Programmed Emotions

[Cybermancer]

Not all problems we face originate with creatures from beyond. Some problems we create ourselves.

As time takes us deeper and deeper into the 21st century, more and more advances are being made in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence. One of the difficulties facing those who must design and program these new, artificial intelligences revolves around the question of ethics. For example, should we or should we not attempt to give these emerging intellects human emotions?

About three years ago, some Japanese engineers attempted to give a robot called Kenji the emotion of love. Here is the article.

And for those who don't want to follow the link:

Kyoto, JP -3 March 2009- Staff. Researchers at Toshiba’s Akimu Robotic Research Institute were thrilled ten months ago when they successfully programmed Kenji, a third generation humanoid robot, to convincingly emulate certain human emotions. At the time, they even claimed that Kenji was capable of the robot equivalent of love. Now, however, they fear that his programming has taken an extreme turn for the worst.

“Initially, we were thrilled to see a bit of our soul come alive in this so called ‘machine,’” said Dr. Akito Takahashi, the principal investigator on the project. “This was really the final step for us in one of the fundamentals of the singularity.”

Kenji was part of an experiment involving several robots loaded with custom software designed to let them react emotionally to external stimuli. After some limited environmental conditioning, Kenji first demonstrated love by bonding with a a stuffed doll in his enclosure, which he would embrace for hours at a time. He would then make simple, but insistent, inquiries about the doll if it were out of sight. Researchers attributed this behavior to his programmed qualities of devotion and empathy and called the experiment a success.

What they didn’t count on were the effects of several months of self-iteration within the complex machine-learning code which gave Kenji his initial tenderness. As of last week, Kenji’s love for the doll, and indeed anybody he sets his ‘eyes’ on, is so intense that Dr. Takahashi and his team now fear to show him to outsiders.

The trouble all started when a young female intern began to spend several hours each day with Kenji, testing his systems and loading new software routines. When it came time to leave one evening, however, Kenji refused to let her out of his lab enclosure and used his bulky mechanical body to block her exit and hug her repeatedly. The intern was only able to escape after she had frantically phoned two senior staff members to come and temporarily de-activate Kenji.

“Despite our initial enthusiasm, it has become clear that Kenji’s impulses and behavior are not entirely rational or genuine,” conceded Dr. Takahashi.

Ever since that incident, each time Kenji is re-activated, he instantaneously bonds with the first technician to meet his gaze and rushes to embrace them with his two 100kg hydraulic arms. It doesn’t help that Kenji uses only pre-recorded dog and cat noises to communicate and is able to vocalize his love through a 20 watt speaker in his chest.

Dr. Takahashi admits that they will more than likely have to decommission Kenji permanently, but he’s optimistic about one day succeeding where Kenji failed.

“This is only a minor setback. I have full faith that we will one day live side by side with, and eventually love and be loved by, robots,” he said.

Note that the robot shown is not Kenji but rather a robot being designed to assist patients.

Apparently Kenji's programmers forgot one very important saying about love.

If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don't, they never were.

We must always be careful about things as powerful as emotions. They are complex things we do not fully understand ourselves. I think that only negative things can come from attempts to program or otherwise interfere with the emotions of others.

It is better to let these things grow naturally and develop on their own. The rewards also, are inherently superior when we allow things to happen in their own time rather than force our own desires on others.

[Nemesis]

I feel sorry for the Robot. He just wanted to hug the lady.

-Cynthia

[Tms3]

sounds as if they need work. Emotions are the basic es of dissension making. to say nothing about Ethics are emotion based as well. it is proven that people whom have lost the compasaty for emotion do to brain damage or mental illness have a vary hard time with even the most basic decisions like what to have for there next meal. What shoes to buy ect. well those that do not feel some emotions are are extremely detached form them, lack a morel compass they may do anything to acheave there goals they also may become serial killers

[Nemesis]

I don't think decision making requires emotions, Tms3. Otherwise computers would never be able to make decisions but they do already. It's all based on their programmed logic but the capacity exists. And amoral people are also capable of making decisions even if those decisions aren't what others would want them to make.

Also, I think it may be possible to develop a code of ethics that wasn't based on emotion. Or at least follow it without emotional investment. Indeed, people follow rules all the time that they don't agree with.

Isaac Asimov postulated three rules for robots that would rule robot behavoir and serve as their ethical code. Maybe these reseachers should read more science fiction before engineering emotions.

-Cynthia

[Grace]

Cyn,

I think you'll find that if you work out your moral code and ethics based on what feels right to you, you'll be happier in the long term than if you just try to tackle the problem as a purely logical puzzle.

[Hannah]

She's quite right about that Sis. I grew up having a moral code imposed on me. I've only recently been able to shake it off and decide to do what feels right to me.

I am a lot happier now than I had ever been before.

Hannah

[Rowan]

When I first read this, I envisioned “programmed emotions” as a possible similarity to “memory muscle” or techniques used to reinforce a brainwashed victim. It’s not at all what I thought, however.

Scientists seem diligent in their efforts—as robots are programmed with higher and higher sentience—to pave new roads to possible destruction.

[Cybermancer]

When I first read this, I envisioned “programmed emotions” as a possible similarity to “memory muscle” or techniques used to reinforce a brainwashed victim. It’s not at all what I thought, however.

Scientists seem diligent in their efforts—as robots are programmed with higher and higher sentience—to pave new roads to possible destruction.

You know, not all of us scientists are paving new roads to destruction. Some of us are working deligently putting up road blocks and detours to other destination.

[Robyn]

I always find it odd when in discussions of artificial intelligences, the assumption always seems to be that sooner or later any sufficiently advanced artificial intelligence will automatically turn on their creator.

Perhaps what scientists need to do is to teach their creations love. Any new entity capable of love will learn it the same way a newborn child does. By demonstration.

"Love is patient,
love is kind,
and is not jealous;
love does not brag
and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own,
is not provoked,
does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, "

--Paul in The Holy Bible, I Corinthians 13:4-7

[Nemesis]

Hi Hannah. I'm glad you're so happy.

Robyn, maybe you're right.

[Hannah]

Hey Robyn,

I'll see you Corinthians and raise you Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

William Shakespeare

Hannah

[Rowan]

You know, not all of us scientists are paving new roads to destruction. Some of us are working deligently putting up road blocks and detours to other destination.

Apologies—I meant to put a “many” before the “scientists,” but somehow didn’t. Of course it’s not true that every scientist is that way. Perhaps a great many proceed with caution—undocumented.

I always find it odd when in discussions of artificial intelligences, the assumption always seems to be that sooner or later any sufficiently advanced artificial intelligence will automatically turn on their creator.

When I think about it—it doesn’t seem odd at all. There have been many people who write, warn and discuss such things. Most are science fiction—but with the incredible pace of science’s advancement, more and more, they have serious points. Thus far, it seems many scientists boldly go where they were warned not to.

Those that make the news many times seem—to me, if none else—appear to stride forward without caution.

[Robyn]

There is always risk in both progress and having children. Occasionally children can turn on us. That doesn't make it the default paradigm.

As for science, it is only knowledge. It is not inherently good or bad. Though it can be put to either use. Unfortunately once a scientist learns a fact or a new process and share it with the world, the world often uses that new information for its own purposes. So rather than condemn those who seek truth, I would rather scrutinize those that use that knowledge for ill gain.

Which is not to say that I pardon those that seek knowledge to deliberately use it for ill gain. There are certainly an unfortunate number of scientists who lack proper scruples.

Hannah,

As for that sonnet, it is very lovely. Thank you for sharing it. I suppose I should read more of the Bard's works.

[Rowan]

There is always risk in both progress and having children. Occasionally children can turn on us. That doesn't make it the default paradigm.

I won’t have children—but not out of fear that they might turn on me. It’s simply too dangerous for me—my health. It’s an unavoidable complication for me—a paradigm of mine, if you will—but certainly not one for all women.

As for science, it is only knowledge. It is not inherently good or bad. Though it can be put to either use. Unfortunately once a scientist learns a fact or a new process and share it with the world, the world often uses that new information for its own purposes. So rather than condemn those who seek truth, I would rather scrutinize those that use that knowledge for ill gain.

It’s good that we agree on that point—perhaps even more, although my communicative restrictions limit me from such precise transparency.

[Hannah]

Robyn,

You're welcome. I also thought it fit well with the verse you quoted.

Hannah

PS: It's also good to see you posting again. I hope all is well with you and Mr. Blue.

[Robyn]

Hannah,

I have again been charged with keeping track of what goes on here at the Lazlo Society. Since I am spending time here anyway, it seemed logical to interact again as well.

I am well, especially since "Mr. Blue" has come home again. Though he often seems distant and occasionally sad. He has kept himself busy, even by his own standards. He said to me once that he felt there was something left undone but he couldn't quite put his finger on what that might be.

Maybe that is why I have been directed to observe here again.

[Clarity]

_____Miss Robyn, does Mr. Just want us to call him Mr. Blue now?

[Robyn]

_____Miss Robyn, does Mr. Just want us to call him Mr. Blue now?

Miss Grace,

Given that the name was given to him by Nemesis as an attempt by her to tweak his nose, I don't think he'd want to become known by that name.

Despite that, it already seems to be a trend on this site and is both logical and descriptive so it seems only right to continue.

I'll inform him of his new moniker later.

[Hannah]

We can always count on you Robyn.


Hannah

[Clarity]

_____Okay, Miss Robyn. I’ll call him “Mr. Just” still then, if that’s okay. I don’t want to call him a name that he doesn’t want to be called.

[Robyn]

If you wish, Miss Grace. Nevertheless he has accepted that he will likely be referred to as Mr. Blue by everyone else who frequents this site.