Who's Afraid of Robots? A Historical Journey Through AI and Human-Machine Relationships

Explore the fascinating history and complex relationship between humans and intelligent machines in this 49-minute lecture delivered at Barnard's Inn Hall, London. Journey through thousands of years of human fascination with artificial beings, from ancient Greek mythology and the legend of Talos to technological innovations in Hellenistic Alexandria. Examine automata across different cultures, the famous Mechanical Turk, and draw parallels to modern AI developments. Delve into psychological aspects like emotional connections with machines and the uncanny valley phenomenon, before investigating contemporary developments in cyborgs and bionics. Learn from IT Livery Company Professor Victoria Baines, a distinguished scholar with affiliations to Cambridge, Oxford, and Stanford universities, as she challenges the notion that AI is purely a modern invention and examines humanity's enduring ambivalence toward creating machines in our own image.

Syllabus

// Introduction: Who's Afraid of Robots?
// Ancient Automata in Greek Mythology
// The Legend of Talos
// Technological Innovations in Hellenistic Alexandria
// Automata in Different Cultures
// The Mechanical Turk
// Modern AI Parallels
// Emotional Connections with Machines
// The Uncanny Valley
// Cyborgs and Bionics
// Who's Afraid of Robots?
// Conclusion and Future Outlook