Robots that Make Mistakes
2014.05.22
Visionary : Guy HOFFMAN
Why We Will Love Robots that Make Mistakes
Most of us conceptualize robots as precise, zero-fault and uncreative machines that simply do as they are told, quickly and efficiently. We also tend to think the robots that do not fit into this neat description would lead to a horrendous robot apocalypse. Guy Hoffman, a roboticist whose colorful experience ranges from animation, acting to jazz music, questions this assumption by developing robots that "think with their bodies", plan less, improvise more and take chances, even at the risk of making mistakes. He tells us this makes for robots that people actually prefer, and that may better fit our homes, offices, schools and hospitals. Technology is not necessarily a quest for perfection – and the fact that we prefer less than perfect technology may teach us something important about human nature.