Participants would provide this feedback either on the same computer (No.
they had just been working on or on another computer (No.
across the room.
The study found that participants responding on computer No.
2 were far more critical of computer No.
1 than those responding on the same machine theyd worked on.
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As these technologies become more human-like, they become more capable of influencing us.
While Sophia undoubtedly highlights many technological advancements, few surpass Hansons achievements in marketing.
If Sophia truly were a person, we would acknowledge its role as aninfluencer.
Or a thousand faces.
The truevalue of a persuasive technologyis not in its cold, calculated efficiency, but its scale.
Fortunately,many of these issues can be solved through transparency.
Who owns or sets the mandate of this technology?
What are its objectives?
What approaches can it use?
What data can it access?
As a roboticist, I get asked the question, When will robots take over the world?
so often that Ive developed a stock answer: As soon as I tell them to.
However, my joke is underpinned by an important lesson: dont scapegoat machines for decisions made by humans.
I consider myself a robot sympathizer because I think robots get unfairly blamed for many human decisions and errors.
Article byShane Saunderson, Ph.D.
Candidate, Robotics,University of Toronto
This article is republished fromThe Conversationunder a Creative Commons license.
