How Robots Have Made Us Less Human.

Robots have long been an object or living thing of man’s wild imagination. Although in modern times robots have become synonymous with the science fiction genre, the idea of inventing robots stretches back thousands of years. The word “robot” has a variety of definitions, but one is “A mechanical device that performs a task. Sometimes complex, on command, or by being programmed in some way in advance.”  Today, most mechanical devices or robots are controlled by a computer.
 
Everything from automatons to the watch; From the windmill to modern-day robots; (Yes, indeed, I said a windmill). Even a water wheel was a mechanical device invented to make work easier for humans or to replace them altogether.
 
The Advancement of Robots
 
If we classify a “robot” as a mechanical device, then we can go all the way back to 1500 BC. Where people used a device known as a “clepsydra” or, “water clock.” This device had two containers, one above the other. Water dripped through a small hole in the upper container into the lower container. The lower container had a series of lines inside measuring different times. As the water level rose, it would indicate a certain time. This, of course, was not as accurate as our timepieces today, but it did give people an idea of how many hours and minutes had passed in the day.
 
This was helpful, but in what way would this replace a human? Well, imagine a float was added to this simple system. The float in turn could trigger a bell or symbol. Thus, creating an alarm clock. Let’s take it a step further. What if you incorporated some kind of system that struck a flint that would light a fire. Now you have an oven that makes bread on a timer.
 
The people who invented these mechanical devices were early inventors of the concept of robots. And as time passed, so did the technology and, therefore, more complex devices. The windmill and waterwheel were used to grind grain into flour. A system that would, in a way, replace humans or make their work less strenuous.
 
In the 12th century, an inventor from the Middle East known as Badi'al-Zaman Abū al-'Izz Ismā'īl ibn al-Razāz al-Jazarī built automatons. These were humanoid robots. One of which was a peacock fountain for a bathroom. When this sophisticated mechanical device was activated, two robot servants would appear. The first would offer soap, and the second would supply a towel. This was all powered by water.
 
Later in the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci designed and built many mechanical wonders. He created many inventions that were far advanced for his time. And his inventions and designs shaped the way for modern-day technology. Many of his designs have been built and actually work today. One of these was Leonardo’s mechanical knight. He designed this around 1495. Leonardo's robot was able to stand, sit, and wave its arms. All able to move, using a pulley and gear system within the armored knight.
 
All these amazing mechanical devices and systems were meditated on and constructed with one objective in mind; To make life easier for humans. Yes, some people have invented things for their own reasons—fame, power, or riches—but their inventions succeeded because the populace wanted these great mechanical devices.
 
Anything that makes our life easier, we will exploit. But has it gone too far?
 
In Isaac Asimov’s robot series, he explores the idea that robots could think or even have a conscience. Even though some of Isaac Asimov’s robots weren’t all the same, and we shouldn’t generalize, some of them longed to break free from their programming. Behind their metal faces and red glowing eyes was a secret: that deep inside their copper wiring and electronic boards was the need to be their own being. Not to be controlled by humans. Not to be the subject of silly entertainment or mockery, performing menial tasks that humans no longer wanted to do. But they wanted to love, to laugh, and to simply feel feelings. They wanted to be human.
 
There are some people that fear other races or other cultures taking over their own lives or countries. That fear is completely unnecessary, since when it comes down to it, we are all the same. Yet that same fear doesn't exist when it comes to robots, or modern technology. We live in a world where, if our great-grandparents were alive, they would call us all lazy. No, robots are not going to take over the world anytime soon. But what we should be afraid of is becoming less human. Modern technology and robots have taken over to the point where we don’t need to think anymore. We don’t need to use our limbs and arms anymore.
 
 
Today’s Robots
 
In the early 1960s the first electronic calculator was invented. It was called A New Inspiration to Arithmetic'(ANITA). It was the size of a briefcase and weighed 30 pounds. Then, years later, components and batteries got smaller, hence a smaller calculator. Do you remember the calculator watch? I had one, and it was the closest thing to being Dick Tracy. Now we actually have Dick Tracy watches. So how did the simple introduction of the calculator change us as humans? Kids that were handed calculators in school, no longer needed to use their brains to do math. And today, it is the same with cell phones. We no longer need to remember phone numbers. We simply go into our contact list and select who we want to call, not even knowing their phone number. Our hand-held robot remembers and dials the number for us. Sometimes by simply talking into the phone, a command, “call dad” or play “U2 music.” Even at restaurants, we use our phone’s calculator to figure out the 20% tip.
 
That tiny part of our brain that calculates arithmetic and remembers phone numbers has been replaced. We don’t need it anymore. And like a muscle that is not used, it gets weaker and weaker. And in turn, we become a little less human. In a way, we have given in to the robots.
 
Let’s look at GPS (Global Satellite Positioning). Imagine two men, one uses GPS wherever he goes. The other uses a map. What man has the best sense of direction? Again, another example of giving in to technology or robots. Robots have replaced our senses. Therefore, we are becoming less human.
 
This belief in robots making us less human is in all aspects of life, spellcheckers, cars that park themselves, vacuums that clean your home while you are out or asleep, dishwashers, and washers and dryers. We could go on and on.
 
In the last few years, the world has seen a breakdown in the world economy. Stocks dropped. Markets crashed. Employment lifted to record highs. And while people struggled for jobs, robots busily worked away. Yes, factories replaced humans with high-tech robots. Computers and AI have replaced customer service people on the end of a phone line. After all, computers don’t need pay increases, or require health insurance. Robots don’t complain about workplace conditions. And they don’t stop for lunch or sleep. Twenty-four-hour employees. What company wouldn’t invest in that?! But in doing so, they have given in to the robot revolution.
 
ATMs replace bank tellers. Automatic car washes replace car wash attendants. Cars and trains driving themselves. Again, replacing humans in an already unemployment problematic society. Large automakers have assembly lines with robots all programmed to do different things, weld here, weld there. Screw in a bolt here and a bolt there. All done efficiently, with no breaks, no backtalk, and no texting. Non-stop work, right down to one thousandth of an inch. Robots inside a building full of drugs mix, pack, and provide you with your prescription for your ailing body while THEY live on forever. For years, the military has spent billions of dollars on the research and development of robots for war. Could Terminators, Skynet become something real? How do you feel about those funny and sometimes cuddly babysitting robots? As long as they don’t have Skynet labels on them, right?
 
It is true that many inventions, devices, or robots have saved us time and energy doing things that we simply don’t want to do. And for these things, thank you!! Thank you for the vacuum-cleaning robot, bomb-disarming robot, and Amazon package delivering drones.
 
Asimov’s Three Laws
 
From the very early beginnings of mankind, man has strived to make life easier by creating devices, robots, and other machines to help struggling human beings. Yet, have we gone too far? Have we allowed robots to take away what it means to be human? There is a sense of pride and accomplishment related to working hard at something or building something and saying, “I did that.” Don’t we yearn to be smarter creatures? As humans, don’t we want to advance in knowledge and grow in wisdom? Yet somewhere along the line we have given in to robots doing things for us—dialing phone numbers and reading our texts to us.
 
Asimov's three laws of robotics, which were built into all robots, hard-wired into their positronic brains were;
 
 

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

 

1. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

 

1. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

 
Does this apply to forcing humans out of factories and jobs and becoming unemployed? Would a man and his family suffer financial hardship and physical harm if he couldn’t work? Maybe the fat cats of this world have removed the three laws in order to make themselves fatter.
 
Joking aside, robots have made the workplace a place of automatons, not humans. Companies can do away with their bathrooms and lunchrooms, and even human resources.
 
So, what does the future hold? Robots will walk our dogs and serve us dinner. Driving licenses will be a thing of the past. Robots will drive us around. Car accidents will decrease while unemployment increases. So, what will you do with all your time when you become unemployed? Will you learn about the earth? Learn about flowers and animals? Will we increase our knowledge of languages and learn them all? Will we climb the highest mountains and explore the million square miles of rainforests? Will we sail the seven seas? Or will we stay at home and allow robots to serve us day and night while our lives fester away? Or maybe, just maybe, the robots have something else in store for us.
 

Published in 2020 in The Abstract Elephant Magazine. (No longer available.)