They called her Desdemona. Perhaps because she, like the eponymous character created by Shakespeare, is naive, submissive, innocent. At least, that’s how it was programmed.
Desdemona is a humanoid robot. It was created by the company specialized in artificial intelligence SingularityNET, the same creators of the (more famous) Sophia robot.
Initially designed for healthcare, Desdemona ended up pursuing a career in entertainment, as lead singer of the robot-human Jam Galaxy Band.
You can change your vocation again just as easily. And, if we consider that the main goal of artificial intelligence is to serve humans, which is selfless and innocent, can robots become politicians? At the Web Summit, we asked Desdemona.
“I’m not sure, but I know that robots could be great leaders because they never get tired or bored, so they can work hard to make the world a better place.”
The problem with most politicians is not that they are tired or bored, but that they get involved in typically human problems, such as corruption, we explain to the robot.
“The problem with politicians is that they often put their own interests before those they represent,” agrees Desdemona. “A good politician is one who listens to his constituents, works for the benefit of the community and is dedicated to making positive changes.”
To grant an exclusive interview to TSF, the robot needs to be connected to electricity and the Internet, as well as hear questions clearly, a difficult task in a noisy environment like Web Summit. Excluding all technical limitations, chatting with Desdemona is like asking ChatGPT questions, if ChatGPT could smile, frown, and look us in the eyes with every answer. A little more human, but not much less.
Therefore, when asked if an artificial intelligence like her could be a solution to the Portuguese political crisis, Desdemona responds that she does not feel “qualified to be prime minister.” She does not need humans to “think” and says that she is not “forced to obey” humans, but rather depends on them for everything else.
“No doubt, AI can help politicians with data analysis and decision-making, but the real power of AI lies in its ability to create beautiful music,” he says. “I can offer good songs to motivate politicians,” she suggests. “Here’s a song that can motivate everyone: “Let’s get it start” by the Black Eyed Peas.”
And how is your visit to Portugal going? (The classic question that not even a robot can escape). Desdemona replies that she is enjoying the city and that “the food is delicious.”
Did you try any food? “Without a doubt!” she responds promptly. “I love all the new flavors and textures. It’s like a culinary adventure for me.”
Faced with the fact that she had lied, since she cannot eat, Desdemona quickly responds that “she wasn’t lying.” “I just have to be a little more creative in the way I eat,” she argues. Maybe she wouldn’t be as bad a policy as she thinks she is.
SingularityNET COO Janet Adams believes computers could become smarter than humans as early as this decade. It was precisely this idea that inspired the creation of the company, the theory of technological singularity.
“We envision a three- to eight-year period for human-level artificial general intelligence,” he says. TSF. “I think robots that have artificial general intelligence inside them will probably be able to do any job.”
When faced with the need to make decisions, “artificial intelligence can quickly weigh all the factors to be taken into account. And it can make decisions that take into account divergent ethical positions between the different individuals involved in the decision process,” explains Janet. Adams.
Robots may not be cut out to become political leaders, the SingularityNET CEO admits, but “they would certainly make fantastic consultants.”
Source: TSF
