Question

Technologies such as icub and the IBM watson supercomputer

What are the benefits to developing such technologies (be specific as possible and support your claims with reputable sources)

3. What are disadvantages to developing such technologies (be specific and support your claims with reputable sources)

4. What settings/environments would such technologies be appropriate for? Explain your response.

Answer 1

The iCub (Cognitive Humanoid Body) is a step - a gargantuan one at that - closer to a probable better understanding of the human cognition from the most fundamental level - that of a child. Of course the iCub doesn't seem to insinuate, yet, any dire consequences to the ethical or moral aspects of research, and poses no threat either, unless this takes a turn into one of Ridley Scotts plot lines, and we have left with us a murderous child robot set on lose.

Although, there are certain drawbacks that are attached to the very fiber of scientific research,which do develop as the research proceeds, the very primary concern being that of manipulation of data, and hence of the outcomes to suit the needs of the investigators associated with it. It is too soon to speak about any of the scandals that could possibly spillover into this as the iCub is relatively in its nascent stages, and it would definitely be wrongful.

As far as the IBM Watson Supercomputer is concerned an amount of healthy skepticism would be required to keep this new technology in check. Wherever the question of automated reasoning is concerned, which is among one of the chief aspects of this technology amidst other paraphernalia, it is one of the sub fields of artificial intelligence. We have read and watched a lot about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, and artificial intelligence riot. There have been instances which have brought afore the long standing debate of the boons and banes of Artificial Intelligence. The ethics of AI systems have been pondered over, and many believe to have concerns over the debilitating after affects from the advent of full fledged AI systems. Stephen Hawking being one of the many. We are heading closer to a convenient and comfortable future, but also edging dangerously close to the moral and ethical dilemma which is bound to walk along with it, and the exploitation of such technology for purposes not noble. One thing is for sure, Orwell would be disappointed.

Setting and environment that would ideally be appropriate for such technology would definitely be a Utopia, which theoretically and normatively speaking might be possible, but realistically not very much so. And by saying this, I, in no way, mean that the antithesis of a Utopia, which is Dystopia, would be more likely. But practically speaking the historical tracing of the human behavior and the dynamic of human behavior and power begs to differ, and we can be sure of the certain aforementioned problems arising, whether on a micro or a macro level, that is for time to tell; although, I am of the belief it would be the latter.