As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly advanced, there are growing concerns that robots could become a threat. This danger can be avoided, according to computer science professor Stuart Russell, if we figure out how to turn human values into a programmable code.
Russell argues that as robots take on more complicated tasks, it’s necessary to translate our morals into AI language. For example, if a robot does chores around the house, you wouldn’t want it to put the pet cat in the oven to make dinner for the hungry children. “You would want that robot preloaded with a good set of values,” said Russell.
Some robots are already programmed with basic human values. For example, mobile robots have been programmed to keep a comfortable distance from humans. Obviously there are cultural differences, but if you were talking to another person and they came up close in your personal space, you wouldn’t think that’s the kind of thing a properly brought-up person would do.
If only we can find a way to set out human values as clear rules, it will be possible to create more developed moral machines. Robots could also learn values from drawing patterns from large sets of data on human behavior. They are dangerous only if programmers are careless.
One simple check would be to program a robot to check the correct course of action with a human when presented with an unusual situation. If the robot is unsure whether an animal is suitable for the microwave, it has the opportunity to stop, send out beeps(嘟嘟声), and ask for directions from a human. If we humans aren’t quite sure about a decision, we go and ask somebody else.
The most difficult step in programming values will be deciding exactly what we believe in moral, and how to create a set of moral rules. But if we come up with an answer, robots could be good for humanity.
【小题1】What does the author say about the threat of robots?| A．It may put the pet cat in the oven to make dinner for the hungry children. |
| B．It would become too smart to follow human’s order. |
| C．It has become an unavoidable danger as technology develops. |
| D．It can be avoided if human values are translated into their language. |
| A．By picking up patterns from data on human behavior. |
| B．By following the daily routines of human beings. |
| C．By interacting with humans in daily life. |
| D．By imitating the behavior of human beings. |
| A．Program robots with basic human values. |
| B．Change human values into clear rules. |
| C．Improve human’s programming ability. |
| D．Take the unusual situations seriously. |
| A．optimistic. | B．pessimistic. | C．worried. | D．indifferent. |
