If in the future machines have
the ability to reason, are self-aware and have feelings, then
what makes a human being a human being, and a robot a robot?
Hans
Moravec, robotics researcher at the Robotics Institute at
Carnegie Mellon University:
In
the future, Moravec believes the line between human beings and
robots will blur. In fact, human beings will be robots. He also
believes that although current robotics is modeled on human
senses, actions, and abilities, in time it will evolve beyond
this framework. Listen
to the response(1.1MB)
Julie
Wu, exhibit technician at The Tech Museum of Innovation:
Wu believes that what makes a human being different from a robot,
even if robots can reason and are self-aware, is creativity. Listen
to the response(684K)
Clayton
Bailey, artist:
Robots, says Bailey, are more sturdy, durable, do not bleed,
and are under the control of a human being who can pull the
safety switch. He believes we would follow Isaac Asimov's Laws
of Robotics. Listen
to the response(372K)
Tom Shanks, Ph.D. of the
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics: To
Shanks, this is a question of human spirit, where it comes
from, what we do with it and where it goes. It is also about
character traits. Listen
to the response(1.8MB)
