Preyro robot experiment could enable robots to better mimic animals, kill us all

It's kind of strange, really, how we can see just how near the end is, yet these so-called geniuses employed within the realm of academia are totally oblivious to their own evil deeds. Take cognitive science professor John Long, for instance, who is currently conducting a Preyro robot experiment in a Vassar College lab that intends to "allow robots to mimic animals far better than before." To him, he's just hoping to study evolutionary patterns in order to better understand how certain tweaks to things like fins and tails affect performance in the place we call reality. Though, there's a very real possibility that this research could accelerate the impending robot apocalypse by at least a score. Oh, what we'd give to be incognizant of the truth.

[dajimmers @ Jun 1st 2009 6:50AM]

Really, Preyro? Could they have found a name more wrought with connotations? We'll be the thing's prey. We'll pray for our lives when it catches us. We'll pray to it once it's enslaved us. I wouldn't have kids if I were you.

[malexandria @ Jun 1st 2009 6:55AM]

I'm with you, no good is going to come from creating smart Robots, Nanotech, and Cloning. "Luckily" we'll probably all be dead by the time any of this reaches chaos theory stage. Don't know why these people insist on pursuing this technology don't they read or watch movies? Probably not, too busy creating the future.

[Quantumphysics @ Jun 1st 2009 7:31AM]

If humans create robots that can think and reason, they should be able to in turn, create even better robots and technology since they have the ability to instantly design and virtualy test theories.

I can't wait !

[Samboini @ Jun 1st 2009 7:36AM]

They also have the ability to kill us in a more excruciating manner; let's hope the scientists behind these developments hardcode the 3 rules deep into their genetics!

[colouroflight @ Jun 1st 2009 11:38AM]

Movies are not real. Strong AI will be humanity's greatest accomplishment and catapult our civilization forward like we cannot imagine.

[Cj @ Jun 1st 2009 6:55AM]

Skynet's sea coverage. Check

[superhobo @ Jun 1st 2009 7:03AM]

It's not even funny now, you know :-/

[Nick B @ Jun 1st 2009 7:53AM]

Nice! I just graduated from Vassar two weeks ago. I never took a course with John Long but I did take a number of courses in the cog sci department (having avoided a cog sci major in order to avoid one course that he happened to teach) but I'm glad he's in the news!

[Joe K. @ Jun 1st 2009 7:58AM]

My only memory of Vassar was the time their women's 8 ran their shell right into the pedestrian bridge at the Head of the Charles. Hope this device does not meet the same fate...

[Agent .25i @ Jun 1st 2009 8:53AM]

Wow. This joke is running lame now.

[Alex G @ Jun 1st 2009 8:59AM]

yay. my alma mater

[andy @ Jun 1st 2009 9:55AM]

"if you can hear this, you are the resistance"

[AJ @ Jun 1st 2009 11:05AM]

It's not going to go the Terminator route, people... it's going to be high tech Piracy..

That's right, I'm on to you Mr. Long John.. *wink and the gun*

[adam @ Jun 1st 2009 11:47AM]

"Accelerate the impending robot apocalypse by at least a score." A score of what? Roombas? Picoseconds? T600s?

[OLight @ Jun 1st 2009 1:15PM]

I, for one, welcome our poorly-named, swimming, college-themed, electronic overlords.

[kingfisher9704 @ Jun 5th 2009 8:26PM]

I was in one of Dr. Long's classes this year. I'd say he's pretty aware of the dangers, both real and philisophical, of evolving robots into human eating tyrants. Were he to nuture such a robot, i'd say it would be a decent robot, even if it ate people, because I imagine the robot would pick up some of professor long's sense of humour and fairness. I may keep an emp bomb at hand while i'm at vassar, just in case :)