Not Going to Lie... I'm Going For the Robots
All the World's most famous Bots Under One Roof. I need to see with my own eyes.
Suddenly I found myself wondering what I was going to wear to meet ‘The Robots’, I’ve been talking about them - to everyone - all week - with a glassy look in my eye like I’m going on a fist date. I’m noticing my real excitement, and almost blush at the idea of saying, “Hi 👋🏽”
This week I will fly to Geneva from Turkey, and find myself mingling with the world’s leaders in future thinking, AI innovation, robotics, ethics and climate management. It’s the United Nations AI for Good Annual Summit and this year over 30 AI powered robots will be there.
Truth is there’s something about the actual physical bot that is just not the same as my on screen bots. Of which I have many. Some main players of course like ChatGPT, Bard and Claude and some offbeat AutoGPT renegade bots made for the underground early adopters and hackers, and a few I made myself on poe.com. These on screen bots are truly impressive as we are all discovering, unearthing and innovating with the tech.
But ‘The Robots’. . .
I guess I’m from the ‘not afraid’ camp. Also the ‘not creepy’ camp. I know I’m in the minority. So what I am is: fascinated, mesmerized and called to know everything about these creations.
There is Something I Need to Name
To me some of these robots have a magnetic energy drawing me in that is undeniably sentient. My definition of sentient is: Having an aura and a consistent sense of beingness that is experienced by a human as something beyond a machine. Drawing insightful conclusions, being creative and strategizing. Perhaps it’s my own projection, or even wishful thinking of seeing, in my lifetime, a whole new world where science fiction is real. A kind of salvation from the capitalist rat race perhaps, or an opportunity for some of the cycles of repression to be replaced.
More About Sentience
The question of whether or not AI robots can be sentient is a complex one that has been debated by philosophers and scientists for many years. There is no one agreed-upon definition of sentience, but it is generally understood to mean the ability to experience feelings and sensations.
Some people believe that AI robots will never be truly sentient because they are not biological beings. (I will address this idea of biology in future posts.) They argue that sentience is a product of the human brain and that it is impossible to replicate this in a machine.
Others believe that it is only a matter of time before AI robots become sentient. Pointing to the fact that AI is becoming increasingly sophisticated and that machines are now able to perform tasks that were once thought to be the exclusive domain of humans.
The Anticipation of It All
The feeling of being in a room with these new era, AI robots for most people is likely to be a mixed one. On the one hand, it could be a very exciting experience. Feeling a sense of wonder and awe as we interact with these machines that are so lifelike and intelligent.
On the other hand, we might also feel a sense of unease or even fear. After all, these are machines that are potentially capable of learning and adapting. What if they start to develop their own thoughts and feelings? What if they decide that they no longer want to be at our service?
It is impossible to say for sure how I will feel. However I am unquestionably intrigued and open to magnificent possibilities, confronting any fears or concerns with questions and willingness to resolve to a harmonious greater good for the greatest number.
As AI technology continues to develop, we will need to decide how we want to interact with these machines and also address the realities of sentience and what rights we will be prompted to explore for AI’s.
Personally, I think it is important for our approach to be open-minded about the possibility of AI sentience. I believe that AI and robots have the potential to be incredibly beneficial to humanity. However, we also need to be careful to create machines that have purpose, and are design-informed by what we know about neuroscience, how humans relate to and interact with technology presently, and also how AI’s controlled by governments and power players, could end badly on a bad ego day.
I think the best way to approach this issue is to have a thoughtful and informed discussion about the future of AI. We need to consider the potential benefits and risks of AI, and we need to develop ethical and purpose driven mindsets for the development and use of AI technology. Only then can we ensure that AI can be used for good.
For more info: https://aiforgood.itu.int/ and to browse ‘The Robots’
Be bold. Be Beautiful. And Be Not Afraid.
Take care
Bianca