AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion

News & Events: Public Lecture

Flesh & Machines
31 May 2001

 

In his I, Robot series of short stories, Isaac Asimov recounted the "evolution" of robots from clearly non-humanoid to so-humanoid as to be indistinguishable from human beings. Today that science fiction is on the road to becoming science fact. This lecture will explore the current state of development of artificial intelligence and robotics with particular reference to humanoid robots. Speakers will consider the underlying philosophical assumptions that orient this research and development effort, how such developments could effect the future of humans, and the religious significance of these developments. Key note speaker Dr. Rodney Brooks is widely known for his research on the engineering of intelligent robots to interact in a human environment and his work on humanoid robots, Cog and Kismet.

Keynote speaker:

• Dr. Rodney Brooks, Director & Fujitsu Professor
  MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

Respondent:

• Dr. Noreen Herzfeld, Associate Professor of Computer Science, St. John's University

Coverage:

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