The ancient dream of making artificial humans has never been so close to becoming total reality. Japanese scientists have successfully invented what they described as a living, human-like skin for robots.
Human skin cells have been used to create a skin equivalent that is water-repellent – just like the real thing, and it looks like it, too.
This, surely, is a breakthrough in the humanoid robot industry, which has the potential to produce ‘your plastic pal who’s fun to be with’. At least real human patients will feel more at ease with a care-giver that looks and feels like homo sapiens as opposed to a conglomerate of polypropylene and circuit boards. Scientists even promise to research into artificial hair follicles, nails, and sweat glands to refine android skin.
Consider this: ‘Sophia’ is the first robot to obtain nationality and a Saudi passport, which must say something about the civil service mentality. Besides, technology has already given humanoid robots the ability to capture micro-movements of the human face. A ‘device’ will interpret your blinks, frowns and wrinkled brow.
However, what is seen as a dream coming true is for others a nightmare.
The new invention revived debate on the consequences of the inability to distinguish between robots and humans. If the films Westworld, I, Robot and 2001: A Space Odyssey are anything to go by, the results could be catastrophic.
However, several scientists and experts warn that failure to draw up a code of ethics to regulate the production of such robots will yield hitherto unimaginable consequences.
The potential large-scale production of humanoids raises questions about a society in which humans coexist with human-like machines. What is the latter’s legal status? Who would be responsible if the humanoid causes harm? Will robots he allowed to have emotions? Should they have morals? Should they have rights? Do they deserve humane treatment?
There are also fears about real people who might be deceived by artificial emotions shown by robots that exactly look like them. For self-learning robots, is it necessary to have restrictions placed on their behaviour and movements.
Should humanoids be labelled as robots so that humans are not deceived by their appearance?
Robots have already excelled in many roles from entertainers to educators or caregivers. Soon, they could be security guards, army personnel, or even heart surgeons. We have to ask ourselves about the mechanism which can control a robot’s decision-making process.
We should address the question of how robot evolution can be responsibly controlled to avoid any associated risks. With the accelerated advancements in this field, such concerns are no longer the stuff of science fiction. We need to create an awareness about issues relating to the new human-like partners. And most importantly, we have to think whether the benefits of humanoid robots really do outweighing the risks and ethical dilemmas that may be created.
[This column was written by a real human being. No robots were harmed in the composition of these lines.]
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