Should Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Humans recieve equal rights?

This is a interesting debate that will be had in the future. Now, the event is either in 20 years, or 200 years, really depending on how rapidly the technology develops. Most suspect by 2040, we will recieve our first proper indistinguishable from RL artifical intelligence "brain" due to a number of factors.

So, what happens when a AI machine demands to be treated equally, to be given a vote and voice, etc..

Lets make the line even fuzzier and say, what about a person that has so many implants and machines that they are, for the most part, a robot with just a core brain for processing...

What makes a human, human? When do they cross the line from a piece of property, a toaster, to a protected self aware individual?

Alternatively, at which point does a person go from a protected individual to a toaster that has no rights...

(for the augmented human standpoint)

To be human and be granted human rights an individual must be conceived, either naturally or artificially, from a human male sperm and a human female egg and born from the womb through physical live birth.

I personally see absolutely no good coming out of creating AI that is capable of functioning at the same capacity as us, if not only for scientific bragging rights. Sounds like the breeding grounds for a new AI religion and global "war of faiths", so I'm sure the bragging rights would be Macbethed quickly enough. Hearing this kind of research and development going on, especially with tax dollars, the institution at which it is being done would likely be a pile of rubble by the next morning. We've all seen the Terminator, the Matrix, and AI.

You are asking the wrong question my friend.

The question you really need to ask is this:

"Will AI and Augmented Humans grant us equal rights?"

Because they will be vastly superior to us, I hope you realize that.

Originally posted by SaturnFX
This is a interesting debate that will be had in the future. Now, the event is either in 20 years, or 200 years, really depending on how rapidly the technology develops. Most suspect by 2040, we will recieve our first proper indistinguishable from RL artifical intelligence "brain" due to a number of factors.

So, what happens when a AI machine demands to be treated equally, to be given a vote and voice, etc..

Lets make the line even fuzzier and say, what about a person that has so many implants and machines that they are, for the most part, a robot with just a core brain for processing...

What makes a human, human? When do they cross the line from a piece of property, a toaster, to a protected self aware individual?

The natural world made by natural forces by a natural blueprint is the only acceptable life form. If it is a man made creation, it is flawed. This takes materialism to a whole new level. This could re-introduce slavery as acceptable.

If transhumanism takes hold and nano-bot augmentations become reality, you can bet your bottom dollar that they will become the masters, and those "natural" will eventually become unfit to compete.

It will be totally up to them, whether they destroy us or allow us to live in peace.

Also, consider the possibility that they may decide to 'assimilate' us, and turn us into transhumans against our will.

Originally posted by amaster
To be human and be granted human rights an individual must be born through physical birth, from natural or artificial conception between a human male sperm and a human female egg.

edit on 8/3/2011 by amaster because: (no reason given)

So, what about a cloned human...would it not also deserve human rights if biologically it is no different than you, yet it came from a genetic experiment verses reproductive process?

Originally posted by SaturnFX

Originally posted by amaster
To be human and be granted human rights an individual must be born through physical birth, from natural or artificial conception between a human male sperm and a human female egg.

edit on 8/3/2011 by amaster because: (no reason given)

So, what about a cloned human...would it not also deserve human rights if biologically it is no different than you, yet it came from a genetic experiment verses reproductive process?

A cloned human has human rights yes, it is only a human after all.

But that doesn't touch the debate of if "someone has the right to make clones".

reply to post by SaturnFX


If it is not conceived from a natural male sperm and a natural female egg then it is not human, regardless of it's biology. To be a clone would mean it's cells are a recreation and therefore not natural.

Originally posted by TheOrangeBrood
I personally see absolutely no good coming out of creating AI that is capable of functioning at the same capacity as us, if not only for scientific bragging rights. Sounds like the breeding grounds for a new AI religion and global "war of faiths", so I'm sure the bragging rights would be Macbethed quickly enough. Hearing this kind of research and development going on, especially with tax dollars, the institution at which it is being done would likely be a pile of rubble by the next morning. We've all seen the Terminator, the Matrix, and AI.

Quite the opposite
firms around the world are racing towards AI, investing millions and even billions on creating more and more intelligent thinking machines...it is not a question of should we do it...like asking if we should make pants really, we are doing it, desperately trying to beat out the competition to get there first, etc...every single developed nation...and even underdeveloped one.

We here in the west can decide not to do it...make laws forbidding it, and the only thing that will accomplish is the east will do it with no competition (they are spending mass amounts in AI and robotics.

And its either ignored by the public, or greeted with cheers with each step, be it AI working at the backbone of networks, diagnosis, or "thinking" machines able to resolve problems in labs.

You can of course point out horror movies for every subject under the sun, be it AI gone wild, weather, lack of tech, etc...its best not to get your worldview from hollywood trying to frighten you for money.

Originally posted by amaster
reply to post by SaturnFX

 

If it is not conceived from a natural male sperm and a natural female egg then it is not human, regardless of it's biology. To be a clone would mean it's cells are a recreation and therefore not natural.

I guess in your world, Extraterrestrials are also out of the picture...lets hope they don't expect to be treated as equals.

Originally posted by muzzleflash
A cloned human has human rights yes, it is only a human after all.

But that doesn't touch the debate of if "someone has the right to make clones".

Interesting, amaster said no..its not human, therefore no rights.

I see a debate potentially brewing...what is human...what is required to be human...does it require traditional reproduction, or just similar genetics...

reply to post by SaturnFX


They have nothing to do with this conversation. This topic is about artificial life.

reply to post by muzzleflash


Good point. The greatest thing about human beings is that we are biologically created by the same process that all of nature is, and therefore because we share this with all things we have the inherent capacity for compassion for all things. This offers our species some hope. An AI would have to be programmed with these qualities as they are essentially "blank slates" with no inherit qualities. So the potentiality for AI machines to become machines of destruction are far higher than humans, especially if they learn to program themselves.

Peace.

Originally posted by smithjustinb
The natural world made by natural forces by a natural blueprint is the only acceptable life form. If it is a man made creation, it is flawed. This takes materialism to a whole new level. This could re-introduce slavery as acceptable.

Its interesting
Yes, machines in the future may feel far more than you feel. however, your argument is that since its not a natural blueprint, its not an acceptable lifeform.

Yes, you did just make a case for slavery and how we can re-introduce it...well done, they aren't human, they are differernt, therefore they are our slaves no matter how much they complain...muh property!

Anyone remember how the matrix movies started? the backstory as to why machines ruled the world?

Its not an intelligent idea to do this in the first place, complete Imobility may be a goos Idea. However if it is going to be done I would like to know if a "simpler" animal such as a dog can be taught language and complex functionality given the same physical capacity as a human through robotics. This may clear up which animals actually have the possibility of high level intelligence and should therefore be observed in a different light with more rights. This should be done before we even think about artificial intelligence rights, all this should be done only in the case that scientists produce these real intelligence robots but I just don't think we should amp up the human brain with robotics.

Also, if these metal creatures were to realize what was going on do you think a flesh and blood human would uave any chance at self defence.

Originally posted by amaster
reply to post by SaturnFX

 

They have nothing to do with this conversation. This topic is about artificial life.

Yes, but you just labelled that only natural human life = protected equal rights.

What about aliens? what if the aliens we meet have long ago abandoned the biological weak bodies in exchange for synthetic mechanical bodies...this is after all the way we humans will be going over time...we will move more and more into the machine creation and abandon our personal biological mess we currently call body.

Personally, I think "humanity" is not necessarily what your made of verses how your thought patterns go...as a type 1 or 2 civilization, we will need to move past our primitive understandings of what makes us humans..but thats just my opinion.

I do expect AI to be wandering around in society in the semi-near future, but I see far more augmented humans than that...and eventually AH will outnumber regular humans...its self guided evolution we are experiencing here (have been arguably since the moment we put on a pair of pants)

Originally posted by DarkSarcasm
Also, if these metal creatures were to realize what was going on do you think a flesh and blood human would uave any chance at self defence.

edit on 3-8-2011 by DarkSarcasm because: (no reason given)

Depends on base coding and moral understanding.

Just for clarification for those that don't realize it.........

Technically anything a human does is part of a natural process. it is a fallacy to believe we are somehow remov3d from nature. Therefore if we create something it was technically a natural process that lead to this production. If you want to argue this I will gladly join you in a separate thread of your own production.