Week 3 | Fear and Awe Produced by ART & ROBOTICS

 

Avatar landscape 2009. 

Much of society, especially in capitalist countries, participates in the mass consumption of exciting products in the midst of the novelty of its invention. For example, consider the introduction of automobiles, plastic, and even hair spray. More people were fascinated by the ability to experience a new form of transportation, reinvent storage and apparel, and even style their hair differently. Not enough people were concerned by the harm these products would inflict on the environment and trigger global issues such as climate change. Once we realize the danger, it is difficult to reverse the damage. 

Could our approach to robots be the same?

 

Some people see robots as effective tools to complete unwanted or dangerous jobs. Others are skeptical of relinquishing the ‘special-ness’ that humans possess. One quality that distinguishes humans from other species is persuasion, but even this may be shared by another species soon. An I.B.M. Research facility in Tel Aviv is currently developing a machine that learns rhetorical persuasion. Noam Slonim’s objective was to create a machine that debated politics even better than humans. 

Business Insider. IBM's New AI Supercomputer Can Argue, Rebut and Debate Humans

Another issue that the public often voices is the fear of world invasion by robots. The majority of robotic researchers deny the danger that Hollywood depicts. One of the popular TV depictions of rogue robots is Terminator. The movie is so intriguing that rollercoasters and exhibits are dedicated to the characters and apocalyptic universe. Yet, the underlying fear resides despite the artistic celebration of the movie. Another film directed by James Cameron that combines robotics and art inconspicuously is Avatar. The avatar body, and entire planet, is created with extensive details to nature.

The Interrobang. Terminator Genisys.  

Guest lecturer, Maša Jazbec, also doubts a harmful invasion and acknowledges that robots are already all around us. Of course, you would be correct to detect bias in researchers’ claims because robotics is their life’s work. Researchers such as Rodney Brooks claim that humans have comprehensive control over the development of robots and will prevent bad robots from becoming maleficent. 

In my opinion, the verdict on robots is yet to be announced until further evidence is presented.

Source

Avatar. James Cameron. 2009. Lightstorm Entertainment. Film.

Benjamin Wallace-Wells. “The Limits of Political Debate”. April 11, 2021. 

https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-populism/the-limits-of-political-debate?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_041121&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5ff74a04748bcb4b6f7cfa86&cndid=63426226&hasha=f95aba4c8a26aad769ec65061f454713&hashb=58b7fdbf160a00e148fe3bd4b4f8b4be70a44234&hashc=c8def3c4766a6439589fd848a30cd90c02c7766fad6498a316bce65ceb09b6d8&esrc=Auto_Subs&mbid=CRMNYR012019&utm_term=TNY_Daily 

Brooks, Rodney. “Robots will Invade Our Lives”. TEDTalk. February 2003 https://www.ted.com/talks/rodney_brooks_robots_will_invade_our_lives#t-1102810 

Jazbec, Maša. Robotics & Art: "What kind of future do you envision with robots?". Guest lecturer. DESMA 9, 2021. Canva. 

Sposato, Sean. “TRIBUTE: Terminator 2: 3D attraction permanently closes after 21 years at Universal Orlando”. Inside the Magic, 2017. https://insidethemagic.net/2017/10/tribute-terminator-2-3d-attraction-permanently-closes-21-years-universal-orlando/