Artificial Intelligence, The End Is Nigh ?

SOINN robot mimics human reasoning

SOINN robot, developed by a research group at the tokyo institute of technology to model human thought and decision-making


a research group led by osamu hasegawa at the tokyo institute of technology has presented a robot programmed
with reasoning processes akin to those of human thought and capable of learning new tasks on its own.
it uses an algorithm called SOINN (self-organizing incremental neural network'), a subset of pattern-based
artificial intelligence, to adapt to situations and continually learn new information. the robot demoed here
takes visual, auditory, and tactile data as input. when confronted with a new task, it uses its past experiences,
in conjunction with sensory input, to determine how best to behave in the situation. it can also ask for help
and communicate via wireless internet with other robots to share knowledge.

associate professor and research group leader osamu hasegawa asserts that the SOINN algorithms are very light
on computation, despite the possibilities that the technology opens up. by way of example, hasegawa offers:

'for example, suppose this robot doesn't know how to make tea, and it's sent to an elderly person who lives alone.
and suppose that person asks it to make a cup of green tea. the robot doesn't know how, so it asks robots around the world
how to make tea. suppose, for example, that a robot in the UK tells it how to make bitish-style tea. we think this robot
will become able to transfer that knowledge to its immediate situation, and make green tea using a Japanese teapot.'

video of the SOINN robot in action, plus a discussion with osamu hasegawa
video © diginfo

[youtube]OC2TTslf_YM[/youtube]


the robot in the midst of a water-pouring task

detail of head

detail of hands

the algorithms (left) and visual input (right) at work in the robot's 'thought'

Is this good, is this bad ?
Are we just another step closer to robot-rights/revolution ?
Discuss !

 

[Jemmy]

Even at this stage I think a robot revolution is farfetched and at the very least decades away; I want a robot butler and this is a step in the right direction.

 

[Hax4You]

Science fiction is the only time you'll ever see artificial intelligence develop emotion. Even with newer technologies evolving and artificial intelligence becoming 'smarter'. An AI will never be able to properly 'feel' emotion, only emulate it.

So regardless of how smart an AI becomes, it will always perform the same tasks or functions it has been told to do and still has its parameters. It may find out better ways to perform an action and 'learn' how to do different things, but never will the human population have to worry about a "robot rights" or revolution.

But this is extremely cool anyways.

 

Robots learning from other robots? This could cause problems

 

[MohtasaUnique]

I'd buy one and keep an EMP handy just in case:]

This things are cool, I hope they keep working on it. Think about how helpful they can be.

 

Meh, they are interesting but peculiar at the same time. Makes me think of all of those robot movies to be honest.

Despite this being "neat" or "cool" it really is just showing off programming skills. It won't be possible to build an actual robot to mimic human movement for some time.

 

[Quackism]

This is really nice! I am going to be an AI student in September so I'm really interested in stuff like this. Thank you for sharing.

I think it's a good thing that things like this are made. Think of all the things that can be done: Helping elderly people, worldwide distribution of knowledge through robots! This is just amazing.

FlyingToast, you are right that it's not anything 'real' yet. But it's a start. The first calculator was as big as your room (Yes I've seen it, in the Science Museum), now look, you can have a calaculator on your freaking wrist (watch). Things will develop, slowly, but it will happen. Damn I gotta love this so much.

 

[oxodium]

I think this is just another step forward in technology, I doubt in 50 years a Will Smith like battle will commence, like in artificial Intelligence.

I think this is both good and bad, robots work for free, but. As they get more advanced, the need for human employments decreases, [ granted you may need someone to keep an eye on the robot ].

Rather interesting though

 

Oh I know Quack, I was just at the OSU Robotics labs a few weeks ago and I remember them saying that just because of the complexity of human joints it would require too many motors to create a replica, around 900 motors. But yes I agree with you, someday we will see these .

 

[Add My Msn]

Wow they will also be sharing their lessons with each other. That sounds perfect.

 

[slysteeler]

The next generation of Runescape bots.

 

[Falmar]

Wow another big step to robots revolution

 

[MohtasaUnique]

Despite this being "neat" or "cool" it really is just showing off programming skills. It won't be possible to build an actual robot to mimic human movement for some time.

We're not going to get to that point unless people like them show off a bit:] That's how they learn and improve

 

[Noam]

A robot, while able to learn and make logical decisions, can be overridden at any time. If robots were to gain consciousness, don't you think the government or bot manufacturers would institute an emergency shutoff button? that just makes sense, like how heavy machinery has an emergency shutoff
Basically, all of those horror movies exist due to the Idea that humans are to stupid for an emergency shutoff.

 

[Rumbo4]

Weird...