Brain, Mind, Body and Society: Controllability and Uncontrollability

in Robotics

Motomu　 SHIMODA, PhD.Kyoto Women’s University

Contents

Introduction1. Robot with mind as previously programmed2. Robot with autonomous system3. Critical examination of controllability of

autonomous systemClosing Remarks

Introduction(1)

• In this presentation I examine the issues related to the robot with mind. The robot with mind is expected not only to process external information by the built-in program and behave accordingly, but also to gain the consciousness activity responding multiple conditions and interactive communication skills coping with unknown situation.

Introduction(2)

• That prospect is based on the development of artificial intelligence(=AI) in which self-organizing and self-emergent functions have been available in recent years.

Introduction(3)

• So far controllable aspects in robotics have been limited to data making and programming of cognitive abilities, while consciousness activity and communication skills have been regarded as uncontrollable aspects due to the contingency and uncertainty.

Introduction(4)

• However, some researchers of robotics claim that every activity of mind could be recreated by engineering and therefore be controllable.

=>Can robots with the latest AI be recreated by engineering act like human being?

1. Robot with mind as previously programmed(1)

• People were wearied entertainment/therapy robots-- AIBO, Paro etc. Why?-- Because they react with limited patterns, are lacking

in unexpectedness and interactive communication.-- Their reaction are totally programmed and

predictable.=>Is it possible to create a robot with mind which

react like human being?

1. Robot with mind as previously programmed(2)

• To create a robot with mind aims to recreate neuro function by engineering;

(a) data making of the cognitive function such as stimulus and reaction, information processing, feedback, and learning,

(b) programming of neuro activity associated with consciousness such as sensation, emotion, thinking, reasoning, and reflection,

(c) incorporating modules of the programs into the robot as software.

=>That robot may have higher intelligence, however cannot be autonomous.

2. Robot with autonomous system(1)

• Basic principles of the latest artificial intelligence (a) self-organizing function:-- incorporating the data of unexpected physical

experiences, and modifying program according to the experiences

(b) self-emergent function:-- creating autonomous whole system by each activity

based on the previous program and regulating each activity by the whole system

=>Examples of autonomous system: neuro system, ecosystem, economic system etc.

2. Robot with autonomous system(2)

• Robot with autonomous system has the following abilities;- to get information about the situation,- to act without human guidance and assistance,- to cope with unknown situation,- to protect and maintain itself,- to adapt itself to new situation, and- to change the situation for its own purpose. =>Human being could communicate interactively with such

autonomous robot.=>Is such robot a real human partner instead of an

instrument?

2. Robot with autonomous system(3)

• The idea of autonomous robot is based on the following assumptions;

- modelling of cognition, behavior and communication,

- module formation of each function,- programming of neuro plasticity, physical function,

interactive dialogue and social interaction. => Autonomous activities are regarded as totally

controllable, i.e. can be recreated by the technology of engineering.

3. Critical examination of controllability of autonomous system(1)

• Is it possible to incorporate into robot the program of autonomous activities: neuro plasticity, physical function, interactive dialogue and social interaction?

* neuro plasticity is reduced to the feedback of information,

* physical function is reduced to the sensation/motion,

3. Critical examination of controllability of autonomous system(2)

* interactive dialogue is merely an exchange of information,

* social interaction is equal to the role-playing demanded and observed under causal relation.

=>Those are autonomous from the perspective of observer outside, and therefore not autonomous in its genuine sense.

3. Critical examination of controllability of autonomous system(3)

• Highly autonomous activities can be understood from the perspective of participant or performer, and therefore uncontrollable, because;

* neuro plasticity is updated in the context of networking,

* physical function is available under inter-physical relations,

3. Critical examination of controllability of autonomous system(4)

* interactive dialogue is performed inter-subjectively,

* social interaction should be interpreted in terms of not cause-effect but reason-consequence.

Closing remarks

• To create a robot with mind is performed as the attempt to incorporate the autonomous system into a robot, which presupposes the controllability of the cognitive, reasoning and communicative abilities.

• However controllability is inconsistent with autonomy in its genuine sense, because it is based on the previously designed programs by the human, including self-organizing and self-emergent functions.

• Autonomous robot recreated by engineering cannot be autonomous partner of human, because it is lacking in the perspective of participant or performer.