelligence. Think about how flawed mankind is. And whatever the source of mankind (God, etc) is not nearly as flawed as we are. Now think about the "intelligence" we simulate. I see nothing but huge problematic potential. While we can easily perfect a robot who plays ping-pong, subjecting a man-made robot to responsibilities (on the battlefield, for instance) is leaving a LOT to chance.

For anyone who codes, you know that a single character out of place can screw up the entire project. A simple teeny miscalculation (or even rounding out numbers too closely) can do serious damage if we trust AI to take care of things that require genuine human judgment. That can be simulated, but not imitated.

But I am sure that the Army will pick only the best and most meticulous outsource software company to code that war robot. :p

I tend to be more comfortable thinking about robots that are specialized in a task or maybe a few tasks. This way (I assume) the engineers can refine their work to make it a really good substitute/replacement for human work. Robot floor cleaners? Cool. Robotic arms manufacturing cars? Cool. Even robotic mule is cool. But once you start adding in the option for this robotic mule to recognize what it thinks are bad guys you start increasing the risk... Throw some weapons on there so that it can kill the bad guys and you are multiplying that further. I have to agree with Zoe in that I don't think I trust the humans who would be making these robots to do it right.

Like surgery, for instance. That's something I have a hard enough time entrusting to humans. But you just know that someday...:

"Finally, a robot that can perform circumcisions!"

Originally Posted by Zoe

Like surgery, for instance. That's something I have a hard enough time entrusting to humans. But you just know that someday...:

"Finally, a robot that can perform circumcisions!"

Meh... How hard could it be?!

Originally Posted by Admin

Meh... How hard could it be?!

Uh... how hard could what be...? :p

Originally Posted by Admin

Meh... How hard could it be?!

Oh, sure it would be really easy to do, but you get that one time, that robot makes a snip just 2mm too close....

While they COULD make machines for a lot of things, my hope is that they'll hold off trusting AI with human health.

"Congrats on your new baby girl."
"It's a boy."
"WAS a boy."

Originally Posted by Zoe

"Congrats on your new baby girl."
"It's a boy."
"WAS a boy."

Point taken... And agreed.

@TM - Does the post above from Zoe make the answer clearer?

Hmmm... Come to think of it... Maybe that is how the robots will take over. A generations worth of not-so-accidental snips would solve the human problem, eh?

Originally Posted by Admin

Point taken... And agreed.

@TM - Does the post above from Zoe make the answer clearer?

Hmmm... Come to think of it... Maybe that is how the robots will take over. A generations worth of not-so-accidental snips would solve the human problem, eh?

Creepy. How apocalyptic. Then the last few human survivors (no doubt a team consisting of a blonde woman, a macho man, a smart black guy, and some lucky idiot), would leave Earth, looking down on all the machinery destroying their world.

That sounds like a movie. Was there such a movie?

Originally Posted by Zoe

Creepy. How apocalyptic. Then the last few human survivors (no doubt a team consisting of a blonde woman, a macho man, a smart black guy, and some lucky idiot), would leave Earth, looking down on all the machinery destroying their world.

That sounds like a movie. Was there such a movie?

Uh-huh... Except you forgot about the slightly nerdy kid who is great at computers... You know... in case they need to hack into any alien computer systems while in space.