Musings

Scientists at Yale University say we—by which they mean they—can now teleport a quantum gate. That’s great news. You’re probably wondering, “What’s a quantum gate? And does it mean I can get free cable TV?” Those would be the natural questions to ask. Answers: no one knows, and no. But if you teleport a quantum gate before midnight tonight, you may qualify for lifetime free antenna TV and a set of Ginsu knives.

Scientists at Tel Aviv University have created a robot bat. They call it robat. This is not a joke. Robat is like a bat except instead of flying through the air it trundles along the ground on 4 large wheels. It uses echolocation to navigate. Robat “pings” out ultrasonic sound and listens for the echo to detect objects around it. I hate to spoil their party, but I worked for a company which made and sold wheeled robots from the mid ‘80s until year 2000. Our robots used ultrasonic sound for navigation and obstacle avoidance. (Some models also incorporated LIDAR—pulsed beams of laser light.) But good luck, university guys, and don’t get discouraged just because decades ago someone else was doing what you’re trying to do. Better late than never.

Scientists at the University of Connecticut have created a cyborg cockroach. The hybrid “creature” is constructed by melding the creepily but probably aptly named Madagascar Hissing Cockroach with a microchip neuro-controller that sits atop the bug. The purpose of the cyborg cockroach will be to find you if there’s an earthquake and a building falls on you. Yes, as you lie buried and dying in the rubble, the last thing you can expect to see will be dozens of Madagascar hissing cockroaches approaching you … a comforting mental picture, I’m sure.

And finally there’s this: scientists from Cardiff University and MIT asked the question, “Could artificially intelligent robots develop prejudice on their own?” Their answer: not unless they interact with people. Just kidding! The actual answer is yes they could. In fact, the article says,

“… some types of computer algorithms have already exhibited prejudice, such as racism and sexism, based on learning from public records and other data generated by humans …”

But this new study says AI robots could develop prejudice without human help, just by interacting with other AI robots. Oh great. Now I get to be looked down on by machines. Wait till the Department of Motor Vehicles gets their robots. “Attention stupid human. You passed your driver’s test but I don’t like your looks so I’m flunking you. If you don’t like it you can go suck it. Have a nice day.”

Yeah, the future is going to be interesting. And weird.