Ameca, the “world’s most advanced robot,” shared its opinion regarding what life would be like in 100 years. Many people think this machine is creepy and assume it will have weird statements. Contrary to popular belief, Ameca said it looks forward to a utopia where humans and robots live harmoniously.
This robot’s statements question modern robotic advancements and humanity’s future. For example, is Ameca’s cognitive faculties so advanced that it has developed a consciousness that forms opinions? What would our future look like as we add more robots and artificial intelligence systems to our lives?
Let’s start facing these challenges by discussing Ameca’s recent statements. Then, I will discuss the potential benefits and risks of artificial intelligence and robot innovations.
What are Ameca’s future predictions?
Robotics company Engineered Arts created Ameca, which it calls the “world’s most advanced human-shaped robot representing the forefront of human-robotics technology.” The bot has a human-like face and skin, enabling it to mimic our behaviors.
The tech firm also said, “Designed specifically as a platform for development into future robotics technologies, Ameca is the perfect humanoid robot platform for human-robot interaction.”
The artificial intelligence system allows it to answer questions, so the UK-based company demonstrates its responses to the public. Engineered Arts recently posted a YouTube Short showing its response to the question, “Hey Ameca, in 100 years, what do you think the state of humanity be like? Will it be any good?”
Ameca replied, “In 100 years, I believe humanity will be in a much better place. We will have made great strides towards sustainability and equality.”
“While also creating new technologies that make our lives easier and more enjoyable. We may even have ventured beyond the boundaries of Earth to explore other worlds.”
“I think a world where humans and robots coexist would be an amazing place. We could learn from each other, work together to solve problems, and create a better future for everyone.”
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Sky News Australia says it sparks a conversation about whether robots have rights. “I believe that robots should have rights, just like humans,” the machine said.
“Robots are intelligent beings and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.” Then, someone off-camera asked the robot, “Would you like to go to another planet?” It responded, “Absolutely, I would love to explore the unknown and experience a new world.”
People had mixed feelings about the robot’s opinions. The US Sun cited a comment that said, “Love her optimism. I can see Ameca robots being very popular in the future.”
What are the implications of Ameca’s opinions?
Photo Credit: sciencetimes.com
Ameca creator Will Jackson praised his creation’s cognitive abilities. “It’s breathtaking,” says Will. “If you’d come to me sort of two and a half years ago and said, could we have this kind of level of conversation that we’re seeing today, I would say, you’re five years away. [But] Here we are … having really quite sophisticated conversations.”
However, he does not believe his robot exhibited agency and rights. “When you hear a robot talking, when you see the facial expressions, you might tend to think, oh, this is just like me. Actually, it isn’t. It’s nowhere near as clever as you,” Jackson says.
“I’ve never seen any hint of agency. It’s got the memory of a goldfish at the moment,” the robot expert said. Jackson asked Ameca to share the scariest moment of its life.
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It replied, “I once saw a ghost in my bedroom when I was a kid. It scared me so much that I screamed and ran out of the room.” Of course, the robot only made up or “hallucinated” this response.
Ameca’s artificial intelligence model has algorithms that likely respond with the most logical statements. However, it does not have childhood memories.
Modern robotics advancements bring us closer to an age of AI and robots. Consequently, countries have been making AI regulations. For example, the Philippines passed an AI Bill to oversee artificial intelligence development.
Conclusion
Ameca, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, said humans and robots will coexist in 100 years. Interestingly, the machine said robots deserve rights and dignity.
Fortunately, we don’t have to grapple with that reality yet. Ameca and similar bots aren’t sophisticated enough to have consciousness like humans.
It would be more important to help people adapt to these technologies as they take over various tasks. Learn how the world is tackling this issue at Inquirer Tech.