WASHINGTON The 2004 Will Smith-starrer I, Robot showed us a glimpse of a not-too-distant future where man battles for supremacy with his own creation: robots. That sci-fi fantasy is a lot closer to reality today thanks to rapid advances in artificial intelligence. And scientists are squirming in their seats because they can't rule out a revolt by killer robots – until now limited to films.
Leading researchers, according to a report in The Times, have warned that they may be creating ultra-smart machines which end up outsmarting and perhaps even endangering humans.
Indestructible
Top scientists at a recent meeting in Monterey Bay, California, warned that computer-based systems that carry out a growing share of society's workload, from waging war to chatting on the phone, have already reached a level of indestructibility.
“These are powerful technologies that could be used in good ways or scary ways,'' said Eric Horvitz, key researcher at Microsoft, who set up the conference on behalf of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
Others warned that scientists are devoting far too much time on creating artificial intelligence and too little on robot safety.
“We're rapidly approaching the time when new robots should undergo tests, similar to ethical and clinical trials for new drugs, before they can be introduced,'' said Alan Winfield, a professor at the University of the West of England.
Reel to real
The scientists who presented their findings fear that nightmare scenarios, which have until now been limited to science fiction films such as the Terminator series, The Matrix and 2001: A Space Odyssey, could come true.
Drones, for example, which can strike human targets have already moved out of reel to real wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Though they are currently controlled by human operators, they are moving towards more autonomous operation.
The sentry robots developed by Samsung to serve as armed border guards have “shoot-to-kill'' capability.
Noel Sharkey, professor of artificial intelligence and robotics at Sheffield University, warned that such robots could soon be used for policing, for example, during riots or at G20 summits.
