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| (Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/scientists-develop-artificial-intelligence-that-can-read-your-mind/story-drSQCLm7CXUbXbqkoJ28SN.html) |
How would you feel about a computer being able to read your
thoughts? While mind reading robots might seem like a fairytale of the future, it might become a reality as four Japanese scientists have begun to reconstruct
images from people's brain patterns (
article). For their experiment, scientists would show test
subjects various images of animals, people, letters, and geometric shapes. They
would then measure the subjects' brain activity while they were looking at the
image or in other cases they would ask the subjects to recall a previously shown image from memory. Afterwards by using machine
learning algorithms, a computer would take the brain measurements and decode the
information to recreate the image the subjects were seeing in their heads (see example images below). The technology isn't perfect, however, as it only gives a rough outline of the object in the picture and appears to lack the finer details making it hard to tell what image the subject was looking at. One
problem is it is harder to decode brain signals when a person is trying to
recall an image versus when they are looking at the image because a person’s
memory isn’t as good at remembering all the details making it harder for AI to recreate the image. (
For more details check out their research paper)
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| (Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/08/japanese-scientists-use-artificial-intelligence-to-decode-thoughts.html) |
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| (Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/08/japanese-scientists-use-artificial-intelligence-to-decode-thoughts.html) |
Assuming we are able to create mind reading robots, that opens the possibility to do lots of cool things like
controlling robots using just our mind or allowing people with speech problems to still communicate by speaking telepathically through a computer. Consequently, there are also a lot of problems that could come from mind reading AI especially with the issue of privacy. Many people would probably feel uncomfortable with the idea of a robot reading their thoughts and feel more self conscious about what they are thinking. The technology could be abused by advertising companies who might try to read a person's thoughts as they already are tracking people's browser history to determine what kind of advertisements to send them. Mind reading robots would also likely be used by intelligence agencies to help prevent violent crimes but at what cost? Are people willing to give up their privacy to be safer? My guess is no, based on the backlash the NSA received for collecting internet and phone data. If mind reading robots were created there would have to be some sort of laws put in place to protect people's privacy to prevent others from taking advantage of the technology.
Relating to class I think this article shows us the real
life possibility of what happened in Chapter 5 of iRobot where the robot
Herbie was able to read minds and speak telepathically. While I do not think we
are close to having robots like Herbie who can read a person’s every thought,
this is a stepping stone towards that future and offers us a better idea of how
the human brain works. I think this can help scientist create smarter AI and maybe even conscious AI that can act
like humans through recreation of human brain activity. Of course this depends
on whether one believe AI can even become conscious or if it is purely a human
trait. Do think it will be possible for us to be able to completely understand
the human brain and create a mind reading robot like Herbie or a conscious
robot that can think similarly to a human?
You hit on a very important point at the end of this post in your question that, to a certain degree, applies to all AI technology. Will we ever understand our brains, or ourselves, enough to recreate a similar experience in an AI unit? Maybe we are getting too big for our britches. However, as we have discussed in class, The way AI units may end up "thinking"may be completely different from our cognitive tactics, so perhaps it isn't essential to understand ourselves before creating such units. It might have more to do with our maturity as species, being capable of handling such technology.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine a huge uproar if mind-reading robots were widely used. People worry enough about smart home devices and other voice-activated technology listening in when we don't want it to. I'm sure listening to our minds is a huge fear for most, except for the laziest people (or people who simply accept that the government/wealthy corporations don't care what we want and will simply do as they please) who would love to control a device without moving or speaking.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm pretty lazy, so the idea of control stuff with only thought certainly appeal to me. We keep talking about ethical issue, but the government and big corporation don't care about that, and they will improve these AIs no matter what. I think that in the future, we as normal people with no power will suffer, and there is no clear way to prevent it.
DeleteI find this very cool, and the idea of mind reading robots both exciting and freightening. I imagine however that it is limited by the technology that reads brain patterns. It's not like I can go walking around town with an MRI on my head. I expect that is the technology that needs to be condensed for this to become widespread. Furthermore, I wonder how safe it would be to having an MRI constantly. Granted I'm not a bio person, but constant stuff going into your head to read it doesn't sound healthy. This sounds like an example of where the hardware needs to catch up to the potential of software.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this particular niche of AI is not a particularly good step forward. I can certainly see the usefulness for such AI, but I think human bias will be the ultimate undoing on this particular prospect. This tech (at the moment) can determine what people's preferences are just by scanning their facial structures and physical attributes? This to me just seems like a time bomb relating to politics waiting to happen. I personally cannot see this tech being used in any other way than to discriminate against those with opposing viewpoints to the users of the AI.
ReplyDeleteLike Joe commented, I feel like this area of AI would not be a good progress for society. While I believe some benefits can arise from potentially learning more about the human brain and how the brain works (assuming we had the technology to do these things even better than current tech). However, I personally think mankind won't be able to create a fully functional mind-reading AI like Herbie.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious as to how the brain reading technology actually works. Would it be possible to read someone's brain activity from a distance or does this only work at close range with monitoring systems, etc.?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, there are concerns with this type of technology but I could definitely see it being used for people with speech problems. Therefore, I feel this technology would be developed to help these kinds of people without exactly looking at possible negative side effects.
It would be weird if we were able to control machines with our minds. How would the machine prevent different people's minds from conflicting with its actions? I don't feel like this would be a very positive aspect of AI, and I doubt it will ever come to fruition with backlash from society. It would be an interesting experiment to test the limits of artificial intelligence however.
ReplyDelete