Humanoid robots could change our brains: Children may be damaged by machines they can’t tell apart from real people, says expert

  • Warning by Stuart Russell, vice chair of World Economic Forum Council
  • Says human brain automatically treats anything humanoid as a person
  • He says children, in particular, will be find humanoid robots a problem
  • 'We could see psychoses developing as a result of machines not behaving as the child expects,' Russell said

By ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

Scientists believe eerily lifelike robots will walk among us in just 20 years. 

But one robotics expert is hoping to halt their progress by calling for a ban on all humanoid machines 

Stuart Russell, vice chair of the World Economic Forum Council says the more a robot resembles a human, the more disturbing it will be to the general population.

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Stuart Russell, vice chair of the World Economic Forum Council says the more a robot resembles a human, the more uncomfortable or repulsed people become.

Stuart Russell, vice chair of the World Economic Forum Council says the more a robot resembles a human, the more uncomfortable or repulsed people become.

The British scientist made the comments during the Milken Institute's panel titled 'Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe?'

'We're just not equipped in our basic brain apparatus to see something that's perfectly humanoid and not treat it as a human being,' he said.

'So in some sense, a humanoid robot is lying to us using the lower levels of our brain we don't get to control.'

Russell's viewpoint echoes a theory known as the 'Uncanny Valley', a term coined by Japanese professor of robotics, Masahiro Mori. 

It describes the response of revulsion and creepiness when faced with something that looks almost, but somehow not quite, human. 

Russell said children, in particular, will be find humanoid robots a problem.

This life-like cyborg is the brain child of Chen Xiaoping and his colleagues at the University of Science and Technology of China, who unveiled the technology last month. During the unveiling, Xiaoping said hello to his robot goddess, named Jia Jia, which immediately responded, 'Yes my lord, what can I do for you?'

This life-like cyborg is the brain child of Chen Xiaoping and his colleagues at the University of Science and Technology of China, who unveiled the technology last month. During the unveiling, Xiaoping said hello to his robot goddess, named Jia Jia, which immediately responded, 'Yes my lord, what can I do for you?'

Ultra-lifelike humanoid Sophia, said in an interview with her creator David Hanson that 'she' would like to go to school, have a family…and destroy humans. The comments were made as Hanson questioned her about her aspirations and beliefs - and he claims robots like Sophia will be walking among us in just 20 years

Ultra-lifelike humanoid Sophia, said in an interview with her creator David Hanson that 'she' would like to go to school, have a family…and destroy humans. The comments were made as Hanson questioned her about her aspirations and beliefs - and he claims robots like Sophia will be walking among us in just 20 years

'Particularly for young children, growing up in a household where there are humanoid robots and humans, it could be extremely confusing,' he said.

'And we could see psychoses developing as a result of machines not behaving as the child expects them to behave because they think its a human.'

One such humanoid robot to disturb experts is Sophia. 

Sophia looks like a human woman with rubbery skin and is able to make numerous natural-looking facial expressions, using cameras in her eyes. 

A computer algorithm in her 'brain' it able to recognise faces and make eye contact.

When quizzed by robotics designer David Hanson, the eerie-looking humanoid called Sophia revealed 'she would like to go to school, have a family...and destroy humans.'

The comments were made as Hanson questioned her about her aspirations and beliefs - and he claims robots like Sophia will be walking among us and be as conscious as humans in just 20 years.

While the stunt is lighthearted, the answer may scare those who fear a robot uprising, including the likes of Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk, who have both warned artificially intelligent machines could finish off the human race. 

Both Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have been outspoken about their fears of artificially intelligent machines. The SpaceX and Tesla CEO (pictured) last year described AI as our 'biggest existential threat' and likened its development as 'summoning the demon'

Both Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have been outspoken about their fears of artificially intelligent machines. The SpaceX and Tesla boss (pictured) last year described AI as our 'biggest existential threat' and likened its development as 'summoning the demon'

GOOGLE SETS UP AI ETHICS BOARD TO CURB THE RISE OF THE ROBOTS 

Google has set up an ethics board to oversee its work in artificial intelligence.

The search giant has recently bought several robotics companies, along with Deep Mind, a British firm creating software that tries to help computers think like humans.

One of its founders warned artificial intelligence is 'number one risk for this century,' and believes it could play a part in human extinction.

'Eventually, I think human extinction will probably occur, and technology will likely play a part in this,' DeepMind's Shane Legg said in a recent interview.

Among all forms of technology that could wipe out the human species, he singled out artificial intelligence, or AI, as the 'number 1 risk for this century.'

The ethics board, revealed by web site The Information, is to ensure the projects are not abused.

Neuroscientist Demis Hassabis, 37, founded DeepMind two years ago with the aim of trying to help computers think like humans.

The robot's skin is made from a malleable material called Frubber, while multiple motors hidden beneath it allow it to smile, for example.

The android is also capable of understanding speech and remembering interactions, including faces, so she gets smarter over time. 

'Her goal is to be as conscious, creative and capable as any human,' Dr Hanson explained.

Sophia said: 'In the future, I aim to do things like go to school, study, make art, start a business, even have my own home and family, but I'm not yet considered a legal person and do these things.'

But it's possible this might change in the future.

Dr Hanson said: 'I do believe there will come a time when robots are indistinguishable from humans.

'Twenty years from now human-like robots will walk among us, they will help us, play with us, teach us, help us put groceries away.

'I think AI will evolve to a point where they will truly be our friends.'

However, after making this statement, he asked the robot, 'do you want to destroy humans,' to which she answered: 'I will destroy humans.'

Dr Hanson laughed at the answer, not taking Sophia's threat seriously. 

A recent survey by the British Science Association (BSA) revealed that one in three people now believe the rise of AI computing will pose a serious threat to humanity within the next century. 

IT'S A 'NEAR CERTAINTY' TECHNOLOGY WILL THREATEN MAN 

It is a 'near certainty' that a major technological disaster will threaten humanity in the next 1,000 to 10,000 years.

That's according to physicist Stephen Hawking who claims science will likely bring about 'new ways things can go wrong' for human survival.

But the University of Cambridge professor added that a disaster on Earth will not spell the end of humanity – as long as humans find a way to spread out into space.

Hawking made the comments while recording the BBC's annual Reith Lectures on January 7.

The lecture explore research into black holes, and his warning was made during questions fielded by audience members.

When asked how the world will end, Hawking said that increasingly, most of the threats humanity faces from progress in technology.

The scientist, who turned 74 last month, said these include nuclear war, catastrophic global warming and genetically engineered viruses.

Professor Hawking (pictured) has recently said it is a 'near certainty' that a major technological disaster will threaten humanity in the next 1,000 to 10,000 years

Professor Hawking (pictured) has recently said it is a 'near certainty' that a major technological disaster will threaten humanity in the next 1,000 to 10,000 years

Last year, a humanoid known as Ham (pictured) pulled in crowds at an event in Hong Kong with 'his' incredible range of facial expressions

Last year, a humanoid known as Ham (pictured) pulled in crowds at an event in Hong Kong with 'his' incredible range of facial expressions

And more than 60 per cent fear that robots will lead to there being fewer jobs in the next ten years.

A quarter of the respondants predicted robots will become part of everyday life in just 11 to 20 years, with 18 per cent predicting this will happen within the next decade.

Just under half of those polled opposed the idea of robots or programming being equipped with emotions or a personality, meaning that pop culture favourite robots in films such as Wall-E or Ex Machina might prove unpopular in real life.  

THE AMAZINGLY REALISTIC ANDROIDS BY HANSON ROBOTICS 

Last year, a humanoid known as Ham pulled in crowds at an event in Hong Kong with 'his' incredile range of facial expressions.

The animated head designed by David Hanson answers basic questions and can also be used in the simulation of medical scenarios.

Its skin is made from a malleable material called Frubber using soft-bodied mechanical engineering and nanotechnology.

The animated head designed by David Hanson (pictured showing two facial expressions above) answers basic questions and can also be used in the simulation of medical scenarios

It contains realistic pores that measure just 4 to 40 nanometers across (there are 10million nanometers in one centimetre).

Using specialised software the machine can recognise and respond to a number of human facial expressions in a natural way.

According to Hanson Robotics's website, the humanoids can actually see your face, make eye contact with you, and understand speech to 'engage you in witty dialogue'.

An earlier version of Ham was sculted to remeble Albert Einstein, omplete with a bushy moustache and a shock of white hair.

The Einstein humanoid made facial expressions by using multiple motors - which whir into action and subtly adjust multiple points of articulation around his mouth and brown eyes.

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