The intrigue of science fiction blockbuster Interstellar mainly focuses on space exploration, black holes and time travel, so it is not surprising that many has already been written On the representation of the science of the film – there is even A book on Already on the subject. What was discussed less is InterstellarThe representation of artificial intelligence and robotics, probably because the robots of the film work so well that they never launch and fly the spectacle. Beyond the science fiction stereotypes, however, InterstellarThe representation of AI illuminates several characteristics of what our future with robots should (and should not) look like. (Warning: There are spoilers in Gogo in the rest of this post.)
Tars, the main robot presented in Interstellardoes not look like a human. It also does not look like most of the robots that exist today. Science fiction films generally imagine robots which, like the emblematic C-3PO, look roughly human (for example, having two legs, two arms and one thing facing above, even if not clearly not a human face). The tar, on the other hand, do not really have legs or arms or any other revealer recognizable of a biological organism. It reflects a different approach to the development of robots, more common in real roboticians than those who apparently work in most science fiction universes, which puts the function above humanity in the design of technology. Certainly, some humanoid robots are currently in development, but the preferential function on a familiar face can actually be in the interest of humanity. The rescue of Dr. Brand at the last minute of Tars would have been impossible with a humanoid design, for example.
At the same time, Tars is not a toaster. He speaks fluent (although sometimes clumsy) an Englishman and regularly makes contributions to the mission. In this regard, Tars is a model for a system that is user -friendly (combining a fluid natural dialogue with common sense) without trying to recreate the physical and cognitive limits of humans. It is common today that commentators (especially those in the technological sector) argue that technology complete rather than replaces human skills, but Tars shows how it is a false dichotomy. To do suitable work to help humans, Tars needs certain human features, such as the ability to speak and understand language, but it does not need to be done precisely in the image of Man. An army of tars, even if it is not designed to replace or imitate humans, would have huge practical applications.
The rights and needs of robots are another common theme in science fiction and the source of many intrigue conflicts. Consider, for example, science fiction future that portray robots as looking at and feeling like humans one day, as in films IA And Bicentenary.
Interstellar There is no hypothesis of such. On the contrary, Tars is described as a complex tool which plays a similar role to another crew comrade on the ship but has no rights granted to humans. Indeed, Tars formerly declares explicitly that it is necessary to follow the orders of humans, and that, consequently, his heroic sacrifices are not as heroic as they seem. Many and many times, Tars saves humans without any respect for his own interest, except the place of survival, it is important for the survival of humans. This reflects the recommendations of many of the people interested in the ethics of AI and robotics. Cognitive scientist Joanna Bryson, for example, arguments That the robots impregnated with the ability to suffer because of the way they are used is a choice, and that we have good reasons not to make. By the moment when the construction of something similar at a distance to the tar will be possible, we will probably learn much more about the nature of the conscious experience in humans and other animals, and the possibility of replicating it in the machines. For the moment, there are some early signs of research on consciousness to suggest that digital computers can never be able to feel conscious thoughtAnd therefore the treatment of tars as a mechanical slave is justified.
A final characteristic that makes tars a precious model for robots in the real world is its relative transparency compared to existing technologies. That is to say that he is not only able to explain his decisions in terms that humans can understand, but he is also able to accept the entries of humans who modify his decision-making at the most level Elementary – for example, its “honesty parameter”, which seems to be 100%zero. By being transparent, the tar are not only more useful and customizable, but it also avoids many of the risks associated with AI in typical science fiction plots.
In particular, the tars never take place in Amok like Hal 2001 or Skynet made in Terminator. It is not only because Tars has no survival instinct. An AI or a robot does not have to be selfish so that it pursues its objectives unexpected and dangerous ways. There are considerable technical challenges in the development of a more intelligent machine than humans and keeping it under control. While we are going from a world with a wide range of stupid to somewhat intelligent machines in narrow fields, to a world of intelligent general machines for general use of tar, it is important that we understand exactly what hypotheses integrated into AI and robots’ software is the context in which they are sure to operate, etc., for which communication and bidirectional understanding will be absolutely essential.
While Tars has a few good lines of laughter and impressive movements InterstellarHe’s not the star star. And that’s the point. If we can develop in a creative and responsible manner of technologies that correspond well to human needs and govern them appropriately, there will be no need for real malicious robots like HAL in order to make things interesting – rather, as Interstellar Imagine, we can have a truly focused on man who puts technology in his place.