People love to read stories and watch movies of a science-fictional society that include robots with artificial intelligence. People are intrigued with the ability of the robots that seem to demonstrate what we humans consider morality. Eando Binder’s and Isaac Asimov’s short stories, as well as the 2004 Hollywood movie, all carry the title “I, Robot” and introduce possible futuristic worlds where robots are created and integrated within society. These stories challenge our perceptions about robots themselves, and could perhaps become an everyday commodity, or even valued assistants to human society. The different generations of “I, Robot” seem to set out the principles of robot behavior and showcase robots to people in both different and similar ways. How does the Robot view itself? More importantly, how does society judge these creations? The concepts discussed in these three stories covers almost 75 years of storytelling. Why has this theme stayed so relevant for so long?
The name Eando was the name that Earl Binder and his younger brother Otto Binder created together to represent themselves, and together they wrote the first “I, Robot” story in
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1939. The story is told from the point of view of the main character, which was a robot, given the name of Adam Link. Adam was created and educated by his creator, Dr. Link, and learned how to perform basic human acts, like walking, talking, and how to behave in the human would. After a period of time, Adam learned much more and declared that he wanted to serve man because of how man created him. He developed a moral code within the restrictions of the lab however, when the scientist died in an accident, Adam was confused. He was accused of murder and then introduced to the morality of the human world, without Dr. Link, and along the way he found that it was conflicted. As the result, Adam developed completely uncertain ideals about humanity. Binder did something that was not considered normal in the 1930s, in his story he introduces the reader to sympathetic robot. Robots were either the tools of mad scientists, or appeared as out-of-control monsters to society. This is what pushed Eando Binder to make the decision to do something out of the ordinary and created a robot that could think all on itself. His story is even told by the robot himself (first-person) and also allows readers to see how he was judged by society. Did Adam Actually have an understanding of why he was created? Adam, after being forced into the real world due to his creator’s accident death, he eventually finds a copy of “Frankenstein” which Dr. Link had hidden and comes to understand why humanity won’t accept him; he’s different. Even though he is a “little short of being a human in mind.” (32), his mind rests in a metal body with wires and gears, and because of this, is feared just as Frankenstein was. Dr. Link even told him this earlier on in the story, “You are a monster, a creation, but you are basically human.” (32). Adam only knew the world of Dr. Links home and had never been introduced to, or taught about, the real world. He was also the only one of his kind and did not understand that he was a part of something bigger. Adam decides that to continue to fight with humanity is pointless and decides to shut down. Before he completely shuts down however, he thinks about the people and found it ironic that he has “the very feelings you are so sure I lack?” (45). Societies’ response to Adam was not so kind, and when the Dr. was found dead by the maid, Adam was instantly accused of murdering him without a second thought. They feared Adam as he was different and “non-human”. The reader can see that Adam was, almost thoughtful throughout the story, able to think for himself, and even make his own decisions. The ending proves this when he thinks to himself in the basement that he could, “still summon the strength and power enough to ram through your lines and escape this fate” (45), however, it would only cost several of their lives. This is why he twisted the switch. Society could agree that he possessed morality because of how he can tell what is right/wrong and what good/bad behavior is by himself. Isaac Asimov Short Story Collection “I, Robot” introduced the reader to Asimov’s objective to make his stories something that would change the opinion that people have on robots and, as well as changing the world of science fiction right over. Rather than writing stories with similar themes where the robot/machine turns against its creator (e.g. Terminator), Asimov shows readers multiple worlds where robots protect and help humans from our own worst selves. The stories started from the idea that anyone able who was able to build robots, would also be able to make certain that those same robots would not turn around and attack the builders. The Three Laws of Robotics (laws that were built into each and every robot) were created by Asimov and were also the thing that freed him, as well as many other writers, to develop a robot as an actual character rather than portraying it as something evil. Each of his stories holds clues that robots are indeed a “cleaner breed than we are” (Introduction.32), and though the robots were originally created to serve, the possibility was there that could even become the masters. As well, the stories contained robots that were always unique in some way, but also faced problems with tasks or the humans themselves, in spite of The Three Laws of Robotics that Asimov created and implemented in them all. The robots were created for specific purposes and their entire mentalities/feelings were programmed in a certain way so that even though it seemed like they had free choice, like the character Robbie for example in his story “Robbie”, the robot couldn’t resist it. “Robbie was constructed for only one purpose really—to be the companion of a little child. His entire 'mentality' has been created for the purpose” (Robbie.76). Asimov’s societies seemed to accept robots into their daily lives once they realized that they were what were best for them. Society was able to live and accept robots because each had been programmed so that they could not act outside of the three laws of robotics and only act if given a command from a human. Dr. Lanning created our newest addition to the robot trilogy with the character Sonny. In the 2004 movie adaptation, I, Robot, viewers are introduced to an advanced robot that is able to develop a better understanding of what being human is, and what they really want. Sonny was fitted with a secondary processing system created by Dr. Lanning, as well as the default NS-5 brain, which gave him the ability to dream and made this possible. This meant that Sonny was fully aware of the laws but could make the choice to follow them or not. His secondary brain also allowed him to see that if robots continued to obey the Three Laws, it would only lead to one outcome (that outcome being the robots revolutionizing against the humans). Lanning saw this coming, so he created Sonny so that he could assist the detective Del Spooner in stopping the super computer with artificial intelligence (known as VIKI) from overthrowing the humans by using turning the robots against them. Dr. Lanning predicted this is his “Ghosts in the Machine” speech within the movie. In the film I, Robot, it did not seem to matter if you are a machine or a human, what mattered was if you are able to express morality and emotions. In essence, “the film is not a tale of man versus machine, but of emotion versus rationality, impulse, and prejudice versus logic and reason.” (Alex Proyas n. pag.). Sonny saw that there were multiple robots exactly like him, that he was a part of a larger picture, and that he was different. He knew that he was an NS-5 robot, but why was he different? Throughout the film Sonny is exposed to society and undergoes multiple situations where he builds upon his human-likeness and learns what he truly is and his purpose. In the distant future, where the setting of the movie takes place, mostly everyone has become accustomed and as accepted the human-like robots into their daily lives. Society is using and treating the emotionless robots as servants and do not have the least bit of worry for danger. This is because the robots have the Three Laws of Robotics implemented into each of them. However, there is one individual that has a strong desire to prove that robots were a problem waiting to happen, and his name was Detective Spooner. His fear becomes true after the main computer that controls the robots (VIKI) gains a superior artificial intelligence and turns the NS-5’s against humans. Society quickly changes their option with regards to the safety of robots because they come to realized that they made too many, too fast and that the robots could overpower them in an instant. The Three Laws where the only thing stopping the robots, and now that the laws have been compromised, humans were now at risk of destruction. Society loves to create things that they feel they can control.
People like to put a bit of themselves into everything that they make. This especially holds true for the development and creation of robots. Our sense of morality is put to the test, and our ability to come to terms with our fear of the unknown outcome’s robotics. Versions of the “I, Robot” stories and the movie I, Robot that were produced, support this notion of the need for invention, but at what cost? “Most of the evil in this world is done by people with good intentions.” (T.S. Eliot). The question that needs to be considered seems to be why the creators in these stories and film seem to be allowed to create so freely, but the resulting creations are completely restricted and judged so harshly by the very society that allowed such creative
freedom?
Ilya Varshavsky’s “Perpetual Motion” is the story of humanity’s relationship with technology. During a human council meeting, where humans superficially decide how their world will function, Class A robots demand equality with humanity. The human council is initially appalled, but after these robots explain they will supplement their labor with the labor of a new race of robots humanity grants their wish. Twenty years later, during a Class A robot council meeting, the topic of equality for Class B robots is introduced in a similar manner to the way Class A freedom was discussed. In order to grant equality to Class B robots, the Class A robots discuss the need to teach humans how to survive without them. They resolve to teach humans how
But, Sparrow (2007) argues that the robot is hardly to be the one, because generally, there is no morality in machines, which is the most important to be responsible (Anderson & Waxman, 2013). And, as the requirement for something or someone to have responsibility is, they should be able to be punished and rewarded based on their action (Sparrow, 2007; Klein, 1995; Eshleman, 2002). Sparrow (2007) describes in his article that the robot which has ‘intelligent’ behavior will have internal motivation in order pursuing its goals, and when the goals can be achieved, this cognitive states will make them able to be rewarded or if it fails then the robot will feel frustration as it receives punishment. Moreover, because of its intellectual capacities, as technology advances, autonomous robot may able to imitate human behavior (Sparrow, 2007; Coeckelbergh, 2010). Hence, it could be punished similar with the way when human cause war crimes, for instances with electrocuting, imprisoning, or destroying it (Sparrow, 2007).
In the twenty-first century the creation of the positronic brain leads to the development of robot labourers and revolutionises life on Earth. However, to the Martin family, their household robot NDR-113 is more than a tool, it is a trusted friend, a confidant, and a member of the family. Through some unknown manufacturing glitch, NDR-113 or known as Andrew has been blessed, with a capacity for love and a drive toward self-awareness and development that are almost...human.
I, Robot is a film where highly intelligent robots fulfill public service positions throughout the world, operating under the three rules to keep the humans safe. These three rules are: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey the orders given to it by the human being, except where such orders would conflict with the first law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as it does not interfere with the first or second laws. In fact, the mastermind behind all the robots is Alfred Lanning and it is disseminated throughout the world that a robot has murdered him. Because of this, Detective Del Spooner, despite his troubled dark history with robotics is investigating the alleged suicide of U.S. Robotics founder Lanning and
The novel, Alone Together: Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other (2011) written by Sherry Turkle, presents many controversial views, and demonstrating numerous examples of how technology is replacing complex pieces and relationships in our life. The book is slightly divided into two parts with the first focused on social robots and their relationships with people. The second half is much different, focusing on the online world and it’s presence in society. Overall, Turkle makes many personally agreeable and disagreeable points in the book that bring it together as a whole.
Asimov’s robots can be described as clumsy, hard-working, cost-efficient, soulless, strong, fast, obedient, human-made, a cleaner better breed, more human than man.
Robots could end up being “to nice”. For example in the story “Liar” Herbie is a robot that can read minds and of course everyone wants to know everything that people are hiding from them. When people ask him questions
Robots and complex mechanical structures have been around since the Greek mathematician Archytas invented and created a small mechanical bird powered by steam (Should the human). Homer theorized these machines before they were even created in his book, “the Iliad”. He describes them as golden servants who were created by the god Hephaestus. Homer is also the man who coined the term robot (Patrick 4). Leonardo da Vinci also created blueprints for a mechanical knight that could be considered a robot by today’s terms (Patrick 3).
Proyas wishes to educate the audience about how a fear of the unknown will do more harm than good. Proyas explores the prejudicial attitudes society holds towards the unknown through the characterisation of Detective Del Spooner. I, Robot is set in a world where technology is rapidly evolving and humans are growing more reliant on the assistance of robots. Despite the population’s growing acceptance of robots in their daily lives and the three laws preventing robots from harming humans, Spooner holds onto the superstition that robots operate solely on their programmed logic and are incapable of human emotions.
Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, allows a machine to function as if the machine has the capability to think like a human. While we are not expecting any hovering cars anytime soon, artificial intelligence is projected to have a major impact on the labor force and will likely replace about half the workforce in the United States in the decades to come. The research in artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly at an unstoppable rate. So while many people feel threatened by the possibility of a robot taking over their job, computer scientists actually propose that robots would benefit a country’s efficiency of production, allowing individuals to reap the benefits of the robots. For the advantage of all, researchers and analysts have begun to mend the past ideas of human-robot interaction. They have pulled inspiration from literary works of Isaac Asimov whom many saw as the first roboticist ahead of his time, and have also gotten ideas of scholarly research done by expert analysts. These efforts have began to create an idea of a work force where humans and robots work together in harmony, on a daily basis.
abanovi c, S. 2010. Robots in Society, Society in Robots. International Journal of Social Robotics 2 (4): 439-450. Springer. http://www.springerlink.com/ (accessed February 13, 2011).
In today's society, robots come in different types and qualities, and robots’ use was mainly in the laboratories and factories; however, that has drastically changed where their uses are changing at a high speed. In addition to that, they have spread throughout the world. The main function of robots is to replace the work that people used to do, or perform tasks that man cannot. A robot is a mechanical or virtual device that uses a computer program, or electronic circuitry, to carry out its functions. In modern science, robotics refers to the study of robots is robotics, which deals with designing, constructing, operating, and using robots and computer systems for controlling and processing information and providing feedbacks. However, as much as robots replace human labor, individuals or organizations can use them in dangerous environments that might be harmful and beneficial to humans. Therefore, to understand the logic behind the creation of robots, one should learn the pros and cons of robotics, in the current society. This is because people are using this technology without having a deep understanding of its effects. However, an objective evaluation of the use of robots, in the modern society, shows that they have a positive influence on human beings, but if the robots were overused, it could lead to a negative side. which shows why human beings should use robots wisely that will result an improvement to their societies and own lives. Robots have become interactive equipment whereby they have become part of human life. In this regard, people use them directly or indirectly to enhance the quality of their lives. However, Sharkey argues that there are ethical issues that arise because of using robots to enhance hu...
But later, robots start getting smarter and they take over every aspect of human life, meanwhile, people are forcibly stopped doing stuff by themselves. Finally robots dominated the human race, not in the way of military forces but in lifestyle behaviors. The story was interesting, yet it was also hilarious. Human’s intelligence creates technology, and they are created to serve humans. No matter how smart the technology is, they are still the intelligence of humans.
Our minds have created many remarkable things, however the best invention we ever created is the computer. The computer has helped us in many ways by saving time, giving accurate and precise results, also in many other things. but that does not mean that we should rely on the computer to do everything we can work with the computer to help us improve and at the same time improve the computer too. A lot of people believe that robots will behave like humans someday and will be walking on the earth just like us. There should be a limit for everything so that our world would remain peaceful and stable. At the end, we control the computers and they should not control us.
To conclude, robots could be the backbone of the society that will result in a technological revolution. Because of robots various characteristics that do not experience fear, nor exhaustion and they are precisely programmed, which make them able to help in case of need, housework, and factories production. Society needs to put the issue of robots into consideration to satisfy any shortage exists in the world.