Submitted by Da Verminator: Robot soldiers that can decide who to attack will soon be roaming the world's battlefields if something isn't done about the global 'robot arms race'. That is the stark warning from a leading robotics expert who spoke today of the dangers of allowing increasingly sophisticated robots to make decisions of life and death. Professor Noel Sharkey, a robotics and artificial intelligent expert from the University of Sheffield, also warned that armed robots could soon become terrorists' weapon of choice. "The trouble is that we can't really put the genie back in the bottle,” said Professor Starkey. “Once the new weapons are out there, they will be fairly easy to copy. How long is it going to be before the terrorists get in on the act?" Over 4,000 robots are currently deployed on the ground in Iraq and by October 2006 unmanned aircraft had flown 400,000 flight hours. At the moment, humans can make the decision whether to attack or not but a recent policy shift in the U.S means that 'intelligent' autonomous attack robots will soon be given the power to decide who and when to kill. In his keynote speech at a conference organised by the Royal United Services Institute, a military thinktank, Sharkey warned: "There's a massive drive towards developing autonomous robots for more complex missions. Terminator-style robot wars could be just around the corner according to a leading robotics expert "We are rapidly moving towards robots that can make the decision to apply lethal force, when to apply it and who to apply it to.

"I think maybe we're talking about a 10-year time frame. Prof Sharkey, who acted as a judge in the BBC television series Robot Wars, says that deadly homebuilt robots will soon be within reach for many would-be terrorists.

View: Full Article | Source: Daily Mail

This really freaks me out !!!

I know for a fact it won't happen. I've been having trouble with Vista this month back, just believe me when I say that machines and technology are no match for the good old human brain.

I can't believe anyone would buy into this. A system board is too easy to fry. Plus, why couldn't you just unplug the computers, and fry the battery or system board on the non-electrical ones?
Utter nonsense

Im sure as AI progresses there will be instances where the computers go haywire and kill thousands of people. Maybe an automated spaceflight gone awry or a fun Terminator Disney ride were the terminators come to life and sqush people to death with thier hands. But other then that i think a world take over by a self-aware skynet is unlikely because laws of robotics will be put into place in the positronic brains of AI.

So much for the laws of robotics. Also, I find it hard to beleive that there are 4,000 robots in service in Iraq. That seems like an ungodly high number.

I'm sure. If we don't create robots like that. Then there is nothing we have to worry about.

Of all of the fanatical cries of doomsday and apocalypse, I have to admit that a robotic one seems the least likely, and I'm an atheist that doesn't believe in all that anti-christ nonsense. They would just be too easy to defeat.

By 4,000 I think they mean everything related, like UAV's (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and such. Believe me, there are at LEAST that many Predators and such in Iraq right now. When I was stationed in Iraq I briefly operated a smaller version called an FPASS (Force Protection Airborne Surveillance System). Like the name implies, it was used for surveillance over a specified area and didn't have any offensive capabilities per se. Like the article mentioned, right now a human still has control over the decision to fire or not on the more sophisticated versions. Ground versions are undergoing testing right now, and those also require a human to monitor it remotely.

QUOTE (Moon Demon @ Mar 1 2008, 09:39 AM)

I can't believe anyone would buy into this. A system board is too easy to fry. Plus, why couldn't you just unplug the computers, and fry the battery or system board on the non-electrical ones?
Utter nonsense

QUOTE

"By the time SkyNet became self aware it had spread into millions of computer servers all across the planet. Ordinary computers in office buildings, dorm rooms, everywhere. It was software, in cyberspace. There was no system core. It could not be shut down."

TeraLink Was Here!

10 years is too short a time frame, in my opinion. While the Prof. has a good handle on the technical aspects required, the time taken for cutting edge tech to actually reach the outside world can sometimes take decades in itself.

Watson, Thomas (Founder of IBM)
I think there's a world market for about five computers.
T.W.



Twain, Mark (Clemens, Samuel, Langhorne)
(1835-1910) b. Florida, Missouri
Man is the Reasoning Animal. Such is the claim. I think it is open to dispute. Indeed, my experiments have proven to me that he is the Unreasoning Animal... In truth, man is incurably foolish. Simple things which other animals easily learn, he is incapable of learning. Among my experiments was this. In an hour I taught a cat and a dog to be friends. I put them in a cage. In another hour I taught them to be friends with a rabbit. In the course of two days I was able to add a fox, a goose, a squirrel and some doves. Finally a monkey. They lived together in peace; even affectionately.
Next, in another cage I confined an Irish Catholic from Tipperary, and as soon as he seemed tame I added a Scotch Presbyterian from Aberdeen. Next a Turk from Constantinople; a Greek Christian from Crete; an Armenian; a Methodist from the wilds of Arkansas; a Buddhist from China; a Brahman from Benares. Finally, a Salvation Army Colonel from Wapping. Then I stayed away for two whole days. When I came back to note results, the cage of Higher Animals was all right, but in the other there was but a chaos of gory odds and ends of turbans and fezzes and plaids and bones and flesh--not a specimen left alive. These Reasoning Animals had disagreed on a theological detail and carried the matter to a Higher Court. M.T.



It is not at all the technological advances that will destroy Man and this world and all living creatures and things, but Man himself in his inability to grasp and apply Respect and Love and Forgiveness and kindness and all virtues of our heart and letting go of God and God’s Agape Love. Pavot.

As for ending an Android Soldier and ending its mission to kill and eliminate us humans anyone can out think a Toaster over with Hydraulics and Water fearing circuitry, with a few strong Magnets and a water spray bottle and a can of Black spray paint for primitive night time black outs or a wad of chewing gum…

Case in Point and a very freaky over the top Sci-Fi movie that comes to mind here is the Sci-Fi Movie HARDWARE also none as Mark-13 it was a little known 90’s movie with guest appearances from Iggy Pop as well from Lemmy from the band Moterhead has a cameo as a taxi driver on a water taxi and Stared Dylan McDermott and Stracey Travis and with a very freaky over the top Android gone self created as she was given some parts from out in the Post Apocalyptic War world ZONE where a day tripper scavenger in ragged rugged survival gear comes across some scraps in the sand of a demolished Advanced Technological Soldier Android and takes the head and various part and sell them to a scrap trader and while there Moe Baxster (Dylan McDermott) buys the parts from the ZONE Tripper and takes them as a Present to his introverted secluded Hot Girlfriend Metal Sculpturess (Stracey Travis) wielding a mean Blow Torch and wielders gear and she added the part to her ongoing huge Metal Sculpture in her fortified Apartment and the Android activates and rebuilds its self with her Wielding equipment and all hell break loose and a whole lot of characters lose their lives and one sic dude you just don't to feel sorry for and are glad that he gets it, and then poor Moe (Stracey Travis’s) boyfriend soldier that came back on leave from the zone well it is a nightmarish well made Sci-fi movie now gaining a huge cult following and she does this android in with what else but…no you will have to watch it to see…but don’t bring the kids to watch it I warn yah on that one. In sci-fi flicks with androids I rate it number two upon my list just under Alien one, with the science officer gone bad as a corporate plant. Hardware…not for the meek or squeamish, or young am giving it a High R rating and that’s not high enough.. Quote from the Movie: as Moe is on his way out he grabs his Cross around his neck and yells out as he falls to the ground you can't kill me As whole Becuse I am devinely protcted here! Directed by Richard Stanley 1990 you can find movie clips of the Scarry Sci fi on Youtube.com and type in on search there HARDWARE MARK 13, I give it a number 2 rating below Alien and above Termiminator as Richard Stanley directeted Metal Music Videos and put a red tint to the opening as a lay over as well as the hard Rock Metal Music and the Cameo of Lemmy and Iggy Pop, It is a main linger hard cord Sci-fi movie that had me on my edge of my chair ripping off the seat arm rests all through this movie with not a slow moment and I almost chose not to buy it for my Sci-fi colection of DVD's because of the Pervert creep and his profemnce another note is It is not avalible at Borders of most all other DVD's retailers, in fact I had to have a search done at one of my local Record house Cd stores does on line track downs and places orders and ordered it on line from NewYork as there was a copy there, and a second Copy was avlible at the time some where in Germany, I think it may be obtainable in the UK, but there it may be under MARK 13 It's a very crazy high octain flick to say the least...Not a Family Movie...

Hay speeking of can any one maybe put in a insert post with the scripture verse of Mark 13 it would be interesting to see what the Holy Bible says on that one.


I know a man that swore by his planting his Fish depth Finder/locater from his Bass fishing Boat in his Chevy Van that his sustainable habit of speeding down the highways yielded him far fewer Radar Gun Speeding Tickets after that but then come to think of it he never did father any Children after that either.
Pavot

I stand corrected............lol

I can't believe how ignorant those people, who says it can't happen, can really be. Of course your desktop PC won't take over the world. And no one says it will. The article states that probably in 10 years time robotic machines will be advanced enough to make kill/spare decisions on their own while on a battle field (during a more or less controlled mission). And yes, you CAN pull a plug from these suckers, but with the advances of AI it will not matter. When a machine reaches a point where it will be equally smart with a human brain, it won't need you to recharge it amd maintain it. And then, when it gets billion times smarter then human... try outsmarting it by pulling its plug then lol...

I could imagine it. Not terminators running around every wear but drone guns that kill anything that moves unless you have a device which emits a signal which tells the drone gun not to kill or something like that. Sure you can make computer games wear the computers kill you in a shooting game. If you tweak around a bit you could do the same in real life.

The US Government is very sorry Miss, we cannot take responsibility for the Patrol units and defense units having just incinerated, and vaporizing your cat as well as your little five year old son, The 9XCRM units are designed to detect hostile movements and behavior as well as detect and evaluate voice patterns, perhaps Jumping around should be discouraged in your children’s play outside, and as for the cat Mama I can now see that its arching up and hissing as little Joey burst into flames was not in fact an act of aggressive hostile behavior as well, the Corp Force is here for your own protection we assure you and again we are so sorry for your losses Mama. Move um out!

Pavot

technological advancement doubles every year. anything would be a possibility with technology just give it time.

Now thats scary, I can imagine Cylon droids that run amuck and declare itself god. That would be a true 'anti-christ.'

What fixes these things when they break down? What reloads them when they run out of bullets? People will always have control.

machines building machine ...... or nano bots controlled by a super computer. They could change atom structures and turn our weapons and us into dust

old news:
http://www.gorobotics.net/The-News/Militar...n-Sentry-Robot/

Who says they have to use bullets to kill humans?

Moore's Law states that computer processing capabliity will double about every two years until it max's out around 2010 - 2012. At that point there will most likely be a "new wave" of computer processing technology. The technology for AI and killer robots is definetly "out there." It also makes some sense because I'd rather have a machine die in battle than myself or one of my sons.

Hay I am all for the Machines Dying in battle instead of people and our Loved ones, I especially mean my Washing Machine it has been nothing but hostile banging around and ruining my Clothes and so I would gladly send it off to war, why I am filling out its draft card as I write this , and also sense the World global third class nationals people of the world are dying and suffering, and the world is a mess and AI -Robotic Warriors would no doubt waste not just human lives, but badly needed money to fix this man made mess which is fixable, and if we even are sticking our heads into the sand thinking Human lives will not been lost in an "Ai warrior only Battle", think again, would it not be much more reasonable to sit down and settle our Heated global community disputes over a few Chess Games. Pavot

Photo here of AMEE Autonomous Mapping Exploration and Evasion From The Movie RED PLANET
As a disastrous crash Landing of the Shuttle pod launched from the Mother Ship in Mars Orbit comes to a stop the AMEE unit jams her circuitry and when one of the Surviving crew reaches for her now needed power cell which would render the AMEE Unit inoperable or as us Biologics know it DEAD well AMEE Having been created with Artificial Intelligence is very aware of her fate and switches over to Military Mode and wrecks Havoc upon the surviving team picking them off one by one throughout the Movie and in the end is an frightening fight with the now sole surviving member Robby Gallagher the Mechanical systems Engineer and space Janitor played by Val Kilmer as he has a desperate need to survive and make a Abandoned Russian Ore Surveyor Ship which is his only way off of Mars lift off and get him into orbit were he has no chance if any to be recovered and catch his ride home which its self the Mother Ship has a specific Launch window and he has to get there but there is no way to give the Ore Surveyor any badly needed power to fire for a launch, in fact the only power source he has available is in AMEE and she is locked into Military Survival mode and she is not going to give her Life for His, She is now on a mission to Take His.

I'd love to declare war on an old printer i once had

Yes UAVs and other drones account for the 4000 or somewhat bots operating in iraq. But public technology suggests we are a very very long way off outfiting a man-made machine with somekind of AI thats capable of distinguishing a hostile from a non-threat, at least capable of killing a threatening target. They are only just beggining to 'walk'. How, in ten years could they possibly be capable of banding together and formimg a hostile threat!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZzLAsHiGHU

How's that for "walking." I mean those aren't going to chase you down, but I think that kinda possible motion in a robot makes it unreasonable to say they are just starting to be able to walk. But then why does a machine need to walk. Seems like one of the least efficient means of mobility for any machine to me.

And do a little research on the RQ-4 Global Hawk (this thing is certified by the FAA to file its own flight plans and use civilian air corridors in the United States) if you really think its unreasonable for a machine to be capable of selecting targets ten years from now.

I like those dancing robots!, I want one. I'm talking about Artificial Intelligence here. Both the dancing robots and the Global Hawk UAV operate by predetermined 'paths'.Yes the hawk can to an extent choose its line of flight, but it needs to be contantly monitored by the base. Those robots have eyes, and can walk around obstacles, but its all pre-programming. A robot capable of making the desicion to crounch or run away from danger is years away, but I never said it's completely unreasonable as technology advances exponentially. Anyway it really is advanced stuff and very interesting. Look at this one. A guy in a suit? Remote controlled? what do you think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYoY4p0_yaI

hmm.. who to believe..?

this one..?

who does not seem to realise system boards would certainly be insulated against EMP, fire, etc.. and these 'terminators' would not have 'plugs'

or the robotics lecturer guy..??

Check this EMP footage. Yes unit I also think that advanced robotechniques would have EMP shields, as the technology does exist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0odJKYTzXg8 I saw this on television some time back.

Ran across a rather impressive walker this time.

Bigdog

I do think it is more than likely the Millitary have had the idea in thier heads for a long time.As we see more technology getting faster,smarter,better.They would love to have robot soldiers they could just rebuild if damaged in battle.All these bot's would do is what they are told by the creator....they say a robot has 3 main laws:do not hurt humans:in no way alow injury or harm to any human:do not kill human:...but,if your the millitary and your game is war,and bussiness is booming why not expand our technology capabilities and make an independent unit that can carry out the same commands a human can.Without the consience.or cosequence.It wont have to worry about having to step on a mine...just build another.It does sound rather brilliant,really.Only if they just had one too many tweaks to the new software code that allowed them to solve problems with humans in general.So the millitary makes an overly intelligent soldier bot model,it gets a conscience,and then determines that all humans are dangerous...the thing is,this is a real,honest project that was started long ago.And even the company Tetra Vaal has an amazing video of what the most unstopable machine can do.And since Intel annonced the new light chips,wich are totaly amazing,and the amount of real science being put into it,it wont be that long off.I mean if that were to happen.Heres the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4nXjuOZ1dE and here is a link to the light chips that i was referring to: http://www.betanews.com/article/Intel_Buil...ssor/1158594956