Robotics: Machines and Man - Ethics and Robotics in the 21st Century


If you could have a robot that would do any task you like, a companion to do all the work that you'd prefer not to, would you? And if so, how do you think this might affect you as a person?

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		Hans Moravec, robotics researcher at the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University: Moravec has been working all his life to create machines to do mundane chores and to one day do high-level intellectual tasks. His views building robotic devices as a form of reproduction and he looks forward to having robotic children, especially robotic children who can do work for him. Listen to the response (460K)

		Chico MacMurtrie, artist: If we had robot companions, MacMurtrie says, people would become obese and lazy. Humans need to exercise and get fresh air to stay healthy. If we roboticize everything we won't get the exercise we need and we will become a disastrous society. Listen to the response (1MB)

		Julie Wu, exhibit technician of The Tech Museum of Innovation: Wu believes it would be a better use of her time, and better for society, if she could be freed from the tasks that she is not good at, such as doing laundry, so she could work on projects. Listen to the response (692K)

		Tom Shanks, Ph.D. of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics: Shanks thinks that while every human being would like to have all distasteful tasks taken away, as we mature we learn that these unpleasant tasks help us grow as individuals. He believes that if technology took away all our problems, it would also take away the drive we feel, and the creativity and innovation that comes from it to make our lives better. Listen to the response (3MB)