Robots evolve altruism. Just like biology predicted

Robots in a Swiss laboratory have evolved to help each other, just as predicted by a classic analysis of how self sacrifice might emerge in the biological world. Further adding to the proof that we do not need to bible or god to have morals.

“Over hundreds of generations … we show that Hamilton’s rule always accurately predicts the minimum relatedness necessary for altruism to evolve,” wrote researchers led by evolutionary biologist Laurent Keller of Switzerland’s University of Lausanne

Each robot was also given a choice between sharing points awarded for finding food, thus giving other robots’ genes a chance of surviving, or hoarding. In different iterations of the experiment, the researchers altered the costs and benefits of sharing; they found that, again and again, the robots evolved to share at the levels predicted by Hamilton’s equations.

“A fundamental principle of natural selection also applies to synthetic organisms,” wrote the researchers. “These experiments demonstrate the wide applicability of kin selection theory.”

Robots evolve altruism. Just like biology predicted

Related links:

Even robots can be heroes

Monkeys have a sense of morality, say scientists

reply to post by Griffo


Explanation: S&F!

It seems the Simpsons has already prep'd us for this moment...



Personal Disclosure: Excellent!

I don't think it can be called evolution if we are controlling all the factors. We create the robots, the conditions they are in, and their software programming. Under such controlled situations aren't we stacking the deck in favor of certain outcomes? With all the complicated factors of the real world that can't be controlled, how can this be purely objective? It's only an interesting experiment, not an accurate model of reality. It tells us more about our own evolution than that of robots.

Good job genius. You have just proven that GOD'S WILL cannot be escaped and that it is governing everything.


Where you are lacking is the intelligence to comprehend what GOD is. Dont worry, its a human condition.


Repeat to self. I dont have the intelligence to ever comprehend what GOD is.

reply to post by Shadow Herder


I'm sorry but... what the hell are you talking about? Keep your religious rants to the religion forums, please.

reply to post by MichiganSwampBuck

Well, the trait was not pre-programmed but instead arose naturally. Of course, it is only a model, but if an algorithm modelled on real-world phenomenon can give rise to traits that we know occur in nature then it can shed loight as to how such traits arise in nature.

reply to post by Griffo


The robots were programmed, just like this universe.
FLAG for interesting read, I'm in to programming that's all.

Originally posted by confreak
reply to post by Griffo

 

The robots were programmed, just like this universe.

What's the point of making a comment like this? It's completely unsubstantiated and adds nothing to the discussion. "Like my bread basket, the universe was weaved". See? Pointless.

Originally posted by john_bmth
reply to post by Shadow Herder

 

I'm sorry but... what the hell are you talking about? Keep your religious rants to the religion forums, please.

You obviously have no grasp of religion and its concepts. One needs not be religious to believe in a higher order of things.

Btw, keep your ignorance in check, k?

reply to post by Shadow Herder


Again, please keep your religious rants to the religion forums.

Originally posted by john_bmth
reply to post by Shadow Herder

 

Again, please keep your religious rants to the religion forums.

I dont have to. Nothing religious about my rants and I didnt even rant. Look those words up before using them. Read the opening post. He mentioned religion. I said one needs not be religious to believe in a higher order of things.

Go take a nap or something. You will feel better

reply to post by john_bmth


I don't like long discussions, so I will leave this last post for you to decipher.

The robots are programmed just like the Universe. Some individuals around the world claim there is no evidence for creation because evolution proves creation wrong. The Robot experiment above shows that evolution is nothing but programming. We have designed a program to mimic evolution which helps us explain how a creator could have designed and programmed the Universe to contain the evolutionary process in. We have designed and programmed light messengers through Fiber Optic, which explains the Angels and their purpose (hence Angels created from light, creatures which are used to send messages and activate deactivate Universal functions).

In conclusion Science only brings us closer to a creator, because science merely explains creation. Enjoy and have a good night.

reply to post by Shadow Herder

Call it religion, call it a "higher order of things", call it Fred for all I care, it has no place a thread about robotics in the Science and technology forum. Whilst your religious chums might pat you on the back and say "Well said, very profound!", I assure you that to the rest of us, comments such as "Good job genius. You have just proven that GOD'S WILL cannot be escaped and that it is governing everything" and "Where you are lacking is the intelligence to comprehend what GOD is. Dont worry, its a human condition" add nothing to the discussion and only serve to give you a pedestal to preach from. There's a whole forum for you and your religious chums to arrogantly assume you have a monopoly on cosmic truths, where you can extrapolate interesting findings to support your religious position with like-minded folk all day until the cows come home.

Originally posted by Shadow Herder


Repeat to self. I dont have the intelligence to ever comprehend what GOD is.

Here's a thought: take your own advice for once?

Excellent post, OP. This is fascinating and useful information, and of course demonstrates empirically that religious faith is completely unnecessary for altruism.

reply to post by confreak


All you have done there is extrapolated a bunch of non-sequiturs to support your creationist views. That's cute, but it's also utterly wrong.

Originally posted by john_bmth
reply to post by MichiganSwampBuck

 

Well, the trait was not pre-programmed but instead arose naturally. Of course, it is only a model, but if an algorithm modelled on real-world phenomenon can give rise to traits that we know occur in nature then it can shed loight as to how such traits arise in nature.

I think what I meant to say was that the concept evolved in the human mind and then we created a scenario involving robots to illustrate the concept. So is this really about robots evolving or humans? Can this be considered a "natural" evolution? IMO it is as natural as our own evolution.

Originally posted by MichiganSwampBuck

Originally posted by john_bmth
reply to post by MichiganSwampBuck

 

Well, the trait was not pre-programmed but instead arose naturally. Of course, it is only a model, but if an algorithm modelled on real-world phenomenon can give rise to traits that we know occur in nature then it can shed loight as to how such traits arise in nature.

I think what I meant to say was that the concept evolved in the human mind and then we created a scenario involving robots to illustrate the concept. So is this really about robots evolving or humans? Can this be considered a "natural" evolution? IMO it is as natural as our own evolution.

It shows that, given parameters that we know occur in nature, traits can arise in a manner in which we had previously hypothesised under controlled conditions. Of course, this doesn't definitively say anything, other than that we know it is possible for altruistic traits to arise of their own accord, given a set of starting conditions. If we know that such traits can arise artificially from a simple set of rules and conditions, it's not so much of a leap to assume the same can happen in nature (and indeed did happen at some point along our evolutionary history).

I am confused about your "IMO it is as natural as our own evolution" comment, Are you insinuating that our evolution isn't natural?

reply to post by confreak


I kind of like that concept about a universal program and messengers of light, cool analogy. We figured out some of God's program and mimicked it with our robots. Quite interesting in my humble opinion.

reply to post by john_bmth


Bravo! You got that one! Thanks, its good to see someone that sharp on here!

Originally posted by john_bmth
reply to post by confreak

 

All you have done there is extrapolated a bunch of non-sequiturs to support your creationist views. That's cute, but it's also utterly wrong.

I think you misunderstand.

What he is saying is that since God created reality, all things that arise from His creations will show His fingerprint. Robot, human, dog...all instances of creation within His creation show His fingerprint.

I see you are telling people to be quiet in this thread. You are no mod. Report the post if you don't like what is in it. But you have a lot to learn about ATS if that is how you want to interact. Each person you accuse of contributing nothing to the thread actually did contribute quite a bit. you just don't seem to think deeply enough to comprehend it.