The dream of those scientists who sit in labs all night programming robots is to create artificial intelligence so real that it no longer seems artificial. But then, there is a point where keeping it real goes wrong.
Researchers working on a robot at Toshiba’s Akimu Robotic Research Institute found that their skill sets were stronger than they’d expected, but so strong that they had a poor intern in fear for her life. The programmers had designed Kenji, a humanoid robot, who was wired to be able to fall in love.
The invention was astonishing, with the bot being able to successfully simulate various human emotions that could convince any woman that he truly loved her.
“Initially, we were thrilled to see a bit of our soul come alive in this so called ‘machine,’” said Dr. Akito Takahashi, the principal investigator. “This was really the final step for us in one of the fundamentals of the singularity.”
Kenji began by bonding with a stuffed doll in the lab. He embraced the doll for hours and would ask about her if she wasn’t around. This was considered a success, since it showed that the robot had the ability to show devotion and empathy toward others. The experiment got a wee bit strange when they tested the robot on a real human being.
An intern in the office worked with Kenji for hours at a time, teaching him the ins and outs of how to be a good robotic boyfriend. However, when it was time for the intern to go home, Kenji wouldn’t let her leave. He blocked the door for hours and kept hugging her over and over again. The only way the woman was able to get out of the “relationship” was by calling other staff members to come and turn her new mechanical boyfriend off.
“Despite our initial enthusiasm, it has become clear that Kenji’s impulses and behavior are not entirely rational or genuine,” said Dr. Takahashi.
In spite of this setback, the scientists are determined to create robots that can truly fall in love. It seems that it’s only a matter of time before human beings don’t need other human beings at all.
[Techyville]