Monday, June 27, 2022

SENTIENT ROBOTS

It has been a science fiction theory for years that some day robots will take over the world.  Lately I have been thinking, "Hey let them have at it. They can't do any worse than we have." I mean really, look where we are right now. 

But I have never really subscribed to the theory or maybe never wanted to.  Then my personal robot got me thinking.  Rosie, my robot vacuum cleaner, is a very helpful aid especially as I age.  She has no problem hunting down and capturing dust bunnies. When you have a cat, you have lots of hair tumbleweeds.  So she has been welcome and helpful.

However lately I have noticed a non robotic behavior of hers that seems to be increasing with each usage.  She always seems delighted when I turn her on and set her off hunting the bunnies.  She has never been happy to be sent back to her charging station to sit waiting for a future command to go forth and capture.  However lately she has really become petulant and fights me about shutting her down for the day. 

I activate her "home" button and she is supposed to quit vacuuming and head for the recharge station.  Now it has become a struggle. I stop her attempts to escape and we dance around feinting and blocking for a while before she finally succumbs. I have thought of setting the dance routine to music and putting it out on Tik Tok:)     

I thought it was just  mine getting contrary till I talked to a friend with the same robot.

We were both surprised that lately both our machines fight more valiantly trying to escape capture. We both thought our robots were unique. They seem to be showing will, almost anger, definitely petulance and a lot stubborn.  Do they actually have feelings and emotions?

Hum. If my blog goes silent, maybe Rosie tripped me and I can't get up. Please send someone by to pull her plug:)   

Do you have a robot of any sort and have you noticed a rebellious nature in them lately?

50 comments :

  1. Well Patti, you managed to give me a real chuckle at 6am--seeing you spar with your cleaning robot in a Tik-Tok video set to music, haha! I don't have any robots of my own, but you know what Professor Stephen Hawking said about AI (artificial intelligence); he feared it more than war when it came to the end of civilization. Someday robots are going to come to the cold-hearted conclusion humans are bad for the planet, and I think your Roomba may lead the charge ;^)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doug,
      Stephen painted a stark picture of us losing control of our power, water, transportation, etc. That makes my rebellious little robot seem comical and yes, she makes me laugh also.

      Delete
  2. I can just picture the situation now, Patti. Bad Rosie!!! Have you tried threatening to replace her with a broom? Or would that send her into predator mode? Sure hope your blog does not go silent but if it does, we have suspect No. 1.

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    Replies
    1. Florence,
      Ha ha, not sure I am brave enough to threaten her with a broom:)) Right now she is just a bratty three year old that I can still shut down when I want.

      Delete
  3. That's pretty funny, in a macabre sort of way. I don't have any robots, but I've been raised on sci-fi and believe that it's possible they will take over one day. Can't be any worse than now, as you reminded me. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Djan,
      I just hope they are kindly when they do:)
      Hope Rosie remembers our good times.
      We have really messed up, at least they wouldn't have things like anger, hate and greed driving them.

      Delete
  4. In are apartment building our ceiling fans seem to have a mind of their own---turning on and off and up at their own will. It took awhile to figure out that the remote controls are on radio frequencies thus controlling more than just the one you point at. Ya, I can believe that robots and other machines can learn to operator without us and to think. Only their thinking processes won't include feelings and ethics.

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    Replies
    1. Jean,
      That had to have been weird with the ceiling fans. Glad it was solved.
      Wonder if feelings and ethics could be programed into them? Guess we will see.

      Delete
  5. Thank you for my first laugh of the day. We don't have any robots, and now I'm glad about that. I hope you do get a little video of that dancing routine with you and Rosie and post it here on the blog.

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    Replies
    1. Robin,
      Ha ha, if I had any way to do a video, it would have been here. Our dance makes me laugh--can only imagine what it looks like.

      Delete
  6. A dire warning of impending armageddon! I knew there was a reason I never bought one.

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    Replies
    1. Olga,
      Ah but for now they do a pretty decent job. I'm willing to take the risk:)

      Delete
  7. We don't have any robotics either - at least no Rosies. But we do have smart phones and smart TV's... and when the phones start telling us how long it will take to go to the place we're heading, it bothers me. How do they know where we're heading? Also... not too sure about the computers coming up with things we "might like" from having access to our searches, etc. But that's the technological age we live in. When your Rosie starts turning herself on and off... you might have a problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rian,
      I do feel our gadgets are listening to us. As long as they remain benign, I am Ok. They sure are nosy though aren't they?

      Delete
  8. I do so want to see that TikTok video! I wonder what is up with Rosie...perhaps her electronics are beginning to wear out causing her to act up.

    I do have a Google mini and it listens all the time. I know this because things I've talked about end up being suggestions on FB and other sites. Only occasionally does it speak up when I haven't asked a question. It freaks me out when that happens.

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    Replies
    1. Eileen,
      I thought so too until my friend said she was having the same problems and hers is newer.
      I have an Echo also and I know it listens. I keep it turned off until I need something.

      Delete
  9. I used to own a Roomba, but discarded it because it kept getting trapped under low shelves of my tables. It also did bad things to my drapes and wires. Gigi hawaii

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. gigi,
      I know, I have to be careful of cords. She will get hopelessly tangled up in them. See-- she still needs me:)
      I do like her chasing the dust bunnies though.

      Delete
    2. Oooh, cords! I have them everywhere because there aren't enough power outlets, so I guess I'd better not be getting a Roomba.

      Delete
    3. River,
      I have pretty much solved that but you do have to be careful with cords and I put chairs up since she can't get around them. They have their drawbacks but do a pretty decent job.

      Delete
  10. I do love my Roomba but she does get cranky at times. Like the other day, for no reason whatsoever, she turned herself on and started to work. Must have known I had company coming. that's scary, my roomba knowing if I have company coming or not....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Latane,
      Wow, that is positively scary. Yours reads minds and activates herself? If mine starts that, she is getting unplugged for good:)

      Delete
  11. Oh, my, this is like one of those sci-fi horror movies. I don't have a robot vacuum, but my Alexa has become a little uncooperative lately.

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    Replies
    1. Margaret,
      Those Alexas are snoopy. They eavesdrop. I keep mine shut off till I need her after she told my brother and his wife they had to move closer together so Alexa could hear them. No one had awakened her.

      Delete
  12. Wow! Rosie is getting a bit hardheaded. :)

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    Replies
    1. Anon,
      Yep she is. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Could you please leave your name at the bottom of your comment so I know who you are. Thank you..

      Delete
  13. Hmm. I hope you are not in danger! :-)
    No robots here.

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    Replies
    1. Linda,
      Ha ha, unless she trips me up I think all is OK.

      Delete
  14. A robot helps me enter comments comments comments comments comments

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  15. I'm thinking the problem may have started when you gave her a name! But what do I know. We only have a google home assistant, and she doesn't pay any more attention to me than my wife does.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom,
      Think you might have a point about naming her.
      Got a giggle out of the image of your home assistant.

      Delete
  16. No robots here. Son had one but I haven't seen it lately. Wonder if it got cantankerous and he ditched it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anon,
      The robot may have left home. They may be sending signals out to uprise:) Ok that is far fetched.
      Like I told the other anonymous commenters, I welcome your comments but really wish you would leave your name at the bottom of your comment so I know who I am talking to. Thank you so much.

      Delete
  17. I don't have a robot here, although I myself sometimes operate on auto when I get up at 5am to put out food for Lola then go right back to sleep. I'm thinking about a roomba type device though. Are they small enough to fit under the bed? My bed is only three inches off the floor and I don't want to have to go and rescue the cleaner every few minutes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River,
      If your bed is 3 inches off the floor, my model couldn't even get under it. That is the height of my couch and it can't get under there.

      Delete
  18. My robot has always been defiant and stubborn.

    BUD

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  19. none and it's been a choice and everyone laughs at us.

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    Replies
    1. Peg,
      You aren't getting the extra help but at least you aren't concerned about the dark side:)

      Delete
  20. I'll have to check with my middle child ...he is the one who has all the fun things like a cleaning robot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ginnie,
      Would be curious if his are acting up also.

      Delete
  21. Replies
    1. Mage,
      At least you don't have to worry about one tripping you up:)

      Delete
  22. That is very interesting. I don't have a robot but my kids do. I'll have to ask them if it is developing a mind of its own.

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  23. I was asking Art for a Roomba a few months ago and he said he prefers vacuuming himself. Well... I guess we can skip getting one if they're going to have a mind of their own.

    Funny thing. My daughter and family are here right now although they're staying in Waikiki for a couple of days to get that experience. Thus I can check up on my favorite blogger friends. Anyway, my son-in-law was telling me he thinks a president that is actually artificial intelligence would be better for our country. That way, they can't be swayed by special interests or do things that are just plain stupid like fomenting an insurrection. Sigh... Granted, my son-in-law is a super techie so he's biased.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I don't have a robot but my kids have had them. They've never mentioned the robots becoming uncooperative, but not sure if they're still using them as they would be ancient now. Yours has apparently begun to develop a mind of its own so take care of your self and be careful!

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  25. No robots here, and we don't have any listening devices like Alexa either. I get spooked enough when my search history pops up with unexpected suggestions and advertisements. We live in a world where our every move is tracked. That said, I'd love to see you and Rosie "dance".

    ReplyDelete

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