The Robots Are Here For Dinner, But Will We Be Dinner?

For many, there is an impending sense of doom in anticipation of what may emerge for humans in a future of smart robots. But is this fear warranted?

Written by Dr. Jonathan Reichental & Noah benShea

Fear is one of humankind’s earliest warning systems. Certainly, in the absence of fear, it’s doubtful we would have survived long enough for so many of us to anguish over the implications of automata in our lives. But, what is it that is feared and are those fears irrational?

Tackling these fundamental questions would seem to be a good starting point in preparing for our robot future.

Contemplating a future of smart robots

Our robot fears likely fall somewhere on a predictable continuum. Yet, there’s a chasm of difference to consider between the potential loss of jobs as a result of automation when compared to the risk of autonomous robot soldiers deciding to disobey commands and turning on their commanders.

With healthy caution, it’s hard to forget the words of HAL 9000, the space station artificial intelligence, in Stanley Kubrick’s movie, 2001 A Space Odyssey, “This mission is too important for me to…