Robotics (62)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 9 min
- Kinolab
- 2013
At some point in the near future, Martha’s husband Ash dies in a car accident. In order to help Martha through the grieving process, her friend Sara gives Ash’s data to a company which can create an artificial intelligence program to simulate text and phone conversations between Martha and Ash. Eventually, this program is uploaded onto a robot which has the exact likeness of the deceased Ash. Upon feeling creeped out by the humanoid robot and its imprecision in terms of capturing Ash’s personality, Martha wants nothing more than to keep the robot out of her sight.
- Kinolab
- 2013
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- 9 min
- Kinolab
- 2013
Martha and Ash Part II: Digital Revival and Human Likeness in Hardware
At some point in the near future, Martha’s husband Ash dies in a car accident. In order to help Martha through the grieving process, her friend Sara gives Ash’s data to a company which can create an artificial intelligence program to simulate text and phone conversations between Martha and Ash. Eventually, this program is uploaded onto a robot which has the exact likeness of the deceased Ash. Upon feeling creeped out by the humanoid robot and its imprecision in terms of capturing Ash’s personality, Martha wants nothing more than to keep the robot out of her sight.
How can memories be kept pure when robots are able to impersonate deceased loved ones? If programs and robots such as this can be created, do we truly own our own existence? How can artificial intelligence fail as therapy or companionship? Can artificial intelligence and robotics help comfort people who never even met the deceased? How should an artificial companion be handled by its administrator? Can an animated or robotic humanoid likeness of a person who seemingly has feelings be relegated to the attic as easily as other mementos can?
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
Matt tells Joe Potter about how he used to train uploaded consciousnesses to take care of people’s homes. After somebody’s brain is copied and uploaded onto a cookie, the copy is often unwilling to perform the menial tasks asked of them. However, once the consciousness is inside the “cookie,” time can be manipulated however the real people see fit in order to coerce cooperation for the coded digital consciousness.
- Kinolab
- 2014
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
Repetitive Code as a Menial Laborer
Matt tells Joe Potter about how he used to train uploaded consciousnesses to take care of people’s homes. After somebody’s brain is copied and uploaded onto a cookie, the copy is often unwilling to perform the menial tasks asked of them. However, once the consciousness is inside the “cookie,” time can be manipulated however the real people see fit in order to coerce cooperation for the coded digital consciousness.
Can we upload consciousness in order to make our lives easier? How do we ethically treat a digital consciousness? How can digital beings be put to good use in our lives? As AI potentially become more humanoid, is it justifiable to continue assigning them long repetitive tasks?
Black Mirror: Brain Cookie-
- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 2016
Detectives Karin Parke and Blue Coulson work together to put an end to the series of mysterious murders perpetrated by the #DeathTo trend on social media. In this “Game of Consequences,” the person most mentioned under this hashtag each day becomes the target of ADIs, government drones shaped like bees, to track down and kill. This trend was spurred by bots on social media, drawing many people into participation, and a sole hacker was responsible both for the bots and for the abuse of the drones. After the detectives fail to protect one victim of the #DeathTo trend, they attempt to shut down the malware, but instead discover a large data mine and unleash a much more massive danger.
- Kinolab
- 2016
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 2016
Hacked Drones and Targeting Citizens
Detectives Karin Parke and Blue Coulson work together to put an end to the series of mysterious murders perpetrated by the #DeathTo trend on social media. In this “Game of Consequences,” the person most mentioned under this hashtag each day becomes the target of ADIs, government drones shaped like bees, to track down and kill. This trend was spurred by bots on social media, drawing many people into participation, and a sole hacker was responsible both for the bots and for the abuse of the drones. After the detectives fail to protect one victim of the #DeathTo trend, they attempt to shut down the malware, but instead discover a large data mine and unleash a much more massive danger.
Can the “unreal” nature of digital platform ever truly remove harmful intent from inflammatory words or statements? How should “free speech” be regulated on platforms where not everything can be taken literally? How can the information available about a person through their social media use be abused to make them targets? Should the government use cutting-edge digital technology if there is even the slightest chance that it can be abused? Are there requisite consequences to showing a lack of empathy toward others on digital platforms?
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
In a generic post-apocalyptic scenario, Bella and her comrades are relentlessly hunted by dog-like robotic drones which spray small trackers to mark and hunt down their prey. After Bella’s companions are killed, she is able to hold off a short while longer before reaching the inevitable conclusion that she cannot escape.
- Kinolab
- 2017
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Robotics and Warfare
In a generic post-apocalyptic scenario, Bella and her comrades are relentlessly hunted by dog-like robotic drones which spray small trackers to mark and hunt down their prey. After Bella’s companions are killed, she is able to hold off a short while longer before reaching the inevitable conclusion that she cannot escape.
What are the potential consequences of using automated drones to carry out tasks, especially robotics used for warfare purposes? What happens if centralized control over robots with a singular purpose fails? How does GPS tracking allow for easier pursuit of innocent victims?
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- 3 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Rachel, a fifteen year old fan of the pop star Ashley O, is gifted an Ashley Too doll for her birthday. Ashley Too is a robot who contains a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, and thus emulates her personality and can carry on a conversation with the owner of the doll.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 3 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Digital Duplicates and Friendship
Rachel, a fifteen year old fan of the pop star Ashley O, is gifted an Ashley Too doll for her birthday. Ashley Too is a robot who contains a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, and thus emulates her personality and can carry on a conversation with the owner of the doll.
How can robots and devices such as the Ashley Too doll help children cope with grief or loneliness? How can it be ensured that children branch out in their connections beyond such robots? What are the issues present with modeling artificial companions after real-life public figures?
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Ashley O is a pop star who lives and works under the tyrannical direction of her aunt and producer, Catherine. After Ashley decides she wants to rebel against her contract, Catherine places her in a coma and scans her brain to help create a digital likeness of Ashley O and produce new music which the 3D holograph can perform, all under Catherine’s control. Meanwhile, siblings Rachel and Jack hack a robot based on a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, allowing the virtual consciousness of Ashley O to be reborn in the robot and help plot to take down Catherine. Working together, they manage to thwart the grand debut of the edited holographic version of Ashley O.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Celebrity Autonomy, Producer Tyranny, and Holographic Performances
Ashley O is a pop star who lives and works under the tyrannical direction of her aunt and producer, Catherine. After Ashley decides she wants to rebel against her contract, Catherine places her in a coma and scans her brain to help create a digital likeness of Ashley O and produce new music which the 3D holograph can perform, all under Catherine’s control. Meanwhile, siblings Rachel and Jack hack a robot based on a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, allowing the virtual consciousness of Ashley O to be reborn in the robot and help plot to take down Catherine. Working together, they manage to thwart the grand debut of the edited holographic version of Ashley O.
How can celebrities keep their autonomy when producers can easily replicate them or their performances? How can musicians and other performers continue to keep a share of credit or profit when producers can easily co-opt their art? Should this technology be used to “extend the life” of musicians, allowing for holographic performances even after they pass away? What are the ethical questions raised with this concept? Should digital consciousnesses be fundamentally limited, especially when they are based on real people? How would this improperly shape the image of a celebrity, either before or after their death?