I, Robot: Can artificial life equate to human life?
Meet Sonny, he can cook, clean, and read a bedtime story; but he is not a father. He can fix the car engine, rewire a computer, and program the TiVo; but he is not an engineer. He can give advice, express emotions, and even show reasoning; but he is not alive, or is he? Sonny is one of hundreds of NS-5 robots that provide services to the human race in the 2004 film I, Robot. As detective Spooner (Will Smith) investigates the murder of the Dr. Lanning, scientist and creator of these complex humanoid robots, he finds that Sonny appears to be less robotic and more humanistic.
What does it mean to be human? Biologically humans are made up of stuff; flesh, blood, and DNA or what can also be called natural life (Keller, 2007, p.2). Perhaps humans can be better defined by their intelligence. According to a dualism point of view intelligence first needs a mind to facilitate it, and a mind is a non physical entity that only humans can obtain (Rowlands, 2003, p.65). So while Sonny can replicate human traits thanks to his programming (by a human), he cannot, by these definitions, be considered a human.
Sonny, “They all look like me. But none of them are me.”
Calvin, “That’s right. You are unique.”
Therefore Sonny is nothing more than artificial intelligence. What does that mean? Litch (2002) describes it as a simulation of real intelligence (p.93-92). Could we then say that they are an artificial life form, thus they are a form of life, artificial as it may be. Just because robots are not classified as humans do they not deserve rights? Whitby would say so (Thimbleby, 2008,p. 339). Thimbleby describes his view that robots require laws of ethics similar to that of animals. Then Sonny and his Ns-5 companions can be classified as a sub-human group whose only purpose is to serve humans. This is not a new concept, slavery is based on this same idea. Many people in America during the 1600s regarded African slaves to be of a lesser species than that of the white man. This notion today seems barbaric and downright ridiculous. Maybe the future will consider us ignorant for not considering the rights and treatment of robots.
Detective Spooner, “I thought you were dead.”
Sonny, ” Technically I was never alive, but I appreciate your concern. “
Could creating a super species of robots so similar to human life prove detrimental? Rowlands (2003) explains that if robot intelligence continues to advance, “and significant differences in technological development between two races are, in human history at least, usually marked by the obliteration or near obliteration, of the less technologically developed.” (p.84). Perhaps this is not a current reality, but it could be one for the future. Similarly to the destruction of our environment, the advancement of robotics must also be considered when assessing our responsibility for future generations (Litch, 2003, p.115-116). It seems then unnecessary to continue to advance the realm of artificial intelligence. Perhaps humans are so lazy that they need robots to do their laundry or dishes. Currently artificial life is being seriously advanced for the such fields as health and warfare ( Sparrow, 2007; Babbar & Hemal, 2011). Or perhaps it is not that humans are lazy or looking purely to advance technology, but instead simply fulfilling a God complex.
Word Count: 524
References
Keller, E. (2007). Once again, ‘What is life?’. MIT and REHSEIS. Retrieved from http://vuibert.com/IMG/doc/9782711748655-Keller.doc
Litch, M. (2002). Philosophy through film. New York: Routledge
Rowlands, M. (2003). The philosopher at the end of the universe: Philosophy explained through science fiction films. London: Ebury Press.
Thimbleby, H. (2008). Robot ethics? Not yet: A reflection on Whitby’s “Sometimes it’s hard to be a robot”. Interacting with Computers, 20, 338-341.
Laurence, M. (Producer) & Proyas, A. (Director). (24th of May 2005). I, Robot [Motion picture]. United States: Fox.
Suggested Readings
Babbar P, & Hemal, A.K. (2011). Robot-assisted urologic surgery in 2010 – Advancements and future outlook. Urology Annals, 3(1), 1-7.
Sparrow, R. (2007). Killer robots. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 24(1), 62-77.
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