An intriguing scenario, Youngjin, that prompts some what-ifs, just a few being these: Might the person–robot bond entail a servilely master–slave relationship? Or is what’s going on more ambitiously analogous to uploading the mind to the robot, in some future-AI fashion — in vain quest, perhaps, of eternity? Also, might the ‘quasi-transportation’ of the senses result in still just one of you — or two of you, each with the same rights and responsibilities? (By the way, let’s keep fingers crossed that the robot doesn’t figure out how to override the ‘control chamber’ by refusing to relinquish management function of the senses one has trustingly handed over. Especially, as you say, given that the robot ‘might even deceive people into thinking it is your real body’.)
I'm not quite convinced by this, I confess. However, there are less ambitious tales which I daresay may be lurking in Youngjin's mind too, of entwined subatomic particles. These are supposed to challenge the limits of information transfer and the speed of light, aren't they? You change your particle and instantaneously, even at a great distance, the other particle changes too.. Or something like that!
Thank you for the comments! I didn't know that this website was still active. This cartoon's claim is based on my personal belief that an entity is defined by the way it interacts with other entities (just like "infinity" is often defined by its relation to finite numbers rather than by its own, independent characteristics).
An intriguing scenario, Youngjin, that prompts some what-ifs, just a few being these: Might the person–robot bond entail a servilely master–slave relationship? Or is what’s going on more ambitiously analogous to uploading the mind to the robot, in some future-AI fashion — in vain quest, perhaps, of eternity? Also, might the ‘quasi-transportation’ of the senses result in still just one of you — or two of you, each with the same rights and responsibilities? (By the way, let’s keep fingers crossed that the robot doesn’t figure out how to override the ‘control chamber’ by refusing to relinquish management function of the senses one has trustingly handed over. Especially, as you say, given that the robot ‘might even deceive people into thinking it is your real body’.)
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite convinced by this, I confess. However, there are less ambitious tales which I daresay may be lurking in Youngjin's mind too, of entwined subatomic particles. These are supposed to challenge the limits of information transfer and the speed of light, aren't they? You change your particle and instantaneously, even at a great distance, the other particle changes too.. Or something like that!
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me a metaphor for what our world has become -- perhaps most of it now sensed only indirectly. As ever, a brilliant cartoon by Youngjin.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comments! I didn't know that this website was still active. This cartoon's claim is based on my personal belief that an entity is defined by the way it interacts with other entities (just like "infinity" is often defined by its relation to finite numbers rather than by its own, independent characteristics).
ReplyDeleteDear Youngjin, even if the website would be inactive it would still be active in its inactivity, or not?
ReplyDeleteNice to see this little sweet questioning dangerous (?) woman back at the first page!
This 'temporary*' pi mirror seems to have become permanent... and I don't like it much! Can we sort out whatever was the problem?
ReplyDelete*adjective
1.
lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent.