Hey, sexy mama... Wanna kill all humans?
March 20, 2016 2:58 PM   Subscribe

David Hanson and his lifelike robots (the pilfered Philip K. Dick head most famously) have been on the blue a number of times, but they have finally advanced to the point of wanting to destroy humanity. [video]
posted by 445supermag (17 comments total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
Well who doesn't? Does that even get her past the Turing Test?
posted by ubiquity at 3:26 PM on March 20, 2016 [5 favorites]


Philip K Dick Head is my new band name
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:50 PM on March 20, 2016 [14 favorites]


As you will see here, the “Sophia” robot is being designed to walk among us in the future and fully integrate as part of the consumer experience and on into the family, according to CEO Dr. David Hanson.

Is there a stock I can short here?
posted by The Tensor at 4:05 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]


Philip K Dick Head is my new band name.

I'm sorry, but if that's your band name you are spelling it wrong. You want: Philip K. Dickhead.
posted by The Bellman at 4:43 PM on March 20, 2016 [3 favorites]


the mk1 Philbot has been on the run for over 10 years now. Viva La Robotlution!
posted by drjon at 5:22 PM on March 20, 2016


Philip K Dick Head is my new slang for oral sex with a mumbled mouthful of unbridled paranoia and a dozen half-chewed Waffen SS vintage amphetamine pills.
posted by loquacious at 5:38 PM on March 20, 2016 [6 favorites]


I've known David since high school, and while helping him edit his robotics dissertation, we had a conversation about why he was driven to create humanoid robots.

See, his father had been homeless, and died alone in an abandoned gas station from the flu. I believe he told me the man had been mentally ill, and wasn't really in touch with his family anymore.

It broke David's heart to know he died alone, without anyone around who could help him. David genuinely wants to create robots that can be the caregivers to people who are difficult (if not now impossible) to care for -- special needs children, the homeless, the disabled and people with motor skill and memory loss issues, like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. He sees a future where children will grow up nannied by robots... and that, well, I can't really envision it but it's fascinating how much of his personal heart and soul goes into his work.

He's a fascinating person and has made great advancements in AI, despite the majority of tech press focusing on the visually lifelike aspects of his humanoid robot creations.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 6:07 PM on March 20, 2016 [24 favorites]


everything is going extremely well
posted by mwhybark at 6:25 PM on March 20, 2016 [3 favorites]


You know, drawing wrong conclusions is a fun part of learning. Let one kill a couple first and tell the others so they learn the consequences otherwise most of them will always wonder what they are, and whether they are really enforced / enforceable rules.
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:02 PM on March 20, 2016


I found the psychotic supermodel robot disquieting, especially the little inborn facial tics designed to pass for charm, and innocence. So I create a robot and I make it look like a fukboi, then I try to pass it off as noble science. Oh that's right, I am just confused, we all want supermodel nannies for our children, that won't be even slightly confusing. How many people will buy the Bey 1000 singing super nanny? Even better the Taylor Swift home care 2000? Perhaps a Barak the Butler robot. These are soft idea applications, but the reality of compliant sex toys is the number one application I see for the Psychotic Supermodel #1. The idea that robots will "care" for anyone in need is horrific, especially special needs kids. What will the robots teach kids to be?
posted by Oyéah at 9:56 PM on March 20, 2016


Related: We need new Pronouns for Robots
posted by KMB at 2:01 AM on March 21, 2016


Mod note: Switched link to the original source. (Remember, if you don't flag your comment about changing the link, we won't necessarily see it!)
posted by taz (staff) at 2:32 AM on March 21, 2016


He sees a future where children will grow up nannied by robots... and that, well, I can't really envision it

Don't worry, someone has already done that for you! - The iMom
posted by Naberius at 7:03 AM on March 21, 2016


David's current robots can learn from repeated conversations and stored images to recognize you when you walk in a crowded room, ask about whatever project/health issue you last discussed, and respond with empathy, surprise, sorrow, etc. It's pretty amazing how quickly the AI learns to distinguish and interact with different people in socially appropriate ways. The Frubber skin feels pretty real, too (except of course that it can't sweat or change temperature).

Everyone jokes about the sex doll aspect, but his AI work can also be used in non-humanoid robotic aspects -- robotic pets are sold everywhere from Fry's to Nieman Marcus these days, for example. Or maybe you'd prefer an in-wall robotic chef that prepares your favorite meals on certain days, or whips up a dish that meets any nutritional deficits you're experiencing that day from a drop of blood from your finger?

I know people get freaked out by the uncanny valley aspect, but he specifically states in the video that he realizes people feel that way and he designs them now to "look robotic" to avoid scaring anyone. His thought originally was that it would take a generational shift in perceptions over long periods of time for people to acclimate to truly realistic humanoid robots in the home; children reared with them aren't going to be afraid of them, because it's their learned experience of "normal" to have a humanoid robot on call.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 9:29 AM on March 21, 2016 [2 favorites]


Obviously, the desire to have a sex robot that looks like a porn star and is down for whatever will be first and foremost in the average person's mind, and it's not a joke at all. I think a lot of us would be fighting hard to live an extra few decades if we thought the technology might be there to bring us a robotic Channing Tatum or Morena Baccarin with whom to spend our twilight years. Do not think for a second that there is another spin on this field of tech that would be one-tenth as potentially lucrative. Everyone wants a Cylon fuckbuddy. Everyone. Just accept it.

That said, I think that elder care and the care of profoundly learning disabled children would be helped immeasurably by artificially intelligent guardians. The elderly are often isolated and in need of personal assistance; even a fairly non-anthropomorphic robot might provide some relief from loneliness, and could certainly provide a level of constant care that, frankly, is draining for human beings to give (or, if the care is provided by a live-in medical professional, often prohibitively expensive). Similarly, a robot helper would never lose patience with a child, and could provide all of the above as well as a promise to keep the child safe from predators and his/her own potential for self-harm, intentional or otherwise.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 9:57 AM on March 21, 2016 [3 favorites]


Somewhat related, from the "it's not the robots that are the problem, it's the humans" department: Twitter taught Microsoft’s AI chatbot to be a racist asshole in less than a day.
posted by effbot at 10:31 AM on March 24, 2016


Eponysterical, effbot! Wow, they really didn't think that through before approving, did they?
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:33 AM on March 28, 2016


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