IQ vs. Wisdom: Why are there more robots than humans?
Thus robot making is as old as human civilization as slaves (physical or mental or both) have always remained an integral component of empire building process throughout the recorded history. It may be important to know that the word “Robot” also comes from the Czech word “Robota,” which means “forced labour” or “slave”. Thus both terms are so intermingled that it is hard to differentiate. However, as slaves in the past were viewed as robots, in the modern times, robots might be viewed as slaves. That’s what they are: machines (of metal or flesh) that do our bidding without thinking much and which are nothing but property. That’s pretty much exactly how slave-owners felt about the people they had in their possession. And most of them were not just physical slaves but also mental slaves as reportedly sermons were also delivered to them by ministers of God. Moreover, it is believed that even after being freed they didn’t become citizens and any property or wealth they accumulated reverted to their former owners when they died.
But ironically in 21st century, Sofia” is said to be the first robot (or social humanoid robot created in 2016 by the Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics) who has received the legal personhood (perhaps, because, like most idiots, she too doesn’t understand sarcasm). She made international headlines after Saudi Arabia granted her citizenship or nationality (a modern and attractive trap or gold coated iron chain used to enslave innumerable human robots from former colonies without much bothering) in Oct. 2017. She, according to Hanson Robotics’ former chief scientist Ben Goertzel, also uses AI methods which include face tracking and emotion recognition, with robotic movements generated by deep neural networks enabling her to see people, hold and understand coherent conversation, and form relationships. Moreover, it is also being said that she not only has a sense of humour but her lifelike appearance and ability to emulate and respond to human expressions is unparalleled in the world of robotics.
For instance, in her article for “Forbes” (retrieved on Nov 7, 2017,12:22pm EST) freelance tech/culture journalist Zara Stone writes that when asked if she was happy to be here (in Saudi Arabia, during the Future Investment Initiative Conference in Riyadh) she said, “I’m always happy when surrounded by smart people who also happen to be rich and powerful.”
Here is another interesting excerpt from the article:
“My AI is designed around human values like wisdom, kindness, and compassion,” she said. When questioned about her potential for abuse, she had a quick rebuttal. “You’ve been reading too much Elon Musk and watching too many Hollywood movies. Don’t worry, if you’re nice to me I’ll be nice to you.”
Ironically, her kind of wit can’t even be expected from the armies of idiots, or robots who claim to be humans, simultaneously inhabiting and destroying their own home in the name of civilization.
Thus she has also been given vast media coverage around the globe and has participated in many high-profile interviews, in addition to heading major tech conferences and even delivering a speech to the United Nations.
But the question is that how much is she different from robot-like humans who are also making headlines on account of achieving high scores or grades in different walks of life, especially, and including exams or tests, such as GCSEs, GRE, Mensa, Stanford-Binet, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, or WAIS etc.
The truth seems that we’re living in a culture or age of modern civilization where people with so-called high IQ or analytical skills are more appreciated or projected as a model of success than those who are more creative and thus have deeper insights or intuitive abilities. People often feel elated, exultant, and excited when they are labelled as highly intelligent and bright-minded.
Go to google and type: “British-Pakistani girl in London makes history by setting record with 34 GCSEs” and you will come across innumerable number of media reports full of praise and accolades for the girl making millions of non-achiever envious as well as frustrated and depressed. The girl Mahnoor Cheema (who is already living U.K with her parents) is also believed to have been recognized on global scale, at 161 on the Mensa IQ Test, even ahead of Albert Einstein, who is believed to have possessed an IQ of 160.
This is one of the many examples of high achievers in academic as well as other fields, such as sports etc.
And, according to a Washington Post story (Students in high-achieving schools are now named an ‘at-risk’ group, study says) “the unrelenting pressure on students in high-achieving schools comes from every direction, from overly invested parents who want A’s, coaches who want wins for their own personal reputations and school administrators who feel pressured to get high standardized scores in their school, which then prop up real estate values in the area.”
Thus most sought after, valued or idealized people are those who, mostly like robot, show best performance with regard to academic achievements such as As in O/A level or in high scores in IQ tests mentioned above. It is not surprising then that we are always burning with curiosity to know about: Who has the highest qualification or degree? Who went to the most popular or elite university? Who has the most entrepreneurial skills? Who’s the most popular or famous person? Who’s the cleverest scientist, engineer, doctor, researcher, author, show-biz personality, media person or wit at the office or family table? Who’s the most bright or mentally gifted? Who has received the most so-called coveted awards? etc.
But we never ask or are curious about who’s the most sensible or the wisest or insightful? Thus so-called intelligence is valued far above wisdom or intuition and even worshiped like god. Consequently, news of people achieving high grades or scores in any standardized exam or test gets far more greater coverage than the news about a monk or sage teaching people about the miracles of love and kindness. And this can never be a good attitude for any society.
A wonderful narration of an interaction between a sage from the east and an intelligent and clever person from the west will make this more than evident. A translated version of the narration is being reproduced below:
An arrogant English commander and a sage from the east
“A proud or rather arrogant English commander was on his way while returning to the garrison with his formidable regiment on large, heavy and strong horses armed with most modern and lethal firepower, when suddenly he caught sight of a humble sage siting on the ground and surrounded by large number of poor disciples who seemed to be in a state of trance while listening to his words of wisdom. English commander was envious as well as curious to know why so many people were gathered around an armless and thus harmless man who seemed to have no power or privilege like the cavalry commander himself. To satiate his curiosity, he ordered one of his soldiers to go to the venue and ask the sage what kind of skills or qualities are in his possession that he has gathered so many people around him. In response to the soldier’s query, the sage said that before I could show any of my skills, ask your commander to first show his skills and thereafter I will show mine.
Hearing this, the commander aimed his rifle at two little birds, flying above in the sky, and killed them both simultaneously with just one shot. Then he, very arrogantly, asked the sage or spiritual leader to show his mastery. The sage asked one of his disciples to fetch the bodies of dead birds. Disciple obeyed and placed the dead birds very gently on the palm of the sage’s hand. Sage then caressed them and murmuring some miracle words blew on the dead birds making them alive and soon they were flying again. After that the sage said, “this is my skill.”
However, as the concept of being humane, loving and kind doesn’t fit the prevalent standards of success, that even the robot Sofia seems to have embraced and exhorted likewise, there are more robots than there are humans.
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References:
i) https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/origin-word-robot-rur/
ii) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_(robot)
iii) https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1103480-pakistani-girl-in-london-sets-record-with-34-gcses
