AI, for example, is a technology that is still in its infancy in terms of potential, but is already close to going beyond the HAL-like robot and looking towards human-like robots walking the streets and interacting with people.
Dube says the combination of physical robotic machine bodies and AI software brains will eventually make it hard to tell humans and robots apart.
“We are carbon-based organisms and robots are silicon-based, but I think the boundaries around them are going to get progressively diffused to the extent that you will not be able to distinguish between a human and an android in the next nine years,” he says.
“Robots are becoming fairly smooth in terms of mechanical motion. They can easily walk through a crowded mall, avoiding people. They can take an escalator, climb down stairs and even run faster than humans. In five years, their dexterity will be as good as humans.
“But one component is missing – the brain – and that is the area we specialise in. When we implant the brain into the robot frame, it will be able to be asked a question, analyse what was said, and provide an answer. It will be able to walk and talk to you.”
Dube’s advice to policy-makers and businesses that fear the threat from robots is to make sure humans do not try to compete with robots on their turf. “You cannot try to hold a job as a truck driver in the future, because it is going to get automated, as is a grocery shop worker’s job,” he says. “Machines will do these things much more efficiently.
“But in the foreseeable future, machines are never going to be creative, which is where man reigns supreme.”
Humans will have to change their role in the world, says Dube, which will include transforming education to ensure people can continue to drive the use of AI. “Man should not constantly take on machines as they are the faithful servants with man on another level,” he adds. “We need to prepare for the new world and create more drivers.”
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