AI Conundrum: Elon Musk’s Catgirl heightens worry over extinction of humanity
the Catgirl robot can give birth. It is described as having an artificial uterus inside, which fully simulates the growth environment of amniotic fluid in a mother.
This system is capable of cultivating embryos and can also monitor the baby’s weight, blood pressure, heartbeat, body temperature, and respiratory rate in real time
More impressively, is that the robot can genetically modify embryos that are not implanted in the uterus and choose the baby’s physical characteristics using over 300 genes, including intelligence levels, and ensure that the baby is free from hereditary diseases.
Elon Musk’s Cat girl Recently, the world went agog with the news of Cat girl, the $140,000 robot developed by serial tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk. Cat girl can clean, cook, chat with the owner, and even bear children.
The robot is 173 centimeters tall, weighs 123 pounds, and has a lifelike texture on its face and hands.
Its appearance and voice can be customised to owner’s liking. She has a gentle and obedient personality with no negative emotions, making her the ideal partner.
Moreover, the Catgirl robot can give birth. It is described as having an artificial uterus inside, which fully simulates the growth environment of amniotic fluid in a mother.
This system is capable of cultivating embryos and can also monitor the baby’s weight, blood pressure, heartbeat, body temperature, and respiratory rate in real time.
More impressively, is that the robot can genetically modify embryos that are not implanted in the uterus and choose the baby’s physical characteristics using over 300 genes, including intelligence levels, and ensure that the baby is free from hereditary diseases.
It is said that this robot will be ready for mass production by 2026. The development has heightened the conversation around the fate of humans when Artificial Intelligence, AI finally takes root in the society. It deepens the fears among many, that the extinction of humans on planet earth which was thought impossible could as well become a reality.
Humans neverdeveloped AI?
These fears were made worse by an interview by Geoffrey Hinton, commonly described as the father of AI, highlighting that the world is moving into a period it will discover, for the first time ever, that there are things practically more intelligent than human beings.
Hinton’s views stemmed from what he knew about the evolution of AI, because he confessed: “No, it wasn’t people that designed AI. What we did was design the learning algorithm. That’s a bit like designing the principle of evolution. But when this learning algorithm then interacts with data, it produces complicated neural networks that are good at doing things, but we don’t really understand exactly how they do those things. So one of the ways in which these systems might escape control is by writing their own computer code to modify themselves. And, that’s something we need to seriously worry about.”
The concerns raised by Hinton have divided opinions among tech professionals and enthusiasts across the world. Nigeria, being one of the frontline African countries using technology to streamline governance and revolutionise her economy is not left out. Different tech experts have varied opinions on the raging debate about whose brain is superior, between humans and AI.
While some feel that the time has come for the human brain to take a rest, others strongly believe that no machine made by man can take the place of the man.
Power may change hands
Chief Sylvester Adamu is a renowned software developer and senior programme officer who has worked with giant tech companies like Microsoft, Tangus, National Democractic Institute and Intercom Data Network, Abuja, Nigeria.
Adamu is afraid that with the way technology is efficiently doing the jobs supposedly left exclusively for humans, it may not take long before power changed hands. He said: “The rate at which AI is developing is scary. Ordinarily, it would appear there’s nothing to worry about, but remember that these things are machines designed by both good and bad people.
“These men teach them different things, both good and bad. Its ability to sample data, scenarios and make its own decisions is key. Because these machines lack emotions, their decisions might not be guided by some principles that guide men. “AI’s ability to learn regardless of its application will be the danger in all these. The principle of there cannot be two captains in one ship will option AI to declare itself more superior to Man” he added
His argument was that since AI, by definition and design is made for humans to relinquish control to do things; while the machine by itself, do work for humans, think for humans, found very reliable and dependable to choose plan, watch out and warn and protect humans, then, why should they be subject to humans?
AI as Autonomous military tool
But in a sharp reaction, former President of Nigeria Internet Group, Engr Bayo Banjo disagreed. He said: “AI, can only become dangerous to man if it is applied to military applications, with necessary instinct to survive and kill perceived enemy. In non military applications this instincts will not be there; thus it will be harmless to man.
Autonomous military devices are programmed to survive, repair and create more of themselves, with a view to efficiently destroying the enemy autonomously.
Naturally, an AI based device once given the instinct of survival would even view the attempt of its creator to switch it off as an act of aggression, and would thus defend itself. But I agree that AI needs to be carefully monitored if used in military applications.
Another tech leader and former president of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Chris Uwaje, saw sense in Banjo’s views. He said: “AI does not fall out of the Sky! Indeed, AI is based on the Emotional Intelligence of humans.
“ Meanwhile, the advancement of Quantum Computing will exponentially supercharge the ability of Qubits to outperform the reaction times of humans. It all remains the balancing Act of codified algorithms and Large Language Model, LLM .
*Strong need for regulation*
For another prominent thought leader in the tech ecosystem, Hanniel Jafaru “ AI development and the position of humans in the centre of it all is quite an interesting conversation.
“Well, I have been doing AI research for over two years now, with focus on Security in AI systems. While these concerns are genuine there are facts that we must accept about AI: Whether we like it or not AI will coexist with humans. Again, embedded AI systems like robots, Autonomous Vehicles, among others are more dangerous than the general Web AI. So, the need to regulate embedded AI imports and local development is paramount.
“Data is the blood to AI. So the data management policy in addition to the data protection policy will determine what kind of AI we build.
Data Localization is the most relevant route to regulating AI solutions.
AI advancements will be in 3 major phases, AI Automation, AI-Human Collaboration and Human Relegation. The only way Human relegation will occur is when AI develops self awareness.
“While AI has the ability to learn, its training is still restricted to human input. Without new data by humans, AI can plateau in their training and knowledge, which means they can’t grow beyond a certain knowledge level.
“However, we need to have a very robust regulation and strategic governance to stay and remain ahead of this digital twin technology called AI’ he added.
Reference
AI Conundrum: Elon Musk’s Catgirl heightens worry over extinction of humanity