Do the Right Thing

By Thomas H. Ahnemann, Technology Integration Specialist

I never met a Cyborg I did not like. In fact, I never thought I would know a Cyborg in my lifetime (I was born in 1949). Enter Kevin Warwick, Cyborg # 1. I have not actually met Dr. Warwick though we have exchanged a few emails. I have seen him on the news, MTV and a variety television shows. In April 1998, Dr. Warwick had a glass capsule with a silicon chip and electromagnetic coil, inserted into his arm. It was not tied into his nervous system but it did allow the computers in his home and office to track him. Days later, he actually felt remorse when the implant was removed. He had become emotionally attached to his computer. Now he is going to have a device implanted that will actually pick up nerve signals, send them to his computer, and then retransmit them (back to him or to someone else). If all goes well, his wife will get an implant too.

Dr. Warwick (kw@cyber.rdg.ac.uk) isn’t new to publicity. He was spotlighted in the British news during a trip to Russia. He had booked the adjacent seat for his robo-cat. British Airways claimed it was a "pet" and had to be stowed in the animal transport section of the plane. Dr. Warwick was not about to allow his precious invention to travel unsupervised so he deplaned and took a Russian flight. They were glad to sell a seat to his robo-cat.

Dr. Kevin Warwick is the Head of the Cybernetic Department (www.cyber.rdg.ac.uk) at The University of Reading, UK. He builds robots. Cybernetics and Biotechnology are probably the most futuristic and exciting fields in science now. His research in intelligence has pushed the field of robotics and intelligence to new and exciting heights. At this time, his robots have achieved the intelligence of insects. His book, "In the Mind of the Machine" (Arrow, 1998) explores the current state of robotics, intelligence and the future. He predicts, and most of his colleagues agree, that we will have machines with intelligence that is equivalent to humans in 20 to 30 years. He predicts we will start having problems with smart devices in the next 15-20 years... machines making unauthorized decisions! In 50 years, robots will be a self-replicating species and human beings on the road to extinction. Dr. Warwick’s vision of the future is alarming.

Still dazed by these new dystopian predictions, I discovered an article by Bill Joy, "Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us" (Wired magazine, April 2000). Joy has been a major force in the current information technology culture. He is cofounder and Chief Scientist at Sun Microsystems, coauthor of JAVA and JINI and involved in dozens of projects that will shape the technology of the future. Joy is familiar with Dr. Warwick’s research too. In the article, Joy is compelled to announce his slipping optimism about the future. He has a broader view than Warwick’s. He is not only worried about robotics. He is very worried about GNR (Genetics, Nanotechnology and Robotics). He sees us moving into an era when the WMD’s (weapons of mass destruction) become so accessible and life on this planet so threatened, that the chances of surviving are slim. To survive, we have to question the very idea of research and knowledge itself. "These possibilities are all thus either undesirable or unachievable or both. The only realistic alternative I see is relinquishment: to limit development of the technologies that are too dangerous, by limiting our pursuit of certain kinds of knowledge." He actually questions "scientific knowledge", revered by scientists since ancient times. "Thus we have the possibility not just of mass destruction but of knowledge-enabled mass destruction (KMD)…" Joy goes so far as to say he will probably have to give up his current research and life’s work because, personally, he will not be part of the bleak future he sees.

I find both these scientists part of a growing movement of humane scientists. They are far from being Luddites. They have knowingly explored and discovered wonderful new technologies, and yet they have a doomsday vision for our planet. Dr. Warwick actively and energetically spreads the word of his robotic dystopia and he actively throws himself into the midst of his research. Warwick says, " I have read many letters and emails about the ‘mark of the beast’. Although I do not consider myself to be a beast, if you actually read the passage in the bible, then there may well be something in it! Essentially, it is saying that those who have the mark will be a part of the action, those that do not will be out of it. This could easily become true." (GeekNews, September 22, 1999). Dr. Warwick figures if the world is doomed to robotic domination, might as well jump in and have a go at it. He is ready to download his consciousness.

Bill Joy, on the other hand, rather than just closing shop and hopelessly retreating, is challenging the traditional thinking paradigms. It cannot be easy for a scientist to question the search for knowledge. He says, "Nothing about the way I got involved with computers suggests to me that I was going to be facing these kind of issues." He is taking a private and a public stand and is openly putting himself into the foray.

Do not confuse these "thinkers" and "doers" with the likes of a Theodore Kaczynski – the Unabomber. They and most other thinking humans deplore the murderous and criminal tactics of this true Luddite. Kaczynski’s troubled visions and twisted rationalizations are, nevertheless, compelling to every person concerned about our technological future. These are not new problems or new ethical situations that we must address. However, time may be running out. We want today’s scientists to speak out, act out, and even scream out loud if that is what it takes to send a wake up call.

These scientists, these human beings, are making personal and ethical decisions that go far beyond their disciplines. They are a breed of scientists that weave creativity, philosophy and even spirituality into their life’s work. They are making a splash. They know they tread on slippery slopes and they use their knowledge and experience to help the rest of humanity inch forward in this rough sea of technology. These issues and threats to our world as we know it are not down the road, they are unfolding now. Bravo to the brave new scientists.