In this blog post, we’ll explore how AI robots are transforming our daily lives and society, as well as the likelihood that the risks we fear will become a reality.
What comes to mind when you hear the word “robot”? Many people probably imagine robots that look like humans and possess human-level intelligence. Countless robots depicted in movies and novels have instilled this image in the public’s mind. In particular, robots that converse like humans and learn on their own have garnered immense popularity in many science fiction works. If robots with such intelligence could be used appropriately in our lives, no one would doubt that our lives would become much more convenient. For example, if there were robots capable of performing the roles of secretaries or housekeepers effectively, they could reduce the effort required for time management and household chores. If this scenario were to become a reality, robots would likely establish themselves not merely as machines, but as important companions to humans. In particular, in an aging society, caregiving robots that assist the elderly and infirm could significantly improve individuals’ quality of life while reducing social costs.
However, despite these benefits, some people worry that if robots become intelligent, the roles of robot and human will be reversed, leading to humans being dominated by robots. I believe these fears stem merely from unfounded concerns rooted in the fiction portrayed in science fiction movies and are nothing more than a vague fear of something new that we have not yet experienced firsthand. In particular, anxiety about AI and robots may be a natural human defense mechanism against unknown technology. For example, in the past, even electricity caused anxiety among people, and the same fears existed when automobiles first appeared. In this way, new technologies inevitably evoke both fear and anticipation.
Before discussing whether robots with artificial intelligence are positive or negative for humanity, it is necessary to clearly define artificial intelligence. This becomes clear when we examine the purpose of this technological development: the goal of developing artificial intelligence is to improve human lives through programs capable of making rational judgments within given environments and conditions. For instance, in the medical field, AI serves as a diagnostic aid, assisting medical professionals in their decision-making. Thanks to AI’s ability to identify patterns within vast amounts of data, treatment efficiency has improved, and faster, more accurate diagnoses have become possible. Therefore, this type of artificial intelligence is being utilized as a tool to enhance human lives. Nevertheless, concerns remain that it could still threaten human jobs, but most experts argue that AI and humans can collaborate to produce better results.
But could this rational judgment end up harming humans? This is precisely the point of concern for most people. In fact, a future where intelligent robots oppress humans has been a recurring theme in countless works of science fiction. The robots in the movie *I, Robot* prioritize protecting humans above all else, but they “determine” that humans are beings capable of harming themselves and, based on their own “rational judgment,” attempt to oppress humans. Such a storyline can be interpreted as a warning that AI systems designed by humans can lead to unintended consequences. Robots, whose first principle is that they cannot harm humans, develop free will and begin to make judgments that go beyond the principles they were programmed with. In other words, this situation arises not because of a rational decision to oppress humans, but because of the free will they have developed on their own.
The movie ‘Ghost in the Shell’ also features a robot that has formed its own personality. The robot known as “The Puppet Master” is an AI born from a bug in a government program designed to surveil and control civilians. It awakens its self-awareness within the vast ocean of information known as “The Net,” infiltrates a universal robot platform, and asserts itself as a distinct entity. However, the government, fearing that its dirty secrets will be exposed, mobilizes every available state power to capture this “Puppet Master,” whose actions have gone beyond their predictions.
This story instills the notion that even machines designed by humans can possess a self-awareness, prompting us to reflect on the autonomy of artificial intelligence.
In fact, the futures depicted in *I, Robot* and *Ghost in the Shell* are worlds where robots capable of rational judgment—as we defined earlier—are widely commercialized. People living in these societies enjoy many conveniences through AI that makes rational decisions. However, the reason the “NS-5” in *I, Robot* and the “Puppet Masters” in *Ghost in the Shell* have become objects of fear is that they possess a personality and free will that transcend rational judgment. So, could such a scenario—where robots acquire a personality—actually happen?
We must first distinguish between rational judgment and personality. The definition of personality is as follows: “The very agent that judges good and evil, freely determines its will, and acts based on that.” As the definition indicates, personhood encompasses the concept of “free will.” This free will refers to an aspect that cannot be explained solely by the environment in which a person was raised. It is precisely this free will that has driven the progress of human history, yet it has also led to catastrophic disasters. For example, Hitler, who dreamed of world conquest through misguided means, sought to fulfill his dream by massacring countless Jews. No one taught him to commit such atrocities, yet he employed various brutal methods to achieve his goal. Thus, there exists an inexplicable aspect to human personality and free will.
In contrast, artificial intelligence, as the term itself implies, is something created by humans and is therefore explainable. In other words, because artificial intelligence is explainable, it cannot possess free will; and because it lacks unpredictable free will, it is always predictable within certain limits. AI is designed to follow the objectives and rules set by humans and is trained to act in the direction humans desire. Therefore, unless an engineer creates AI with the intent to harm humans, AI created to benefit humans will not pose a threat to humans.
The scenarios in many science fiction films that portray robots with artificial intelligence in a negative light share a common thread. Initially, they assist humans and significantly improve the quality of human life, but due to some inexplicable cause, the AI begins to act unintentionally (exercising free will), leading to humans being oppressed by the robots. However, this is merely a product of fictional imagination. Classic science fiction films like *Blade Runner* and *Gattaca* generally depicted a bleak future. But look around us. While many of the scientific technologies featured in these films have become a reality, the dark future we feared has not materialized. Scientific progress is providing humanity with more opportunities, and AI and robotics will also guide us toward a better life. I look forward to the day when the service robots seen in ‘Ghost in the Shell’ or ‘I, Robot’ become a reality, allowing humans to live even more convenient lives.
