The Road from Human Character to Artificial Intelligence and Back
My fascination with Sci-Fi since I was a kid is no secret, and I am constantly awed by the genre’s ability to accurately predict (or should we say influence) the reality of technology decades ahead.
In 1982, Hollywood director Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner hit cinema screens and riffed on a fascinating concept—the idea that ‘replicants’, synthetic human-like robots could potentially be the next stage of human evolution. Fast-forward 35 years and the follow-up, Blade Runner 2049, built on this idea further, with replicants co-existing, almost indistinguishably, amongst humans, but now (spoiler alert) they CAN actually replicate, hence bringing the cycle of human evolution around full circle.
Around the same time, Hanson Robotics unveiled Sophia. It (She? They?) positions itself (herself? themselves?) simultaneously as a human-crafted science fiction character depicting the future of AI and robotics, and a platform for advanced robotics and AI research. She (let’s go with that) is the world’s first and only robot citizen and the first robot Innovation Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme.
While Sophia has featured in many conferences following her debut at SXSW in 2016, as well as on the Tonight Show and Good Morning Britain, I can assure of one thing, she won’t appear on a future episode of Wirelessly Yours anytime soon, and the reason is that in addition to being a “great forward step” (1), she shares with sliced bread a similar level of personality and charm (or lack thereof).
Do Androids Daydream of Virtual Crushes? (2)
Speaking of charm and personality, human-to-robot connections, especially those of the romantic kind, have been in the spotlight with films like Her, Ex-Machina and Bladerunner 2049.
In Her, the archetypal everyman lives in a world where human experience is enmeshed with technology (doesn’t sound too different from my living room!). But people in this hypothetical future seek connection with technology, rather than through it. In the film’s world, you can build your perfect virtual assistant, who knows everything about you, helps you navigate your day and is intimately tuned in to all your moods, needs, and wants– she’s the Microsoft Office paperclip assistant reincarnated as Cortana, she’s Alexa as your soulmate, and Siri as your crush.
Ultimately, our protagonist’s AI love interest transcends her digital bonds and reveals the scale of her relationships beyond this ONE connection, leaving our everyman with that most human of emotions: a heartbreak!
On the opposite side of the emotional spectrum, I can’t but smile at the TARS robots in Interstellar, with their customizable parameters, where you can dial up the ‘honesty’ level and tone down the ‘humor’ :-) But if the past year has proven anything, it is that the more technology is used to replace in-person interactions, the more we actually crave that human connection!
To the Dream Builders and Can-Doers
I’m willing to bet that we’re not ready to say good-bye to human character, charm and personality just yet. Maybe certain industries will embrace AI-driven robotics; however, some sectors will still require that personal touch, at least for the foreseeable future, and the hospitality world is a perfect example!
Even though it has been hit the most by the COVID-19 pandemic, while it faces the assault of various tech-enabled competitors in the form of food-delivery apps and dark kitchens, I personally consider those abnormalities, purely invigorated by the effects of the lockdowns. From our exclusive vantage point at Coconut, we gladly see hospitality job openings on the rise again as the world regains confidence while restrictions are eased globally. These jobs require the connection and understanding that only humans can provide, in person, and with that innate ability to adapt to any situation or circumstance.
I tip my hat to those neighborhood café owners, global hospitality groups, and fearless ‘gastropreneurs’, these are the Dream Builders who orchestrate elaborate experiences for their guests, embodying their own dreams, but also fuel the daydreams of others. From the moment you step into their restaurant or hotel, to the last bite of that fish taco, through to the guaranteed smile you have on your face when you peek at their dessert menu, you are the main character on an elaborate ‘stage’ with an award-deserving cast composed of hostesses, waiters and baristas, hand-picked for their smiles, personality and Can-Do attitude!
Whether the future really will be some version of a Hollywood Sci-Fi flick remains to be seen, but to me, the state of technology looks more promising than ever, so long as we hold on to our humanity. And on that note, I can be sure of one thing only: I will always enjoy that espresso served in person, on a sidewalk, by a human. Her name maybe Sophia, but she will have a bright and warm smile, and there won’t be a mask to hide it!
Wirelessly yours,
Ziad
This article was written on a laptop, while the sources were researched via a mobile handheld device and a tablet. Background music (like always) was piped through wireless headphones connected to a smartphone running a streaming music app. All devices were wirelessly connected to the various home and co-working space WiFi networks.
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliced_bread
2) “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” is the title of the Philip K. Dick novel which was later adapted into Blade Runner.
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