Artiicial Intelligence: Can machines think? 17710 Despite the amazing accomplishments in robotics, the ultimate goal still remains the cre-
ation of an independently thinking humanoid robot—in other words, a machine made in man’s
image. In the 1970s in Japan, Professor Hirokazu Kato built Wabot-1, a robot that walked on two
legs,grasped simple objects with both hands, and was capable of basic speech interaction. A later
and more lifelike version, Wabot-2, was equipped with a TV camera for a head and could sight-
read and play music while it sat on a piano bench. In 1997, Honda introduced the remote-
controlled P2, followed by the P3 in 1998, which resembled a human being in a space suit, carried
a battery backpack, and walked and climbed stairs. In 2001, Honda introduced Asimo, a child-
sized humanoid that could walk, reach, grasp, talk to people, and understand simple commands.
Built for amusement parks, Asimo remained a remote-controlled puppet rather than a truly
autonomous creature.
11 Although research into humanoid robots has exploded around the world, the inal product
is far from reach. Walking comes naturally to human beings, but coordinated, elegant movement
is not nearly as simple for a robot, whose vision system and brain cannot collect and process
information in the same complex way that humans can. Balance is another problem, one that
humans master because of their delicately constructed inner ear. Vision systems equipped with a
video camera can distinguish colors, but cannot tell the diference between a baseball and an
orange. To demonstrate real intelligence, a robot’s computer brain would have to contain gargan-
tuan databases and operate like the human nervous system. An advanced ability called parallel
processing enables robotic systems to break down complex problems according to patterns of
logic, and it is already being used in AI systems that update light information at airports or pre-
approve mortgage applications online. Scientists are working on neural network programs for
robots, and should they succeed, robots of the future may be able to learn from experience and
generate creative thought.
12 While it is possible to construct a robot with a human form and one that can even commu-
nicate and mimic human behavior, the creation of a truly sentient, intelligent, and autonomous
machine is another story. Despite numerous advancements, it has not been possible to create
from silicon, metal, and tissue a machine that can reproduce itself, feel emotions and empathy,
survive on its own instincts, understand the consequences of its actions, or operate with the same
level of purpose or understanding that humans exhibit. A machine is still a machine, and in the
inal analysis, a machine lacks the spark of life.
13 On the other hand, there is a movement of extropians, those who believe that human life can
be extended by downloading consciousness into computers or robots. Although this may be pos-
sible in principle, the value of living forever inside a machine seems questionable, if not ridicu-
lous. Conceivably, however, humans and machines could merge in the future like the cyborgs of
science iction, as robotic components are integrated into our bodies for medical purposes or as
a means of enhancing our abilities to see, hear, and move. In any case, machines and robots will
likely assume a greater, rather than a lesser, role in our lives. he question is, Will we humans still
control machines, or will machines eventually control us?After reading
In the Pre-reading section, check to see if your predictions about the reading text were correct.