May 012012
 
Okay, Let's Talk about Making Sex with Robots

99% of us might be repulsed, but despite our contemporary judgement and derision, things will change; dolls are already being roboticized, and probably sooner than we’re ready for, they’ll begin crossing into believability.

Feb 142012
 
Technological Utopianism is Way Better than Technological Apocalypticism. Robots, Robots.

Human employment is soon going to drastically & quickly change. For sure China’s in trouble, but on the whole is this good or bad? Here a young guy says we’re doomed, and an old guy says it’s all going to be cool. Weird, right?

Jan 072012
 
ROM for Right & Wrong: Teaching Humans Vs. Coding Machines

It might be a good idea to encourage non-biological intelligences (NBIs) to be, as we are, only vaguely moral. A self-aware & morally pure machine might not be so kind to human nature. Just saying.

Dec 062011
 
Leaping Across Mori’s Uncanny Valley: Androids Probably Won’t Creep Us Out

We WANT to see human traits in other entities. Androids aren’t going to reach that point where they’re just human enough to be creepy, yet not quite human enough to accept – they’re going to leap past it.

Sep 142011
 
All Your Jobs Are Belong to Us.

The robot revolution has been imminent for several decades, ironically. Regardless of timeframe, the fact of the matter is that we’re now pushing and developing at such a pace that it’s inevitable – at some point robots have to match our sci-fi expectations – and I think it’s now actually factually …

Aug 302011
 
Grandma's Robot Friend - Not Creepy at All.

PARO is supposed to represent something related to Robots Taking Care of the Elderly. I’m all for the idea in general, but do the elderly really want a cutesy robotic stuffed animal friend? Seems to me it’s kinda, oh I don’t know… revoltingly condescending. But okay, while I understand that in the referenced piece it’s merely presented as a thought exercise, one would expect it to be a bit closer to something people wouldn’t want to club to death. The study is going on in the middle of good ol’ America, so just when I thought I’d never again have to [read full post]