Video Game Imagines Humans Relying On Robots

In the 1950s, Isaac Asimov imagined a future in which sentient robots are built to serve and protect humans, but end up doing the opposite.

Almost seven decades later, artificial intelligence and robotics technologies have brought that scenario closer to the realms of possibility.

Detroit: Become Human, a narrative adventure from experimental studio Quantic Dreams is the latest work to imagine the consequences of relying on such super smart machines.

Set several years in the future, the game takes place in a world where androids have taken over most menial tasks and humans are figuring out what to do with all their leisure time.

The major manufacturer of Replicants, CyberLife, says its machines are safe and under control, and everyone is happy to trust them. But when a small group start to show human-like awareness, fear and resentment grow. Detroit: Become Human gives players control over several of these awakened droids as they form a kind of underground movement and start demanding some rights.

The idea for the game span out from a tech demo named Kara, produced by Quantic Dream in 2012. It showed a robot on a production line who gains sentience as she’s put together. The company’s creative director, David Cage, saw promise in the concept and inspired by the theories of futurist author and scientist Ray Kurzweil, started working on a full game around the idea of droids developing emotions.

In 2016, the company produced a trailer showing an AI cop named Connor attempting to pacify another android who has taken a young girl hostage. The trailer shows several outcomes, depending on player actions, but all emphasise the themes of sentience and emotion, and the potentially deadly friction between humans and robots.

For E3 2017, Quantic Dream revealed a new sequence from the game in which another android character named Marcus has joined a group of rogue robots who have formed a refuge known as Jericho.

They want humans to acknowledge them as equals, to stop exploiting androids as cheap labour, but they’re not sure how to get their message across. Marcus turns out to be a valuable ally: he has the ability to “convert” other androids, cutting them lose from CyberLife control and turning them into thinking beings, just by touching them – one of many subtle religious allusions that seem to litter the game.

The irony of human players taking control of android characters who are rebelling against human masters with ideas about control, subservience, reality and humanity, makes it worth waiting for.

Guardian

You Might Aslo Read:

Virtual Reality – Just Getting Started:

 

« The GDPR Effect On Brexit
Get Ready To Be Dazzled By The GDPR Professionals »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

CyberDefenses

CyberDefenses

CyberDefenses services combine best-in-class cybersecurity oversight, managed services and training to help our clients truly address their cybersecurity challenges.

MadSec Security

MadSec Security

MadSec Security is a leading consulting company whose expertise are information and cyber security.

Applied Risk

Applied Risk

Applied Risk is an established leader in Industrial Control Systems security, focused on critical infrastructure security and combating security breaches that pose a significant threat.

Lumen Technologies

Lumen Technologies

Lumen is an enterprise technology platform that enables companies to capitalize on emerging applications and power the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Ioetec

Ioetec

Ioetec's mission is to connect users to their IoT devices securely, ensuring these devices remain safe to use in our increasingly connected world.

Cloud Managed Networks

Cloud Managed Networks

Cloud Managed Networks provides enterprise grade IT network solutions for cloud-based and on premise network security, Wi-Fi, data switching, collaboration, device management and more.

Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA)

Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA)

EEA is a member-led industry organization whose objective is to drive the use of Ethereum blockchain technology as an open-standard to empower ALL enterprises.

GLESEC

GLESEC

GLESEC offer a complete range of Cyber Security services from Operations & Intelligence Services to Auditing & Compliance and Simulation and Training.

archTIS

archTIS

archTIS specialises in the design and development of products, solutions and services for secure information sharing and collaboration.

Secuna Software Technologies

Secuna Software Technologies

Secuna is the most trusted Cybersecurity Testing Platform in the Philippines. Our pool of vetted security researchers will find and ethically report security vulnerabilities in your product.

GuardYoo

GuardYoo

GuardYoo's SaaS platform allows cybersecurity professionals to perform Compromise Assessment remotely from anywhere in the world.

Aikido Technology Services

Aikido Technology Services

Aikido Technology Services is a leading-edge technology solutions provider, servicing the Pacific North West USA. We offer affordable IT solutions designed to streamline and secure your business.

Total Secure Technology

Total Secure Technology

Total Secure Technology provides trusted Managed IT Security and Managed IT Services for organizations looking to increase their cybersecurity defensive posture.

Liquis Inc.

Liquis Inc.

Liquis, founded in 2002, is one of the largest facility decommissioning services companies in the U.S.

OneStep Group

OneStep Group

OneStep Group are a leading Australian provider of information and communications technology (ICT) services, connecting businesses through technology solutions and support.

COGITANDA Dataprotect

COGITANDA Dataprotect

COGITANDA are a group of companies focused on dealing with cyber risks, managing them and insuring them.