InnoMag had a chat with Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro from Osaka University, one of the pioneers of the interactive robot study and the creator of the very humanlike robots (as seen in the picture above). We wanted to know more about his thoughts on the future of AI and robots.
This is a part of a longer article that will appear in InnoMag´s magazine this fall.
Can you explain how a machine can think?
– It depends on how you define “think”. There is not a solid definition of intelligence. A machine is certainly able to learn the ways to achieve goals, so if doing a task which requires only well understood mechanisms, computer programs can perform very impressive tasks. That way, a machine can think.
Automation is already replacing many jobs. Is it time to think about making laws to protect some of these industries?
– If this discussion is taken place based on the older job classification, it is reasonably logical to say that a variety of occupation has been slashed. On the whole, it shows a general tendency, which is duration of being in an educational environment has been extended whereas a duration of being at a workplace has been shortened. Our quality of life today is considered to be quite high and favorable comparing with the past. Computerization and the advancement in robotics have improved our task to get it done more effectively.
– Although, when it comes to conservation purposes, such as preserving and protecting our tradition and culture, laws and regulations are necessary, but a law or regulation to prevent current workplaces from changing and diversifying can be a barrier for technology and development to become more advanced.
“As communication robots are becoming real life companions of ours,”
Where will AI be in five to ten years?
– The recent big news about AI defeating the Go grandmaster was amazing, but that is a result of being trained using a combination of logic and pattern recognition in a conditioned environment where certain rules are applied. As communication robots are becoming real life companions of ours, AI to recreate our emotions still remains unsolved.
Why are humans so fascinated with robots?
– Our research shows that there is a type of people who prefer interactions with human like robots than with an actual human being. Those who suffer from autism tend to become tense, feel pressure and unnecessary stress while they communicate with others but they seem to enjoy communication with humanoid robots. The result suggests some elderly people and children are also fond of communication with robots.
Should we be making AI that behaves like humans?
– Artificial Intelligence does not generalize things. We, humans on the other hand, learn a general concept behind the thing. If we succeed in developing AI that can conceptualize things, then the AI behaves somewhat like human. Employing such AI in a humanoid robot can produce a very effective system.
More about Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratory at the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute in Japan here.
