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‘SEXY’ ROBOTS COULD REPRODUCE
3.2.2005. 11:04:19
The pursuit to develop robots that can mimic human actions and behaviour has gone a step further, with one scientist creating artificial chromosomes and the potential for robots to ‘sexually reproduce’.

Professor Kim Jong-Hwan, from the Robot Intelligence Technology Lab in South Korea, has announced the breakthrough that he says could be installed in a robot within three months, according to a report by the Guardian.

“Until now, most researchers have focused only on the functionality of the machines, but we think in terms of the essence of the creatures,” Mr Kim said.

“Christians may not like it, but we must consider this the origin of an artificial species,” he added.

The professor, who is a leading authority on the technology and ethics of robotics, has led the development of a software system which contains a computer code that gives a robot the ability to ‘feel’ happy, sad, sleepy, hungry or afraid.

This so-called ‘essence’ has been modelled on human DNA, but is equivalent to only a single strand of genetic code rather than the more complex double helix of a real chromosome.

"The artificial chromosome is a software system. It means that the information - their 'genes' - can be easily sent to other robots," he explained.

"So if I send the chromosomes to another robot, that robot can then reproduce by itself. In that sense the robots will be created by the 'genes'. The personality of robots will be created by artificial genes."

“Robots will have their own personalities and emotion and, as films like ‘I, Robot’ warn, that could be very dangerous for humanity,” Mr Kim surmised.

‘I, Robot’, a popular Hollywood blockbuster film featuring Will Smith, portrayed a futuristic scenario of robots installed with human characteristics running amok.

“If we can provide a robot with good, soft chromosomes, they may not be such a threat.”

Mr Kim believes there is no danger that such self-reproducing robots will take over the world, "If we design the chromosomes quite safely, then we can avoid such a bad situation."

The professor has predicted that within 20 years robots could become commonplace, keeping loneliness at bay for people who live alone and replacing cats and dogs as man’s best friend, according to a report by the New Zealand Herald.

Already, robots costing less than $US 200 ($AUD 257) are available to vacuum your home, and the US military is using robots to conduct building searches for insurgents in Iraq.

“In the very near future, personal robots will be in our houses like personal computers,” Mr Kim said.

SBS Australia


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