What effect will semi-autonomous, human looking robots have on society? (extremist, revolution)

[crystalblue]

Put aside your skepticism, and assume they are coming in the near future

and assume they look either 99% human or more.

[jtur88]

You mean when Cherry 2000 brings me a Pepsi?

[oakparkdude]

Well obviously they will enslave/destroy us. Didn't Terminator, The Matrix, and Battlestar Galatica teach you anything? Although if its the BSG scenario, at least they will be super hot looking.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Well obviously they will enslave/destroy us. Didn't Terminator, The Matrix, and Battlestar Galatica teach you anything? Although if its the BSG scenario, at least they will be super hot looking.

I think this is going to cause some major issues.

[North Beach Person]

http://www.startrek.com/imageuploads/200307/data01/200x150.jpg (broken link)

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

Put aside your skepticism, and assume they are coming in the near future

and assume they look either 99% human or more.

Are you hoping for a girl robot?

[ChrisC]

The Japanese are getting very good with their ‘femalebots.’

Robot #1

This one actually responds fairly well to 'her/its' surroundings:

Robot #2 (VERY intersting!)


I’m sure their ‘malebots’ are getting just as attractive (I haven’t paid attention to those). I see it as a new challenge to our traditional society. I’m sure the marriage issue will soon come up. Just think... we could program everything we find attractive and desirable in a mate. Never a disagreement (unless you’re into that sort of thing). And when one does come up... it’s off to the computer to change a few lines of code and a variable or two. But then... would that be an abuse issue?

[Joe_Ryder]

Except as sex toys, I really can't see any practical reason why a semi-autonomous robot would need to look human. Assuming they are indeed on the way and affordable, my guess is that they'll likely sell very well and the pioneers of the industry will get stinking rich. The religious extremists won't like it because they don't like anything.

I don't really see it affecting society to any great degree at all since it'll pretty much be just another high-tech toy. Those box shaped robots that can repair roofs, cook dinner, and pave driveways for pennies a day will have a huge impact on society. Except for the ability to run long distances, being bipedal isn't terribly practical so the really revolutionary robots will have many legs/arms or tracks, wheels, etc.

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Well obviously they will enslave/destroy us. Didn't Terminator, The Matrix, and Battlestar Galatica teach you anything? Although if its the BSG scenario, at least they will be super hot looking.

Remember the Cylons are also self aware. And they were slaves. Quite seriously, if we do create cyborgs which are self aware and able to make independent decisions, it is a question we must ask.

I think we will make some of our cyberbots human looking, simply because on a personal level WE need to see something familiar and acceptable. Why were the robots in Star Wars so full of personality? Because we needed to care about them.

If we make cylons of our own, does it say the same about us as it did about the colonials?

[allah truth]

If they make robots capable of doing anything humans can do that are cheaper then labor our economy will be crushed.