Researchers claim to have developed robotic AI on par with a puppy

The robot uprising, it inches ever closer -- researchers working on the EU-funded COSPAL project have developed a new robotic AI that they say is the most advanced of its type ever created. Using both learning neural AI techniques and traditional rules-based AI as a control mechanism, the robot can be trained "like a child or a puppy," and has managed to figure out simple sorting tasks on its own. The next step is to try and integrate the system into a car that can adjust to unforeseen driving conditions, but the researchers in charge aren't worried about creating an army of KARRs set to mow us all down -- according to researcher Michael Felsberg, adult-level AI based on this system probably won't happen in our lifetimes. On the other hand, we've heard machines will match us by 2029 -- that'll be a fun debate to have when we're all slaving away in the robo-mines.

[Apologies for the terrible photo -- sure, COSPAL can develop puppy-level AI, but they're apparently still rocking a QuickTake 100.]

Read - Physorg article on the COSPAL robot
Read - COSPAL site

[vipin @ Mar 21st 2008 4:36PM]

fucking skynet.

[Onetruebill @ Mar 21st 2008 11:45PM]

Don't worry...
It will pee on the carpet and short itself out.

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 21st 2008 4:40PM]

They're building them so one day they can fight them.

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 21st 2008 4:40PM]

and "When" they loose.....

[Dude @ Mar 21st 2008 4:52PM]

...they'll get "tight"

[PhilxBefore @ Mar 21st 2008 4:47PM]

"Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug."

[Nate @ Mar 21st 2008 4:56PM]

I'll be impressed after it learns how to land nussies at the pub on friday nights.

[obiwan @ Mar 21st 2008 4:56PM]

I don't know whether to welcome my puppy-brained master or rub its nose in the carpet for what it did.

[Vesh @ Mar 21st 2008 5:12PM]

Despite what Knight Rider would have you believe, we all know KARR really stands for Kill And Repeat Robot.

[MBS @ Mar 21st 2008 5:12PM]

Like we need a robot to chew up our sneakers and pee on the carpet?

[Paul Hildebrandt @ Mar 21st 2008 5:24PM]

Yeah, and they will be able to act like puppies too, not just children.

[Dennis @ Mar 21st 2008 7:26PM]

@Paul Hildebrandt:
What the hell kind of children do you have?

[Paul Hildebrandt @ Mar 21st 2008 7:34PM]

Boys

[For2itous @ Mar 21st 2008 5:24PM]

Hoards of puppy-brained auto-matons navigating our interstates? Reminds me of those old SNL sketches with 'Toonces The Driving Cat', an invariable unsurvivable crash the jarring coda to every episode.

[mattwier @ Mar 21st 2008 5:32PM]

Dude it's cool as long as Big Willy Smith is still alive, he's saved the world like 23 times, he's pretty much my hero.

[Ankan Bhowmick @ Mar 21st 2008 6:26PM]

Yes. He is legend.

[Coolmatt49 @ Mar 21st 2008 5:41PM]

Forever Puppies!

[Rick @ Mar 21st 2008 5:47PM]

I hope it doesn't leave puddles of hydraulic fluid on the floor when it gets startled.

[Alex @ Mar 21st 2008 7:27PM]

I for one... Ah screw it.

[Sintacks @ Mar 21st 2008 11:21PM]

remember that the adult film industry harnesses every form of technology first. peanut butter anyone?

[John @ Mar 22nd 2008 12:48AM]

People, it has already started. Mark your calendars, the robot uprising started here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article3591734.ece

[Jef @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:46AM]

AI does not include morals, just rules. What happens when the robot thinks for itself and causes some type of mishap, crime, accident, etc? I think a mishap ending in personal injury would be more likely. Who do you sue/blame? Since the person did not tell the robot to do something, how can you blame them? Should be fun for lawyers to figure out. Luckily, I don't have to worry about that for now.

http://www.jackventurilaw.com

[sevendegrees @ Mar 22nd 2008 11:08AM]

i welcome our new robotic underlings while i still have the advantage, and hope that when they shove these into cars they wont be able to govern our speed

[Jon @ Mar 23rd 2008 2:42PM]

They want to take something with the intelligence of a "child or puppy" and put it in my car to help me drive?

I've seen teenagers drive... believe me it's enough to make you stay off the roads so I can't see that a small child is going to make my driving safer. Having said that, a 'small child' robot won't be texting while driving, weaving all over the road cos "there's Brittany... hey Brittany!" or trying to impress their robot friends.