NPR

Should You Leave Grandma With The Robot?

Once a technology that treats emotions as data becomes pervasive, we may soon find that data is the only aspect of emotion we come to recognize or value, says astrophysicist Adam Frank.
Source: iStock

Every day, we are inching closer to some kind of artificial intelligence.

At this point, it isn't so important whether we're talking about truly self-conscious machines or not. Advances in big data, machine learning and robotics are all poised to give us a world in which computers are effectively intelligent in terms of how we deal with them.

Should you be scared by this proposition? Based on a lecture I just attended, my answer is: "absolutely, but not in the usual 'robot overlords' kind of way."

Instead, the real fear should be about getting human beings wrong, not getting AI right.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR12 min read
Chevron Owns This City's News Site. Many Stories Aren't Told
Chevron operates a major refinery in Richmond, Calif. It also owns the city's dominant news site, putting its own spin on events, and runs similar sites in Texas and Ecuador.
NPR3 min readPolitical Ideologies
An Appeals Court Says 'Undated' Pennsylvania Ballots Don't Count
A federal appeals panel says mailed ballots arriving on time but in envelopes without dates handwritten by Pennsylvania voters shouldn't be counted. This case is expected to reach the Supreme Court.
NPR2 min read
As Theaters Scramble To Reach New Audiences, Three Get $1 Million Each
The Mellon Foundation announced grants of $1 million to three theaters: Actors Theatre of Louisville, Long Wharf in New Haven and Portland Center Stage.

Related Books & Audiobooks