Wires connected to the Sleep Dealers that control the robots in the US
(Sleep Dealer 2015)
Sleep Dealer Factory
(Moura 2012)
Dr. Vesna talked about robotics and art, and how art was used to help create these powerful machines (Vesna, 2012). The creator of these robots had a vision of a world where there were no migrant workers, but rather workers controlling robots remotely. In fact, so many of these identical robots were created to the point that it was impossible to distinguish the new robots from the original. Douglas’ article, which states that, “there is no clear conceptual distinction now between original and reproduction in virtually any medium based in film, electronics, or telecommunications” (Douglas 1995) The fact that the robot became so standardized complements the fact that the demand for cheap labor led to the mass production of robots. The production of these robots was probably inspired by art like that of theater or in Marry Shelley’s Frankenstein novel (Vesna 2012). The robots were not distinguishable from one another, which relates to the reading by Walter Benjamin about the destruction of the uniqueness of through mass production (Benjamin 2008).
Robots used in Sleep Dealer
(Pestañín 2014)
Industrialization in the movie impacted society in two ways. First, it showed that robotics could lead to efficiency in the United States, which was true in the real world. On the other hand, it shows that robots can be harmful to society. In fact, physicist Steven Hawking said “Computers will overtake humans with AI at some within the next 100 years. When that happens, we need to make sure the computers have goals aligned with ours," (Gaudin 2015). Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, stated that, “With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon” (Mack 2014). It is important to find a balance between robotics and human control. Additionally, as portrayed in Sleep Dealer, mechanization can be dangerous and should be controlled to prevent sacrificing the individuality of humanity.
What we think of as "robots"
(Robot 2012)
A portrayal of when artificial intelligence becomes dangerous
(Terminator 2016)
Citations:
Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.
Davis, Douglas. “The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction.” The MIT Press, 1995. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. <http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1576221 uid=3739560&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101286048881>.
Gaudin, Sharon. "Stephen Hawking Fears Robots Could Take over in 100 Years." Computerworld. 14 May 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. <http://www.computerworld.com/article/2922442/robotics/stephen-hawking-fears-robots-could-take-over-in-100-years.html>.
Mack, Eric. "Elon Musk: 'We Are Summoning the Demon' with Artificial Intelligence." CNET. 26 Oct. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. <http://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-we-are-summoning-the-demon-with-artificial-intelligence/>.
Moura, Hudson. "Nothingness in Alex Rivera's Sleep Dealer: An Analytical Essay." Reflection & Film. 5 Jan. 2012. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. <http://reflectionandfilm.blogspot.com/2012/01/nothingness-in-alex-riveras-sleep.html>.
Pestañín. "Sleep Dealer (2008)." 22 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. <http://www.masalladehollywood.com/index.php/criticas/839-sleep-dealer-2008>.
"Robot MiP Blanc WowWee." Acheter Un Sur Robot Advance. 2012. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. <http://www.robot-advance.com/art-robot-mip-blanc-wowwee-1281.htm>.
"Sleep Dealer." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_Dealer>.
"Terminator Genisys (2015)." Dailymotion. 2016. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. <http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2xs9ll>.
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics.” Cole UC online. Youtube, 9 April 2012. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
I think the point about mechanization is interesting in that it is what bring the software and the artificial intelligence into our world, at least in the sense that most people consider it. From the art's perspective, physical forms actually came first, representing human's desire to replicate its own kind. The advancement in technology only bring the dream closer to our reach. For the potential harm AI may bring to the human kind, I have always wondered about its possibility. Undoubtedly, AI is powerful, but the capability of AI depends on not only the extraordinary software and fast hardware platform, but also on the connectivity of other devices. Even in the united states, not all hardware are online, and therefore to prevent the harm of AI there seems to have a lot can be done.
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