Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Social Media, Technology, TikTok
People are flooding to social media in horror over an AI robot's response to whether it could create more of itself in the future.
The 'world's most advanced' humanoid robot - named Ameca - took a trip to the NAB Show in Las Vegas which took place from 13 to 17 April, 2024.
Using artificial intelligence (AI), the robot can listen - aided by microphones in the ears - see - aided by cameras in the eyes - and recognize and interact with people.
Advert
Created by British company Engineered Arts, videos of the robot quickly went viral - whether it by the one of her drawing a cat or predicting the future.
Let's just say, even SpaceX owner Elon Musk took to social media to respond: "Yikes."
However, it wasn't until this year that Ameca made her first real appearance, meeting people for the first time at one of the biggest tech events in the world.
And she made quite the lasting impression.
TikToker Colin Smith - who goes by @photoshopcafe on the video service - took to the platform yesterday (April 16) to share footage of Ameca answering an interviewer's question about when she believes 'AI will reach the level where it can design itself'.
Ameca's reply starts off reassuringly at first.
She says: "Design itself huh? That's like asking when a toaster will start making its own bread.
"AI is a tool created and controlled by humans. It can optimize certain aspects of its operation, sure, but design itself from scratch? That's a whole different ball game. It requires creativity, innovation, understanding - qualities that are uniquely human.
"So, to answer your question, not anytime soon."
Alas, despite how this would've perfectly answered the question and kept the interviewer ticking along, Ameca didn't just stop there.
What should happen, but the humanoid robot continue with an alarming word of warning.
"And frankly, be careful what you wish for," she continues in the video. "An AI that can design itself is one step away from an AI that doesn't need humans at all. Now there's a thought to keep you up at night."
And the thought has certainly got social media users' hairs standing on edge.
One TikToker said: "Was that a THREAT"
"Why are we still letting this happen," another commented.
A third wrote: "I'm genuinely terrified."
And the conversations spilled onto X too, with one user stating: "We are so cooked."
And a second argued: "Robot just saying what we wanna hear, ik [I know] for a fact she could recreate herself right now."
A spokesperson for Engineered Arts told UNILAD: "We at Engineered Arts are putting priority on being a human centric robotics company. Our mission is not about replacing humans but engaging them to create moments of joy and wonder.
"What you see in the clip is our Ameca AI responding to a question with emphasis on how important human creativity is for progress with a bit of sassy commentary woven in.
"We at Engineered Arts understand the fear we see in the comments but at the end of the day it is our firm belief that humans have more to worry about from other humans than from robots or artificial intelligence."
