Robots, especially those taking on humanoid forms, evoke various emotions—from fear to curiosity and even a desire for friendship. In our upcoming HumanTech Meeting, we will delve into the ethical considerations surrounding the creation of androids. Join us as we navigate this complex issue our distinguished guests, Dr. Kamil Mamak and Dr. David J. Gunkel.
Robot Ethics
Is the development of human-like robots a boundary-pushing endeavor, akin to playing God? Or is it merely facilitating our interaction with machines? These questions are at the heart of the first of this year's HumanTech Meetings, where we confront the dilemmas associated with humanoid robots. Renowned specialists, Dr. Kamil Mamak from the University of Helsinki and Jagiellonian University, and Dr. David J. Gunkel from the University of Northern Illinois, will share their expertise.
The lectures will be followed by a panel discussion, exploring the latest report by the HumanTech Center and the IDEAS NCBR Ltd, titled "What do Poles think about robots?" moderated by Dr. Krzysztof Walas.
Dr. Konrad Maj, Head of the Center for Social and Technological Innovation HumanTech at SWPS University, will open the meeting.
Lectures will be held in Polish and English and will be translated simultaneously.
The event is held under the auspices of Strefa Technologii (Technology Zone) of SWPS University
HumanTech Meetings
We live in an era of innovation, technological progress and digitalization. This current innovation drive may lead to unpredictable psychological and social outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to establish collaborations between engineers, programmers, IT specialists and social scientists during initial phases of any new projects related to development of new technologies or services. Such collaborations may help to avoid mistakes and can support better development of new ideas.
The project is planned as a series of meetings, gathering academics and professionals from the technology sector from Poland and other countries. Each meeting will include two lectures, one delivered by a speaker from Poland and one presented by a guest from another country. The lectures will be followed by panel discussions, where panelists will represent different approaches to innovation and technology.
HumanTech Meetings is a project of SWPS University's Center for Social and Technological Innovation.
-
Kamil Mamak: Ethics of Human-Like Robot Design
Explore the historical roots of creating synthetic humans, tracing back to ancient myths where gods breathed life into artificial beings. The term “robot” gained prominence with Karel Čapek's drama R.U.R. (Rossumovi Univerzální Roboti), envisioning beings crafted from artificial tissue to serve humans. Recent strides in robotics are turning this once-fictional concept into reality, with major companies announcing the development of humanoid robots applicable in various sectors, from police force to healthcare, and even areas like companionship. This lecture delves into the ethical implications stemming from the striking resemblance of androids to humans and our inclination to anthropomorphize them. It operates under the premise that design choices are not neutral and should be scrutinized to ensure that these creations align with human values. As robots transition from conceptual to physical entities, potential challenges must be addressed before widespread implementation. The lecture focuses on specific ethical issues, offering practical recommendations to enhance the alignment of robots with human values.
-
David J. Gunkel: Person, Thing, Robot
Robots are a curious sort of thing. On the one hand, they are designed and manufactured technological artifacts. They are things. Yet, and on the other hand, these things are not quite like other things. They seem to have social presence. They are able to talk and interact with us. And many are designed to mimic or simulate the capabilities and behaviors that are commonly associated with human or animal intelligence. Robots therefore invite and encourage zoomorphism, anthropomorphism, and even personification. In his new book Person, Thing, Robot (MIT Press, 2023), David J. Gunkel sets out to answer the vexing question: What exactly is a robot? Rather than try to fit robots into the existing moral and legal categories by way of arguing for either their reification or personification, however, Gunkel argues for a revolutionary reformulation of the entire system, developing a new approach to technology ethics that can scale to the unique opportunities and challenges of the twenty-first century and beyond.
Keynote Speakers
David J. Gunkel
Ph.D.
David J. Gunkel is an award-winning educator, researcher, and author, specializing in the philosophy of technology with a focus on the moral and legal challenges of artificial intelligence and robots. He is the author of over 90 scholarly articles and has published thirteen books, including Thinking Otherwise: Philosophy, Communication, Technology (Purdue University Press 2007), The Machine Question: Critical Perspectives on AI, Robots, and Ethics (MIT Press 2012), Of Remixology: Ethics and Aesthetics After Remix (MIT Press 2016), Robot Rights (MIT Press 2018), and Person, Thing, Robot: A Moral and Legal Ontology for the 21st Century and Beyond (MIT Press 2023). He currently holds the position of Presidential Research, Scholarship and Artistry Professor in the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University (USA) and Associate Professor of Applied Ethics at Lazarski University in Warsaw, Poland.
Kamil Mamak
Ph.D.
Kamil Mamak is a philosopher, lawyer, and postdoctoral researcher at the RADAR (Robophilosophy, AI Ethics, and Datafication) research group, University of Helsinki. Additionally, he holds the position of Assistant Professor at Jagiellonian University and Member of the Board of the Kraków Institute of Criminal Law. He holds doctoral degrees in law and philosophy. Dr. Mamak authored four books, including Robotics, AI, and Criminal Law: Crimes against Robots, published by Routledge in 2023. He has published more than 40 book chapters and peer-reviewed articles in international journals, including the European Journal of Criminology, Ethics and Information Technology, International Journal of Social Robotics, AI & Society, Medicine, Healthcare, and Philosophy, Science and Engineering Ethics, European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, Frontiers in Robotics and AI, and Criminal Justice Studies. He received a research grant from the National Science Center in Poland. He is a recipient of the scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for outstanding young scientists and the 2023 Scientific Award presented by Polityka, major Polish weekly socio-political magazine.