Why are we afraid of Humanoid Robots?

At an uncontrollable speed, the world of artificial intelligence is jumping into the limitless stage of technical development, amidst all the fear of the fierce competition of this open world for human capabilities and social functions. Despite the great positives of this development, the daily discoveries in the world of robots in particular, which have made them similar to humans, raise many question marks, especially since a recent technical development has brought these industrial forms to the stage of self-awareness. Here is the question that terrifies everyone: Can we still control artificial intelligence, or is it controlling us?

Perhaps the most exciting thing in the world of artificial intelligence, and both the most dangerous, if it continues to develop at its current rate, are humanoid robots. These robots occupy a wide range of attention around the world, because they have become more realistic human features, after scientists invented for them what resembles senses, such as touch, so they sense heat and cold, and they sometimes have the ability to express happiness or sadness. All of this is acceptable so far, but what is missing for it to become as dangerous as scientists have warned about is self-awareness.

Scientists fear

Scientists and experts have warned against this fear, such as theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, and even Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Before his death, Hawking indicated that the development of complete artificial intelligence may pave the way for the extinction of the human race, warning of the ability of machines to redesign themselves. As for Musk, he considered artificial intelligence to be one of the greatest threats to human existence, and he likened the development of intelligent machines to “conjuring the devil.”

But did you know that this fear of reaching self-awareness has become very close, as researchers have recently developed the first integrated multi-sensory artificial neurons that can be used to develop artificial intelligence capabilities. Where have we reached that concerns the whole world?

In an interview with “Lebanon 24,” researcher in physics and nanotechnology, Dr. Wassim Jaber, explains what these cells are, highlighting their pros and cons and the speed of technological progress in this context.

Integration of feelings

According to Jaber, the work of these cells is similar to the neurons in the human brain, as they have the ability to integrate sensations, especially touch and sight, which enables them to make a decision and behavior similar to human behavior and decision. This cell, an innovative bio-inspired artificial multisensory neuron (MN), is inspired by human biology and can integrate visual and tactile information, and is abbreviated as "MN."

Regarding its importance, Jaber says: “The MN consists of a thermoelectric touch sensor connected to a single-layer phototransistor, MoS2. The touch sensor converts touch stimuli into electrical pulses. The phototransistor converts optical stimuli into voltage transformations (volts) via the photocopying effect in MoS2.”

Jaber explains the three main features of biological multisensory integration, which are: “super-additive response, in addition to inverse effectiveness, and temporal congruence, that is, when the multi-sensory response is to the maximum.”

Natural feeling

So how can we benefit from this development? “The authors suggest that this life-inspired multisensory processing could lead to the development of robotics, prosthetics, and neural computing,” Jaber says. “Potential applications include robotic navigation and object manipulation in complex environments. Multisensory feedback also enables controlled "More precise and risk-free. This technology can also give prosthetics a more natural feel."

Overall, this work makes an important contribution toward electronic systems that mimic the efficiency and adaptability of biological sensory processing. Taking advantage of multimedia interactions is essential for artificial intelligence robots, according to Jaber, who speaks of the tangible positive aspects of this development. He continues: "Integrating touch and vision could dramatically enhance machine perception and dexterity, bringing us closer to machines that rival human flexibility, responsiveness and situational awareness."

Competition

It is a show that was able to dazzle the whole world, amidst anticipation of the fears of this development, especially in terms of the displacement of human jobs in favor of robots, which has become a concern for a large number of jobs that people thought for a long time were limited to humans, and here they are today, robots have a feeling similar to people.

Jaber confirms that this development is the first demonstration of an artificial MN that replicates all aspects of multi-sensory biological integration, which means the presence of multiple senses in one chip that produces a neural decision, that is, a process similar to analyzing the human mind, relying on the power of visual and tactile signals.

Perhaps this tactile sensory development cannot simply be comprehended, and everything previously explained may seem like a fantasy, but it has become reality in the technological boom that is open to a wide space and possibilities that can be positive and carry all the danger that the human mind expects or does not expect. The world remains waiting, and you can imagine where mental creativity may reach in the world of artificial intelligence, without accountability or supervision.