Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT

Robots and love

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snubnose:
Robots cant love.

Computers only have the ability to perform mathematical operations - in fact the commands of a computer can be reduced to three categories of operations:

- move data around
- perform arithmetics
- check conditions (comparison of values) to decide what to do next (jump at another string of instructions in the program script)

In modern RISC (reduced instruction set computer) architectures, you can sort every machine command into one of these categories. In older architectures, there are combinations of these things in one command possible. For example, the Intel 80x86 architecture which is in 99.9% of all home computers knows the command REPNE SCASB that scans for a value in memory, which is 1. a move (of the individual bytes into the computer core) 2. a test (of each value moved to the value of a register) 3. an arithmetic operation (counting a counter down) 4. a second comparison (if the counter has reached zero).

Obviously, there are no feelings whatsoever in place.

Thats why Assimovs three laws of robotics do not include any reference to feelings:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The comic of course has violated these preconditions of a computer from day one, but the most recent comic #2004 was the most drastic violation.

Personally this kind of confuses me. The comic makes robots look like sentient beings. Modern computers arent sentient beings at all. In fact I personally strongly doubt that they will ever be - simply because they have no feelings.

Yeah its true you can write a simulation of feelings. But if a human being loves, its not the result of an arithmetic operation. If a human being is hurt physically, the pain they feel is real. A computer wouldnt be stunned or disabled by pain, either.

stoutfiles:
While I've been the strongest opponent for giving the robots equal human rights, robots CAN love.  Well, equal to how we define it.  Our brain processes inputs much like an advanced computer would.  What is love anyway? Or sadness?  If you break them down they're just simple inputs that can be emulated.

Considering the robots seen so far are sentient with free will, the laws of robotics don't apply.  They should, of course, but for the sake of this comic still working were supposed to ignore a lot of logic.  Just go with it, there isn't any choice.

DSL:
Would it be futile for me to point out (as has been pointed out many many many etc. times before: The QCverse isn't our own. It's kind of like our own, but has sentient mobile AIs and a more successful approach to space travel. Also, dimensional-tunneling coffee makers.

I find a couple of the police-genius shows entertaining, but I don't rely on them to show me realistic police procedure, any more than I watch Star Trek or BSG to gain an understanding of how NASA works.

Ah hell. I'm pissing into the wind, right?

questionablecontentfan:
If there were robots talking and acting like humans, I would think they can love.

There's actually a book by Marge Piercy called He, She, and It where a woman has a really beautiful relationship with a robot. He looks totally human, but he is still a robot, and he loves her. So...I think robots can love, fall in love, etc.

But that's probably just my opinion.

HiFranc:
Snubnose, I think the QC robots aren't built the same way that current computers are.  You're right, if you use a simple transister logic arrangement for the brain of a robot you'll never get a computer that could think, feel, etc.

However, if you build the brain along other lines (e.g. neural networks) you may, if you have a good designer, work out how to make it do those things.

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