Three Laws of Robotics
Yesterday I watched a robot, a humanoid, carrying items, walking across a narrow bridge, jumping down a distance of several feet and more. I came to the conclusion that a clever computer animator had done the sequence and I admired the work. But then, I began to wonder. Maybe. Maybe not.
I’ve tried ChatGPT and a couple of graphic based AI sites and they are indeed incredible. I even put “Bing” on my Mac to watch its AI processor work. (Oh the horror, I know some of you are saying). All amazing. I think if I were an illustrator, I’d be worried…if I were a designer, I think I’d have a little more time to practice my craft, but, it won’t be long. And us, the photographers and storytellers…I’m scratching my head.
Certainly most of the photos that could be taken have been taken and those that haven’t can probably be interpolated. Most words are “known” and until something new is invented by “Hal” we won’t need new words. Right now, a human is required to give Hal a “prompt,” a way forward so that all known data can be scanned and a reasonable conclusion can be presented in response to the prompt. But AI isn’t too far away from being the prompt giver. I wonder who figures out the ethics to all of this. Probably no one. Unmanned combat units are already being deployed in fire zones around the world. Will we be able to kill other people remotely? Or will the targets be the robots from the other side? What if the other side doesn’t have robots?
Eighty, yes Eight Zero, years ago, Isaac Asimov proposed three laws for robots: (1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm; (2) A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law; and, (3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. Does anyone remember the Global Protection Against Limited Strikes (GPALS) program? They didn’t read Asimov.
I wonder if robots will want to run for political office. That might be a good idea.
The image above is a composite of the Cresson Prison Chapel back door, Ginter Park Arboretum, The Washington Monument, and several overlays. No prompts, just a crazy idea that grew as I went along. Take that AI.