When does Technology go too far? The global responsibility of Recognizing Pandora’s Box
Before recorded history, mankind has been intrigued by his natural world. Daily, for centuries, the earth has bid explorers into frontiers of observation, speculation, and now what we call science. However, exploring unknowns can be a difficult risk to take; proceed and solutions to current problems may be found. However, proceed and more problems may be the consequence. Now more than ever, post World Wide Web, post genetically modified organism, as technology grows faster than ever, we are tantalized with the risks and possible benefits of what lies behind, between, beyond. Growingly, skeptics vocalize their fear of opening a Pandora’s Box of new
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In other words, what was added to the human body as a prosthetic is only being acted upon and used by that body, unlike the genetic case where modified genes interact with that body. The same definitions can be assigned to other engineering technologies. For instance, when engineers construct computers, those computers are used as tools by and for the human individual. By the user’s means, the computer replaces older technologies; letters are replaced by emails, pen and paper calculations are replaced by calculators. However, as AI develops, it may be that self learning computers not only function by us, but also with us. This then is where we recreate that which already exists— an interactive intelligence that mimics our own autonomy.
Technology like prosthetics and computer systems that merely replace are by majority received without hesitation and are, for the most part, beneficial. On the other hand, recreating technologies like that of biological engineering, and alternate artificial intelligence forms not only replace, but also recreate, and as a result prompt a host of difficult social questions. In the surge of research on artificial intelligence, for example, there are innumerable plans of implementation. One that has already been experimented with is artificial intelligence as a viable, integrable human companion (Moskowitz). Developers in this area envision robots that are intelligent enough to become human companions.
In his 2011 The Chronicle Review article “Programmed for Love” Jeffrey R. Young interviews Professor Sherry Turkle about her experience with what she calls “sociable robots”. Turkle has spent 15 years studying robotics and its social emergence into society. After extensive research and experimenting with the robots, she believes that soon they will be programmed to perform specific tasks that a human would normally do. While this may seem like a positive step forward to some people, Turkle fears the worst. The article states that she finds this concept “demeaning, ‘transgressive,’ and damaging to our collective sense of humanity.” (Young, par. 5). She accredits this to her personal and professional experience with the robots. Turkle and her
When someone brings up the term “artificial intelligence”, a variety of connotations tend to arise, connotations that often are unfair or unrepresentative of the true real-world applications of such a term. Due to the incidentally fear-mongering nature of the media, artificial intelligence can refer to something as basic as a robotic arm in a factory, as well as the implied extinction and/or enslavement of the human race as caused by robo-revolution. As of today, however, when applied in the world of modern technology, artificial intelligence is defined as any innovation that performs a task usually completed by humans. Of course, with this definition, artificial intelligence holds the potential for both societal harm and benefit, and its fate
Taking a further step into this subject, Margaret asked why would we expect robots come into our lives and she answered this question in an ironic tone that “Because, deep down, we desire them.” By listing the artistic works and realistic inventions ranging from the story of a Sumerian
At work, people are claiming to be too busy on their devices to be able to have conversations. In fact, they do not want to have the face to face interaction, but would “rather just do things on [their] blackberry” (136). Moreover, a “sixteen-year-old boy who relies on texting for almost everything says wistfully, ‘Someday, someday, but certainly not now, I’d like to learn how to have a conversation’” (136). The reliance on technology has increased significantly and the necessity for conversation has pivoted. A teenage boy confesses that he feels more comfortable talking to an “artificial intelligence program” (138) about dating instead of his own father. Similarly, many people want “Siri, the digital assistant on Apple’s iPhone, [to become] more advanced, [because] ‘she’ will be more and more like a best friend” (138). Robots are being given more credit for comforting humans than humans themselves. Not only are the younger generations thinking this, but also the elders. When Turkle brought a baby seal robot to a nursing home, an elder woman began to speak to it and feel comforted by it. It is a tragedy that humans are feeling a deeper connection with robots than other humans. Humans have the experiences and the feelings that the robots are not capable of having. Hence, there is confusion about the difference between conversation and
“Just as the sun will rise tomorrow morning, so too will robots in our society.” Frank Mullin accurately explains the growing role of robot pets worldwide. Robot pets, are the adorable synthetic toys, that warm the hearts of thousands with their almost life-like movements. Once just a thought and a dream, robot pets now grace the shelves of department stores. Along with their wide popularity comes a question; “Should robotic pets replace real pets?” Well, they interact differently, and are frankly just programmed to do what one sees. Allowing robotic pets is depriving people of the interactions they experience with real pets, and does not nourish responsibility. For now, robotic pets should be left on the shelves because they will never provide
Noel Sharkey has warned us that “the widespread availability of service robots has resulted from several developments that allowed robots to become mobile, interactive machines” (Sharkey 358). Robots have become a necessity for people today rather than just for science fiction or manufacturing processes, but lately we wonder whether or not if it’s safe to put our faith in the hands of cold machinery. Today, robots have been known to provide care for our children and the perhaps even the elderly. They even provide service to our men in combat. However, it doesn’t change the fact that there are those who feel
Albert Einstein declared “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” It is important to remember that Einstein said this long before all of the technological developments we know today. If he could see how far we have progressed, his proclamation would most likely be even more urgent. Many people share the fear of technology overtaking humans. Two authors, Clive Thompson, who wrote “Smarter than You Think” and Kevin Kelly, who wrote “Better than Human: Why Robots Will- and Must-Take Our Jobs,” have an optimistic view regarding the role of technology in the future. Although they use different reasoning, both Thompson and Kelly assert collaboration between humans and technology is necessary to maximize
“Pandora’s Box” and its Relation to Greek Culture “Pandora’s Box” is a Greek myth that has been told for centuries. The Greek created this origin myth in order to explain how evil and hope arose on the Earth. Pandora, in Greek mythology was the first woman, who was created by the Greek gods. She was created out of clay by order of Zeus in order to punish Prometheus for stealing fire from the heavens as a gift to humans. On Earth, Pandora married Prometheus’s brother, Epimetheus.
Christain Shorter Ms. Alexander World Literature 9 November 2015 Pandora’s Box? Pandora is one of the most well-known figures in mythology. Her name means “all-gifted” (Gall 119). She was the first human woman ever created by the gods. “Hephaestus created a human girl.
In Greek mythology, there are many things that compare to being in modern day society. Myths affect the people and all of mankind as a whole. One particular story shapes how evil came about in the world. The story of Pandora’s box tells the tale of how afflictions were spread across the world. This story shows how then and now, how evil has been within the world.
Lately there have been more and more smart machines that have been taking over regular human tasks but as it grows the bigger picture is that robots will take over a lot of tasks now done by people. But, many people think that there are important ethical and moral issues that have to be dealt with this. Sooner or later there is going to be a robot that will interact in a humane manner but there are many questions to be asked like; how will they interact with us? Do we really want machines that are independent, self-directed, and has affect and emotion? I think we do, because they can provide many benefits. Obviously, as with all technologies, there are dangers as well. We need to ensure that people always
In today’s fast paced technologically savvy society, everyone wants the most advanced technology, this thirst for the next big thing is what makes technology fields the fastest changing and growing sectors. In countless movies, television shows, and novels, there is a representation of a humanoid character that is in fact a machine functioning and learning new skills with artificial intelligence. The problem with these shows is that the representation of modern day artificial intelligence is largely skewed, these machines have personalities and emotions making them relatable to humans when they are still just a very elaborate computer program. Artificial intelligence is the cognitive ability to solve problems, recognize patterns, and have
Within the last century scientific discovery has been growing at an exponential rate. Evolution, genetics, physics, and chemistry have all greatly affected the way people view the universe and human role in it. Furthermore, the application of scientific discoveries has physically changed society. For example, humans went from being flightless to eighty years later having transportation in super sonic jets available. Rapid scientific change has caused many issues surrounding morality and science to arise. The idea behind the skepticism is that just because something can be done doesnt mean it should be. Nuclear weapons, biological weapons, and cloning have all fallen under fire due to this concept. People worry that
Artificial Intelligence is a topic within the public media that has existed for decades, but is now a concern due to the reality of human advancement and innovation in the field of science and technology. Many people believe that computers will become self-aware or sentient and view humanity as a disposable resource and gain supremacy. Reasoning that research on the technology should halt and not become more advance. Whereas others believe they will help catapult research and the economy forward, supporting the operations and innovations the technology offers. The complicated and divided solutions to the debate aren’t obvious, but there are more benefits to improving artificial intelligence than there is stopping it. Therefore, the negative effects people believe will occur can be resolved.
We live in a strange and puzzling world. Despite the exponential growth of knowledge in the past century, we are faced by a baffling multitude of conflicting ideas. The mass of conflicting ideas causes the replacement of knowledge, as one that was previously believed to be true gets replace by new idea. This is accelerated by the rapid development of technology to allow new investigations into knowledge within the areas of human and natural sciences. Knowledge in the human sciences has been replaced for decades as new discoveries by the increased study of humans, and travel has caused the discarding of a vast array of theories. The development of