Nowadays, robots rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to make autonomous decisions, but their decision-making processes are often rigid, lacking flexibility and human emotions. Marieke van Otterdijk, a researcher at the RITMO Center in Oslo, Norway, points out that "most human decisions are intuitive, while current robots are unable to achieve this." In her upcoming PhD defense in December, she will explore how to develop a sense of "intuition" for robots.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, licensed through Midjourney
Van Otterdijk's research focuses on the interaction between humans and robots, particularly the role of human intuition in this dynamic. In her experiments, when she brought a robot to a nursing home, the robot first introduced itself and shook hands with the residents.
Many elderly individuals seemed to understand the robot's intentions, but some expressed fear, worrying about potential harm. She found that people generally found it relatively easy to interpret the robot's behavior, but became confused when the robot exhibited actions consistent with human behavior.
In her observations, many elderly residents indicated that they did not want robots to replace human caregivers, but after interacting with the robot, their fears were somewhat alleviated. Van Otterdijk emphasizes that robots should serve as assistive tools rather than replacements for humans. However, there are ethical questions to consider for the future, such as how decisions should be made when faced with choices. She posed a question: if a robot offers food to an elderly person who does not want to eat, should it follow the individual's wishes or societal expectations?
Despite the ongoing advancements in robotics technology, the unique intuitive capabilities of humans continue to create significant differences in decision-making between humans and machines.
Key Points:
✨ Human decisions are often based on intuition, while robots rely on fixed algorithms and cannot adapt flexibly.
🤖 Researchers are exploring the possibility of developing intuition for robots to enhance their adaptability.
⚖️ Future considerations involve the role of robots in moral decision-making and how to balance individual wishes with societal expectations.