Real Robot Revolution

Essay # 1 Perspectives of Technology and Politics in the News Media Course Code: POL 507 - 011 Course Instructor: Tanner Mirrlees By: Ishan Sharma

Jon Stewart of BBC news recently wrote an article Ready for the robot revolution? we are at the cusp of a robot revolution, as promising and explosive as the computer revolution of the 1980s the article asserts. (Stewart) Stewart discusses the possibility of human-like robots, and how they could very much become a reality in the near future. Current robots have complex computer interfaces, whereas human-like robots would facilitate humanrobot interaction. Once communication is established between robots and humans, humans will learn to trust robots. Accepted by society, robots will be part of our daily lives incorporated in many aspects of our lives. In specific Stewart sees it aiding elderly people, incorporated in learning/ education, and even health care. To conclude this article, Stewart touches on the importance of having certain rules to abide by when designing robots, or as he coins ethical principles of robot design. These should evoke awareness among issues regarding human safety, and ensure humans have power and some control over robots. Through the analysis of text in Ready for a robot revolution? this paper will show that John Stewart communicates a soft determinism on technology. Between hard determinism and hard instrumentalism lies a balance, this is soft determinism. The perspective of technological determinism resides on the belief what happens in society is out of our control and is determined by technology. (Lecture 3, Slide 11) Technological determinists often argue that the technological forces of a society shape all patterns of our existence, from economic models to politics to culture. (Lecture 3, Slide 12) In the philosophical perspective of hard instrumentalism, technology is merely a morally-neutral tool which humans control (Lecture 3, slide 5). When determinism and moral responsibility are made compatible this gives rise to soft determinism.

Technological determinism postulates that history is broken up into different periods of development, each exhibiting specific technological competencies (Lecture 3, Slide 12). Technological determinists believe that the story of human civilization is linear progress through clearly defined technological periods: Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Industrial Age, and now, the Information Age. (Lecture 3, Slide 12) Researchers believe we are on the cusp of a robot revolution that will mirror the explosive growth of the computer revolution from the 1980s onwards. (Stewart) By coining the term, robot revolution, and comparing it to the computer revolution, Stewart is hinting that robotics technology will define the next period in time, a new era. This is clearly a technological deterministic perspective. Fire was one of the biggest accomplishments of the Stone Age. I think robotics technology will change who we are, just as fire changed who we were before (Stewart) Comparing robots to the discovery of fire is a powerful comparison. Could this robot revolution be the start of the new age, a Robot Age? Technological determinists believe developments, once under way, are unstoppable: 'progress' seems to be inevitable ... (Lecture 3, Slide 14) People are going to have to like, and importantly trust robots (Stewart) The tone taken in this passage gives the sense that humans have very little choice but to accept and adapt to this inevitable future and the upcoming Robot Age. The article, with an optimistic criterion, predicts the future as inevitable. Jon Stewart paints us a picture of a future where robots will serve the elderly, and have further applications in area of learning/education, and even healthcare. A technological optimistic perspective says that technology represents, comfort and ease Technology helps us do more things with less physical stress... (Lecture 4 , Slide 16). The technological deterministic

perspective overlapping here is that progress is inevitable and we must progress towards this convenient future. Humans have little choice, there is no other option and humans must learn to trust and love these robots because the Robot Age is coming. Stewart later counters this hard determinism with instrumentalism. Technological instrumentalism claims technology is neither good nor bad but our use of it is not. (Lecture 3, Slide 6) At present, robots are not sophisticated enough to be made to behave ethically. Prof Winfield says that means roboticists building them need to behave ethically instead.(Stewart) In this statement, Stewart implies technology is morally-neutral instrument which we use for good or evil. This is a technological instrumentalist belief (Lecture 3, Side 6). This passage is crediting humans to having moral responsibility over robots we design. On the other hand it is saying we must be careful and not break certain rules while designing robots, in order to achieve a certain control over robots and even roboticists- the object of this moral responsibility is to achieve control. Here it is shown that though technological determinism is true some technological instrumentalism is present. This balance between both hard instrumentalism and hard determinism is the reason this article communicates soft determinism on technology. This article sells domestic use of robots, but it would be nave to think that we would have much control over the aspects in which society chooses to implement these robots. Come the robot revolution, there could be a military use of robots perhaps as weapons. Stewart poses the idea of certain ethical principles for robot design. They could also serve as moral guidelines for designing robots. In my view the principles are less important than the debate and the awareness around the issues that they provoke." (Stewart)

Note: you can access the original article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15146053