Dailycsr.com – 29 July 2015 – The recent experiments conducted on robots revealed that they are much more than what we thought them to be. In New York, a simple experiment was conducted which showed that
“...robots not only have greater powers of deduction than previously acknowledged but are also aware of their own limitations”.
The experiments were performed by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s scientists, whereby they created “three robots” in order to test them with “what is known as the ‘three wise men’ test”, which has headed by the professor Selmer Bringsjord. The may be like listen to a “child’s fable” yet it has its lesson to teach us.
The story of the “three-wise men” goes something like this, whereby the robots were compared to the wise men. One day the wisest three of the kingdom were called before the king in his court. Following the order of their monarch the three presented themselves as instructed. The tale continues by recounting that the king then placed hats either white or blue on their head, although he didn’t reveal what colour they were wearing. The first of the three wise men who solved the puzzled were rewarded with the respected position of the “king’s adviser”.
The experiment conducted on the robots adapted a tweaked version of the tale, whereby the scientists tested, whether the robots were able to “distinguish itself from others”. Consequently, two of them were programmed to be mute and were “unable to talk”, however, the third wasn’t under any such condition. All of them were asked the question:
“...to say who who had the power of speech.”
As expected, all the robots attempted to give an answer by saying “I don’t know” but only the one not under the ‘spell’ of being mute heard his sole voice. Immediately, it realised that it was he who had retained the power of speech. Therefore, instantaneously, it corrected itself by adding:
“Sorry, I know now.”
The robot which bagged a clear win in this logic puzzle has actually passed “two important “logic hurdles”. First and foremost it was able understand the meaning of the question addressed, while secondly, which is a crucial one, it corrected itself when it only heard ots own voice and with this information it correctly realised his mistake.
Explaining the importance of this test conducted on Robots, the Telegraph writes:
“The significance of the experiment is that it shows that robots can be developed to have some human qualities such as self awareness and deduction.”
Furthermore, the findings of Mr. Bringsjord are to be presented in Japan during the RO-MAN conference which is scheduled to take place “from August 31 to September 4”.
References:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11748084/Robot-passes-self-awareness-test.html