The Paradox of Teaching Machines to Think Abstractly and Socially
The discrepancy between the relative ease of teaching a machine abstract thinking and the difficulty of teaching it basic sensory, social, and motor skills is known as Moravec’s paradox. Named after an observation made by roboticist Hans Moravec in the late 1980s, the paradox states that what’s hard for humans (math, logic, scientific reasoning) is easy for machines, and what’s hard for machines (tying shoelaces, reading emotions, having a conversation) is easy for humans.
Reimagining Human Relationships with Machines
In her latest book, "Robots and the People Who Love Them: Holding On to Our Humanity in an Age of Social Robots," science writer Eve Herold argues that new approaches in machine learning and continued advances in AI are unraveling this paradox. As a result, a new era of personal and social robots is about to unfold, forcing us to reimagine the nature of everything from friendship and love to work, health care, and home life.
The Rise of Social Robots
To give readers a sense of what this brave new world of social robots will look like, Herold points to Pepper, a humanoid robot that can read our expressions and emotional states and respond appropriately in its own childlike voice. However, it’s worth noting that SoftBank, the company behind Pepper, pulled the plug on production due to lack of demand and incompetence.
Critique of Herold’s Book
Positioning a defunct product like Pepper as a vanguard for a new social-robot revolution doesn’t inspire confidence. Furthermore, Herold’s conclusions about human nature and psychology often seem oversimplified or divorced from the evidence she provides. Her predictions, such as the arrival of companion robots in homes throughout the industrialized world, are also questionable.
A More Rigorous Approach
For a more rigorous look at the development of social robots, Sarah A. Bell’s "Vox ex Machina: A Cultural History of Talking Machines" offers a compelling and insightful history of voice synthesis during the 20th century. Bell explores how we try to digitally reproduce different expressions of human embodiment, such as speech, emotions, and visual identities.
Conclusion
The paradox of teaching machines to think abstractly and socially is a complex issue, and Herold’s book, while thought-provoking, has its limitations. A more nuanced approach is needed to fully understand the implications of social robots on human relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Moravec’s paradox?
Moravec’s paradox is the discrepancy between the relative ease of teaching a machine abstract thinking and the difficulty of teaching it basic sensory, social, and motor skills. - What is the main argument of Herold’s book?
Herold argues that new approaches in machine learning and continued advances in AI are unraveling the paradox, leading to a new era of personal and social robots. - What is the status of Pepper, the humanoid robot?
SoftBank, the company behind Pepper, pulled the plug on production due to lack of demand and incompetence.
