A British artificial intelligence expert earns a doctorate for researching marriage - between humans and robots. The UPI report:
University of Maastricht in the Netherlands is awarding a doctorate to a researcher who wrote a paper on marriages between humans and robots.David Levy, a British artificial intelligence researcher at the college, wrote in his thesis, "Intimate Relationships with Artificial Partners," that trends in robotics and shifting attitudes on marriage are likely to result in sophisticated robots that will eventually be seen as suitable marriage partners.
Read the rest at the link above. I can see advantages - it eliminates the "annoying in-law" problem altogether, for one - but the concept still strains the imagination.
Sooner or later, after enough human-robot marriages have ended in divorce, a couple of newly-single robots will meet by chance, at a hardware store, and all the bells and whistles will go off. Sooner or later, the robots will decide they don't need humans around at all . . . (insert your favorite eerie/scary music here) . . .
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Science, Society
Tags: future, human, marriage, robot
Comments (15)
Sooner or later, after ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by marc | October 13, 2007 6:32 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Sooner or later, after enough human-robot marriages have ended in divorce
Who the hell would need a divorce, or the money grubbing lawyers that go with them?
If "she" acts up just pull the plug on the old shrew and toss "her" in the dumpster out back.
P.S. Anyone know where I can get some of this research cash they seem to be throwing around like candy on Holloween?
1. Posted by marc | October 13, 2007 6:32 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 06:32
2. Posted by Francis W. Porretto![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 13, 2007 7:09 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
"On the Internet, nobody knows you're a droid."
Will male AIs trolling for a little boro-silicate lovin' take to representing themselves as several Moore-generations younger than they really are? Will female AIs whose rust spots are steadily advancing over their entire torsos claim to be runners-up for Miss Digital Dreamboat 2107?
I can hardly wait. The supercilious twits will finally learn what suffering is really like. Revenge for all those run-time exceptions at last!
2. Posted by Francis W. Porretto![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 13, 2007 7:09 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 07:09
3. Posted by Jer | October 13, 2007 8:35 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Westworld (1973)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070909/
A thousand dollar one night stand.
(I had a better one -Field of Dreams-1989- but decided not to use it.)
3. Posted by Jer | October 13, 2007 8:35 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 08:35
4. Posted by LaMedusa | October 13, 2007 9:48 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
So, Blade Runner has a chance to become a reality? I never thought so much time and money would be wasted on artificial intelligence (as opposed to actual.) I can understand the curiosity of exploring new dimensions in relationships, but experimenting should be done with improving the human ones.
4. Posted by LaMedusa | October 13, 2007 9:48 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 09:48
5. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 9:51 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I have spoken with robots you leftists wouldn't believe.
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5. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 9:51 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 09:51
6. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 9:52 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
They all agree I post prematurely.
Edited version.
I have loved robots you people wouldn't believe.
==============================================
6. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 9:52 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 09:52
7. Posted by Son Of The Godfather | October 13, 2007 10:32 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
The last invention mankind will ever need to come up with on his own is an intelligence greater than his own.
Advanced A.I. will then come up with all the cleverness at an exceedingly rapid pace.
It seems to be inevitable.
Read about a "technological singularity":
http://www.kurzweilai.net/index.html?flash=1
I think most here will find it pretty fascinating.
I, for one, welcome our new Fembot overlords!
7. Posted by Son Of The Godfather | October 13, 2007 10:32 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 10:32
8. Posted by Les Nessman | October 13, 2007 10:44 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Gay 'marriage' will never lead to polygamy, incest or any other weird 'marriages'. Never.
Never, I say.
8. Posted by Les Nessman | October 13, 2007 10:44 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 10:44
9. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 10:52 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
SOTG, it is good to have the right attitude, but remember, intelligence is like climate regulation. It is a chaotic system. Imagining creating an intelligence greater than human would be like believing you could control climate. Possible, perhaps. Likely? Ever so not.
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9. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 10:52 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 10:52
10. Posted by Son Of The Godfather | October 13, 2007 10:57 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Kim,
I respectfully disagree.
First, we'd have to define "intelligence", of course.
If it turns out it's a combination of speed, recall, storage, and programming, then we are on the cusp of such a thing NOW (relative to the scale of human development).
There are a variety of different fields currently exploring advanced A.I. concepts... Combine this with some of the advances currently being made in brain-mapping and nano-tech, and I think we may see something quite wondrous within our lifetimes.
10. Posted by Son Of The Godfather | October 13, 2007 10:57 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 10:57
11. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 11:10 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Not chaotic? Hmmm. That's a thought.
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11. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 11:10 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 11:10
12. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 11:13 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
What I saw wondrous recently was biased researchers using brain imaging in an obviously flawed study to savage conservatives and their thought processes.
=============================
12. Posted by kim | October 13, 2007 11:13 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 11:13
13. Posted by Son Of The Godfather | October 13, 2007 11:22 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Kim,
I saw that too. We are an evil bunch. >:)
13. Posted by Son Of The Godfather | October 13, 2007 11:22 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 11:22
14. Posted by civildisobedience![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 13, 2007 11:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It is a path to extinction. Humankind waste so much of their resources in pursuit of ever increasing sexual options and experiences it will lead to the death of cultures and races.
Perhaps this man-machine relationship option should be put on hold until they can grow and birth babies without women. At least then their depraved pursuits won't result in the death of their genetic code.
14. Posted by civildisobedience![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 13, 2007 11:47 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 11:47
15. Posted by John F Not Kerry | October 13, 2007 7:37 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"I, Robot, take you..."
Asimov would be so proud.
15. Posted by John F Not Kerry | October 13, 2007 7:37 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 13, 2007 19:37