Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Science Illustrated

    SHOULD WE BE AFRAID OF ROBOTS?

    Aug 16, 2023 5 minutes

    AWARENESS

    ROBOTS

    RISK

    Science fiction has produced many battles between robots and humans. In the movies, the robots are often built for action: a shining Terminator or a Transformer Decepticon. But as any fan of 2001: A Space Odyssey will tell you, it’s not those in-your-face androids that need watching. It’s the sentient brooding intelligence to which we cede control of our spaceship, or our city, or our lives, and which suddenly decides that things would be better — that so many problems would be solved — if we, the humans, were not here to make such a mess of things.

    That’s great science fiction. It’s also a problem we face right now. Scientists are building ever more amazing robots able to build and heal, but also to spy and fight. Programmers are developing artificial intelligences that

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from Science Illustrated

    Science Illustrated1 min read
    3 Things YOU Can Do
    → If you’re truly storm-phobic, you could consider living somewhere with fewer of them. In Australia, quiet spots include South Australia, Perth and further south in WA, even Tasmania; these areas are certainly not storm-free, but have fewer and less
    Science Illustrated1 min read
    Science Illustrated
    Editor: Jez Ford editor@scienceillustrated.com.au Art Director: Malcolm Campbell Group Sales Director: Anabel Tweedale atweedale@nextmedia.com.au ph: 02 9901 6371 Production Manager: Peter Ryman Publishing Director: Daniel Findlay Managing Director:
    Science Illustrated5 min read
    Your Family Tree Has Been Uprooted
    The classic story of humankind tells that our species has its origins in eastern Africa some 200,000 years ago. But in many ways, like so many dinosaur models, this story was based on small fragments of ancient bones and teeth around which the narrat

    Related Books & Audiobooks