. A robot that is extremely angry and gets angry about even the smallest thing is being developed by New Zealand’s software marketing solutions company Touchpoint Group Ltd. They are creating an artificial intelligence which is self-deprecating, selfish, anxious, cowardly, manipulative, deceitful and paranoid. Robots will never be happy. The robot will be more angry than any rush-hour driver stuck in traffic for the past 90 hours, furious as Howard Hughes, surrounded by harassing paparazzis and frustrated like a customer who’s been on hold for more than an hour. The Australian reports that the Auckland-based firm is working with one Australia’s four largest banks to improve the understanding of customers. Touchstone has invested $500,000 into the project. Is it right to create an artificial intelligence that reflects all our worst characteristics? An artificial intelligence that collects data from hundreds and thousands of customers. The program of the robot will include two years worth of calls made to Australian banks. They plan to create a device capable of simulating hundreds of customer interactions. The device will be used by staff to practice customer relations skills and allow them to use it. Radiant is the project, which might remind Asimov-lovers of Prime Radiant. It’s a book about a supercomputer called ‘Radiant,’ that predicted future behavior for large numbers of people. It is possible to wonder why people would need machines that could tell them why others behave in certain ways. Some may see this as another way to replace flesh, blood, and bones with circuits and chips. According to the Australian, Mr. van de Velden stated that the goal was to create an AI engine capable of recommending solutions for companies. This refers to the employees at the frontline who can help customers with particular problems. Our AI engine will learn from a wide range of interactions, allowing us to make this possible. This is very hard. Banks receive an awful lot of data each day. It reaches a point when the data becomes overwhelming and meaningless, unless it is interpreted. Radiant is the answer.” Hawking’s warning now becoming a reality. It is unclear how Stephen Hawking, the British theoretical physicist and cosmologist might view this creation. Is he going to see this as the beginning of our inevitable doom? He has repeatedly warned that artificial intelligence with its capacity to develop and upgrade faster than human beings through natural evolution could lead to the demise of civilization and even our survival as an species. Professor Hawking said once that full artificial intelligence may lead to the demise of humanity. Imagine an artificial intelligence which starts as an accumulation and then becomes capable of achieving its goals on its own.
