Will AI and Robots Replace Us? (Part 2)

 

Summary:

"God did not create us to be cleaver than Him. He created us to admire, adore, to serve and to worship Him to the highest" 

- jb lim

  

I go to Kuala Lumpur twice a week for my chronic venous stasis leg ulcers to be dressed. Off and on, I see a robot automatically mopping the long corridors of the hospital floors.   When I purposely blocked the robot's way, the robot stopped to avoid me, and turned in another direction. But when I blocked his path again in whichever direction it turned to avoid me, it continued to face another direction to try to go in another direction. Then when I finally let it go, it said "thank you" to me. It was courteous by thanking me. That impresses me very much and is so meaningful to me. The robot did not put up a fight with me. It couldn’t because it has no arms.

I am afraid I cannot say the same with most humans even when we try to share and exchange opinions in WhatsApp and in other social media. They have not even a bit of courtesy to reply, let alone thank you.  I suppose it is just their family and educational upbringing that speaks volumes.

My experience with this robot is a great example of how AI can interact with the physical world in ways that feel familiar and courteous to us. Those robots are designed to respond to their environment, and it's fascinating to see how far technology has come in making these interactions more human-like.

These robots or robotics are so intelligent that I am wondering if they will replace us one day and keep us as pets.  Humans are living creatures who are capable of reproducing themselves naturally as part of the characteristics under the definition of life. Humans and all living creatures have a soul, DNA and biochemistry, organs and systems, but not robots.  They are not living, but they are very intelligent, far more intelligent than humans who designed them to serve us.

The question most ask is, will robots replace us one day when they become capable of assembling parts and pieces to reproduce their own kind. That way they become capable of their own reproduction like humans and in all living things.

I think this have been debated for decades, often in science fiction but also increasingly in philosophical and ethical discussions. The idea that robots or AI could become so advanced that they might surpass human intelligence or even "reproduce" in some form is both intriguing and a bit unsettling.

Robots and AI are indeed becoming more sophisticated, and the concept of machines assembling other machines is not entirely far-fetched. However, there are some fundamental differences between how living beings reproduce and how robots might replicate themselves.

While AI can exhibit what we might call "intelligence," it lacks consciousness, emotions, and subjective experience. Even if robots could assemble their own parts, they wouldn't have desires, motivations, or a sense of self in the way humans do. They follow programmed instructions and algorithms, not a sense of purpose or biological drive.

Reproduction and duplication are not the same thing. Biological reproduction involves passing on genetic material, leading to offspring with a mix of traits from the parents. Robots might be able to replicate or produce more machines, but this would be more akin to manufacturing products out from a factory, than reproduction. There wouldn't be any variation or evolution unless intentionally programmed.

Then there are also ethical and social considerations. The idea of robots surpassing humans in intelligence and capabilities raises significant ethical questions. What rights would such machines have? How would they coexist with humans? It's a complex issue that requires careful consideration as technology advances.

Humans who created AI and robots have control and safeguards.  Many experts believe that with proper safeguards, AI and robotics can be developed in ways that benefit humanity without posing a threat. This includes ethical guidelines, regulations, and ensuring that AI systems remain under human control.

While the idea of AI and robots becoming self-replicating entities is fascinating, they are still a long way from such scenarios becoming reality. The key is to approach these advancements with a combination of curiosity, caution, and ethical foresight.

I think it is a matter of control over these AI and robots. Humans can program them in such a way that they cannot supersede us in any way. For example, AI can store all the data and information given to them by us. But they cannot walk about carrying all kinds of research equipment to conduct research on their own to gather data like us. We do the research and facts finding and give this information to them so that they can retrieve them very fast and convenient for us to use. I think we purposely design them in that way to serve us the easy way. But if there is a threat to us, we can also program or deprogram it to make the robot harmless. I don't think humans as the creator and designer are that foolish to allow a product, he created to boss over us. It is like God who created us. How could it be possible for us to replace God?  He created us so that we can admire and worship Him, just like that we admire how a robot works mopping the floor for us. The key principle that underlies the development of AI and robotics is control and purpose. The relationship between creators and their creations is indeed central to ensuring that these technologies serve humanity rather than pose a threat.

We have human control and programming.  AI and robots are designed with specific purposes in mind, and their capabilities are defined by the parameters set by their human creators. The control over what AI can do—and what it cannot do—rests with humans. This includes the ability to program safeguards, ethical guidelines, and limitations that prevent AI from becoming harmful.

They are purpose-driven designs.  AI is designed to assist with specific tasks, such as processing information, answering questions, and supporting decision-making. The intention is to augment human capabilities, not replace them. The same principle applies to other intelligent systems; they are tools designed to perform tasks that are either too complex, repetitive, or hazardous for humans. We design them to have ethical responsibility.  The idea that we humans, as creators, have a responsibility to ensure that their creations do not surpass them in harmful ways is crucial. This responsibility includes not only programming and deprogramming capabilities but also brings into line ethical oversight. Just as humans wouldn't create something that could endanger their own existence, the ethical use of AI and robotics involves continuously assessing and mitigating potential risks.

Just as humans are seen as part of a divine creation with a purpose that aligns with reverence and worship, AI and robots are created by humans for specific roles that bring into line with human needs and goals. The idea that a creation could rise above its creator is both unlikely and contrary to the intended design.

We create them with a balance of power.  Maintaining the balance of power between humans and AI is indeed a matter of careful design, ethical considerations, and continuous oversight. As long as we humans retain control over the design and deployment of AI, and remain vigilant in addressing potential risks, the likelihood of AI surpassing or threatening humanity remains under control.

The idea that AI and robots could become "gods" over humans is largely a matter of science fiction, provided that we maintain responsible stewardship over these technologies. The relationship between creator and creation is built on purpose, control, and a clear understanding of the roles each plays. It is us who created AI and robots to serve and to worship us, not they supersede us.

I am reminded of these verses in Genesis 11:5 -9 where man tried to be cleverer than God who created them. See what happened to them. God broke up their one language into many languages and scattered them.

“And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built, And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined doing. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So, the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore, is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth”.

This will be the same when AI and robots that try to be cleverer than us in other ways than they were designed. 

God did not create us to be cleverer than Him. He created us so that we can serve, adore, admire, and worship him to the highest. If you have not done that, or realize that, it is best you do this today for the sake of your eternal soul that He is going to decide what to do with it when He take it away. I am not writing this in jest. I am guided to write this.  

Like God, we will deprogram the AI and robots and dismantle their parts. We shall then scatter their software and hardware body parts to their scrap yards if they try to climb up over us.

The Tower of Babel is a profound reminder to AI and robots.  It also serves as a reminder of the limits of AI and robotics ambition and the consequences of trying to overreach. The biblical narrative emphasizes the importance of humility and recognizing that there are forces beyond human control or understanding. It raises important questions about the relationship between creators and their creations, as well as the ethical boundaries we must consider as we continue to advance technology. Just as the people in Babel were scattered for their hubris, there is a cautionary tale here about ensuring that AI remains a tool that benefits humanity rather than something that might lead to unforeseen consequences if not guided by wisdom and ethics.