We had an interesting topic last week which made us realize that robotics is a reality that developed countries are experiencing, while for the developing nations, it may take a few years for them to see the manifestation of the robotic machine. However, there is a need to examine the benefits and dangers of robotic machines when fully deployed but for today, let’s focus on the dangers.
A major danger of robotic machines is the fact that it will take away jobs from humans, especially the humanoid robot that takes the ability of humans in a certain aspect of human endeavor. The ability of humanoid robots to be able to learn new things makes them different from every other kind of machine and at the same time makes them have close similarities with humans. Jobs that tend to make humans lose their lives directly or indirectly, within a long or short time range may be affected.
As I mentioned last week; bricklayers, carpenters, welders, vulcanizers, etc will be some of the physical strength jobs that humanoid robots will take over.
Beyond professionals that need physical strength to be able to carry out their job functions, physical security is another industry that will be heavily hit by humanoid robotics. It is likely going to be among the first industries to be replaced with robotic machines due to the high rate of potential deaths that come with the profession. There may be no need for military personnel in the future as the robot will take over wars and defense of a nation’s territory, keeping it safe and preventing it from physical attack.
Since humanoid robotics may take physical control of the security of a nation, that makes it even more dangerous for us as humans. Just as we have vulnerabilities in all software and technologies designed by humans, so will there be vulnerabilities in these robotic machines. It will induce the development of malicious software that can compromise those vulnerabilities and make them exploitable. If a vulnerability cuts across all robotic machines, then it means that all robotic machines can be exploited. The dynamism in the vulnerability will determine the exploitation of the robot. Let’s say a humanoid service robot is programmed to be a janitor and it was infected with a kind of reverse engineering malware that re-programs it to do the opposite of what it was originally programmed to do; instead of taking care of the office or home, it will cause more damage to equipment and appliances in the home or office.
Another practical scenario is a military humanoid robot that has been programmed to identify humans as a safe object and also as an object to always protect, suddenly the robot becomes infected with malware that changes its object-orientation to take humans as an enemy of a nation; thereby mandating it to kill any human because it has been re-designed to see humans as an enemy. This becomes a battle between one robot and humans; however, it becomes a cyber epidemic when multiple robots are infected with the same kind of malware within a geographical location and a cyber pandemic when the malware infects multiple robots in almost all parts of the world.
Also, just the way we have humans that have a very clear conscience with good morals so would a robot be programmed with good morals and a clear conscience. However, we cannot ignore the fact that a robot can be programmed to be a robber. Imagine an armed robotic machine that will have the ability to disrupt events in public locations, steals from banks, breaks money vaults, etc. The likelihood of this happening is very slim but it is very possible, hence it is dangerous to humans.
We have discussed the dangers of deploying robotic machines, however, the benefits will be enormous for us to cover in this writing. So, next week we will be looking at the possible benefits that come with implementing robotic machines starting from the business benefits to government benefits. It can be overwhelming when you see that a machine is doing what you can do or even better. If you happen to be among those that will lose their jobs, what would you do to keep hope alive?
Wishing it won’t happen should not cross our minds because the chances of this not happening are very slim, especially when world powers will benefit from the invention economically or the United Nations throw its weight of support on the invention. Statistics by statista.com reveal that by 2025 the robotic industry will have a revenue generation of USD 209Billion.
Notwithstanding, there will be various groups of people, associations, and companies that will come together to develop a unified standard that will keep the invention stable and liveable with humans but we are not so sure of its extensive danger until we begin to live with it.
