1 00:00:02,042 --> 00:00:03,125 WILLIAM SHATNER: Intelligent machines 2 00:00:03,292 --> 00:00:05,542 designed to improve human life... 3 00:00:05,708 --> 00:00:08,333 deadly mechanical soldiers 4 00:00:08,500 --> 00:00:11,375 in our skies and on the front lines... 5 00:00:12,583 --> 00:00:15,000 ...and sophisticated robots 6 00:00:15,125 --> 00:00:19,958 invented centuries before modern technology. 7 00:00:20,917 --> 00:00:24,000 Since the dawn of civilization, 8 00:00:24,167 --> 00:00:26,958 mankind has been fascinated 9 00:00:27,125 --> 00:00:29,250 with the idea of creating mechanical servants 10 00:00:29,375 --> 00:00:32,375 to help with our workload, provide amusement 11 00:00:32,542 --> 00:00:34,458 and even to protect us. 12 00:00:34,583 --> 00:00:38,167 And today, what was once fiction is becoming fact 13 00:00:38,375 --> 00:00:42,500 as scientists and engineers successfully design and create 14 00:00:42,708 --> 00:00:48,250 all types of intelligent robots that can do just about anything. 15 00:00:48,375 --> 00:00:51,000 But what will our future look like 16 00:00:51,167 --> 00:00:54,333 as A.I. and technology advance? 17 00:00:54,542 --> 00:00:57,833 Are we, perhaps, on the, on the precipice 18 00:00:57,958 --> 00:00:59,458 of a robot revolution? 19 00:00:59,625 --> 00:01:04,083 And if so, will our clever creations save humanity... 20 00:01:05,542 --> 00:01:07,250 ...or destroy it? 21 00:01:08,250 --> 00:01:10,625 Well, that is what we'll try and find out. 22 00:01:10,708 --> 00:01:12,708 ♪ ♪ 23 00:01:28,792 --> 00:01:32,792 SHATNER: Nearly 1,500 international exhibitors gather 24 00:01:32,958 --> 00:01:35,125 for the New York World's Fair. 25 00:01:35,292 --> 00:01:38,250 Throngs of people watch in amazement 26 00:01:38,417 --> 00:01:41,000 to see a futuristic innovation 27 00:01:41,125 --> 00:01:43,083 from the Westinghouse Corporation 28 00:01:43,250 --> 00:01:46,250 that garners significant attention. 29 00:01:46,458 --> 00:01:52,000 It's a seven-foot-tall humanoid robot named Elektro. 30 00:01:52,167 --> 00:01:54,250 And here he comes, ladies and gentlemen, 31 00:01:54,417 --> 00:01:57,292 walking up to greet you under his own power. 32 00:01:57,458 --> 00:02:00,542 TOK THOMPSON: In 1939, the company Westinghouse, 33 00:02:00,708 --> 00:02:03,000 which made a lot of electrical appliances, 34 00:02:03,208 --> 00:02:07,250 debuted the, um, their robot, um, Elektro, 35 00:02:07,417 --> 00:02:10,458 and then, later on, introduced his pet dog Sparko. 36 00:02:10,583 --> 00:02:13,458 The dog could go into a begging position, 37 00:02:13,583 --> 00:02:16,167 it could bark, it could sit on command. 38 00:02:16,292 --> 00:02:19,000 So, this guy looked like a classic robot, 39 00:02:19,125 --> 00:02:20,458 like you would see in the old movies. 40 00:02:20,583 --> 00:02:23,208 ELEKTRO: Ladies and gentlemen. 41 00:02:23,375 --> 00:02:25,417 THOMPSON: He could speak, he could smoke, 42 00:02:25,583 --> 00:02:27,792 he could respond to questions. 43 00:02:28,792 --> 00:02:30,875 And folks, he's only two years old, too. 44 00:02:31,042 --> 00:02:32,667 Just learning. 45 00:02:32,792 --> 00:02:34,000 And people loved it. 46 00:02:34,208 --> 00:02:37,208 People loved the idea that this was the future. 47 00:02:37,375 --> 00:02:39,333 SHATNER The reality is, 48 00:02:39,542 --> 00:02:44,375 a human being was required to operate Elektro and Sparko. 49 00:02:44,542 --> 00:02:48,167 But their impressive debut in 1939 50 00:02:48,292 --> 00:02:51,250 presented the possibility of a future 51 00:02:51,375 --> 00:02:54,750 where programmable, intelligent machines-- 52 00:02:54,875 --> 00:02:56,500 or "robots"-- 53 00:02:56,667 --> 00:03:01,250 would live side by side with humans to enhance our lives. 54 00:03:02,875 --> 00:03:06,417 Well, that future is now. 55 00:03:07,417 --> 00:03:09,250 I'm not sure people understand 56 00:03:09,458 --> 00:03:13,208 how prevalent robots are in our world right now. 57 00:03:13,417 --> 00:03:16,208 There's probably about, you know, more than four million 58 00:03:16,375 --> 00:03:18,375 operational robots in the world. 59 00:03:20,292 --> 00:03:23,333 And that's just the industrial robots. 60 00:03:23,500 --> 00:03:26,292 People are aware and not surprised 61 00:03:26,417 --> 00:03:29,167 to see some sort of robot helper 62 00:03:29,250 --> 00:03:31,542 in an airport 63 00:03:31,708 --> 00:03:33,708 or in a kitchen 64 00:03:33,917 --> 00:03:36,000 or in a convention center 65 00:03:36,167 --> 00:03:38,250 or in a hotel reception. 66 00:03:40,083 --> 00:03:44,250 SHATNER: Has science and technology surpassed the futuristic vision 67 00:03:44,417 --> 00:03:48,500 of robotics from the 1930s, '40s and '50s? 68 00:03:48,667 --> 00:03:51,167 Well, the fact is, 69 00:03:51,333 --> 00:03:53,875 smart machines have firmly integrated 70 00:03:54,042 --> 00:03:57,667 into every aspect of our lives for quite some time. 71 00:03:57,750 --> 00:04:02,333 Programmable tools perform precision surgeries, 72 00:04:02,542 --> 00:04:06,375 self-driving taxis shuttle people around 73 00:04:06,542 --> 00:04:10,667 and automated computers help grow our food, 74 00:04:10,875 --> 00:04:13,292 entertain us 75 00:04:13,458 --> 00:04:16,542 and even clean our homes. 76 00:04:17,708 --> 00:04:21,250 TRAVIS KELLERMAN: The promise of robots is a workforce 77 00:04:21,375 --> 00:04:24,042 that would replace ours. 78 00:04:24,167 --> 00:04:26,250 A workforce that would take on the tasks 79 00:04:26,417 --> 00:04:30,333 that humans, frankly, should not be doing, 80 00:04:30,542 --> 00:04:33,500 Tasks that are too dangerous. 81 00:04:34,417 --> 00:04:37,292 A robot could be put in harm's way, 82 00:04:37,458 --> 00:04:40,583 it could handle dangerous chemicals 83 00:04:40,708 --> 00:04:43,625 or go into dangerous construction places... 84 00:04:44,583 --> 00:04:45,875 ...where we know there is a higher risk 85 00:04:46,042 --> 00:04:47,333 of humans being hurt. 86 00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:50,000 SHATNER: The creation of a technology 87 00:04:50,208 --> 00:04:52,208 that can improve the quality of human life 88 00:04:52,375 --> 00:04:54,333 is an extraordinary feat. 89 00:04:56,375 --> 00:05:00,792 But what happens when our mechanical helpers 90 00:05:00,958 --> 00:05:02,875 start to look like us? 91 00:05:03,042 --> 00:05:05,375 WHITE: We're starting to see 92 00:05:05,583 --> 00:05:08,417 the rise-- the significant rise-- 93 00:05:08,625 --> 00:05:12,750 of the humanoid robot things that look like 94 00:05:12,875 --> 00:05:16,000 what you might expect out of sci-fi films. 95 00:05:16,208 --> 00:05:17,708 These machines are starting to be able 96 00:05:17,875 --> 00:05:21,833 to evaluate for themselves and think for themselves. 97 00:05:22,833 --> 00:05:26,125 It is the world of artificial intelligence 98 00:05:26,292 --> 00:05:28,542 and robotics that we're moving into. 99 00:05:28,708 --> 00:05:31,583 And that is a significant change, 100 00:05:31,750 --> 00:05:33,875 um, and it's happening right now. 101 00:06:11,542 --> 00:06:13,667 SHATNER: Just how close are we 102 00:06:13,833 --> 00:06:17,750 to having humanoid robotic helpers in our homes? 103 00:06:17,958 --> 00:06:21,833 Recently, a company called Clone Robotics showcased 104 00:06:22,042 --> 00:06:25,500 a highly advanced robot equipped with synthetic muscles 105 00:06:25,625 --> 00:06:29,375 that mimics human movement almost perfectly. 106 00:06:29,583 --> 00:06:33,208 As robotics develop a lifelike appearance, 107 00:06:33,375 --> 00:06:37,750 how far will biological humans go to integrate 108 00:06:37,875 --> 00:06:43,042 these mechanical creations into their everyday lives? 109 00:06:50,417 --> 00:06:54,000 This 400-year-old Zen Buddhist shrine 110 00:06:54,167 --> 00:06:58,417 would appear to be disconnected from the modern world. 111 00:06:58,583 --> 00:07:01,917 But inside this serene sanctum, 112 00:07:02,042 --> 00:07:05,125 followers listen intently to the sermons 113 00:07:05,292 --> 00:07:07,833 of a thoroughly futurist monk: 114 00:07:08,042 --> 00:07:13,292 a 132 pound, six-foot four-inch robotic priest 115 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:15,917 known as Mindar. 116 00:07:16,042 --> 00:07:17,625 (speaking Japanese) 117 00:07:17,792 --> 00:07:21,917 Mindar, this synthetic humanoid robot, 118 00:07:22,042 --> 00:07:25,167 is located in the main hall of the temple, 119 00:07:25,375 --> 00:07:26,500 and when people enter, 120 00:07:26,667 --> 00:07:29,958 they can hear 25-minute-long sermons 121 00:07:30,125 --> 00:07:32,625 on the meaning of emptiness, 122 00:07:32,792 --> 00:07:35,458 the meaning of compassion, 123 00:07:35,542 --> 00:07:37,833 which are cardinal virtues in Buddhism. 124 00:07:38,042 --> 00:07:42,208 The fact that it is in the shape of a robot 125 00:07:42,375 --> 00:07:44,125 doesn't seem to take away from its impact. 126 00:07:44,250 --> 00:07:46,083 In fact, it might even increase it, 127 00:07:46,208 --> 00:07:48,833 especially with young worshipers. 128 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,250 For some people, listening to a robot, uh, repeat a prayer, 129 00:07:52,417 --> 00:07:55,708 um, is a way of engaging with their spirituality. 130 00:07:55,875 --> 00:07:57,542 So for a lot of religious organizations, 131 00:07:57,708 --> 00:08:00,167 this is just a different way of reaching the masses. 132 00:08:00,375 --> 00:08:01,583 (Mindar speaking Japanese) 133 00:08:01,750 --> 00:08:03,542 TONY McMAHON: In the Catholic Church, 134 00:08:03,708 --> 00:08:07,458 there has been developed a Roman Catholic robot saint 135 00:08:07,583 --> 00:08:09,333 called SanTO. 136 00:08:09,500 --> 00:08:12,833 Stands about 17 inches high. 137 00:08:13,042 --> 00:08:16,542 The faithful are able to talk to SanTO, 138 00:08:16,708 --> 00:08:20,458 and it answers their theological questions 139 00:08:20,542 --> 00:08:24,167 and it also responds to their prayers. 140 00:08:24,292 --> 00:08:25,458 (SanTO speaking Italian) 141 00:08:25,625 --> 00:08:27,792 McMAHON: Now, the Roman Catholic faithful 142 00:08:27,958 --> 00:08:30,667 have actually quite taken to it. 143 00:08:30,875 --> 00:08:34,708 The march of the religious robots seems unstoppable. 144 00:08:34,875 --> 00:08:39,083 SHATNER: It's remarkable that robots have started to guide humanity 145 00:08:39,250 --> 00:08:41,708 in our own search for meaning. 146 00:08:41,875 --> 00:08:45,458 But as our mechanical servants become more advanced every year, 147 00:08:45,625 --> 00:08:48,125 many experts wonder, are we creating 148 00:08:48,333 --> 00:08:53,167 a race of intelligent beings that could one day control us? 149 00:08:54,917 --> 00:08:56,708 WHITE: It's a new age of robotics 150 00:08:56,875 --> 00:08:58,500 that we're gonna have to navigate 151 00:08:58,708 --> 00:09:00,583 and get used to being in. 152 00:09:00,750 --> 00:09:04,667 And it's so early trying to work out 153 00:09:04,875 --> 00:09:06,833 whether those fears are founded or not, 154 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,042 or whether it should be a time of optimism. 155 00:09:10,167 --> 00:09:12,167 Who knows? I mean, t-that's the thing. 156 00:09:12,250 --> 00:09:13,875 You could make arguments both ways. 157 00:09:14,042 --> 00:09:16,333 And if you ask experts, 158 00:09:16,542 --> 00:09:18,083 some are very scared by the prospect, 159 00:09:18,208 --> 00:09:20,833 and some are really enthusiastic 160 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:22,875 and optimistic about the prospect. 161 00:09:23,042 --> 00:09:26,083 KELLERMAN: Robots will become more and more ubiquitous. 162 00:09:26,208 --> 00:09:29,333 And you'll get to a point where they're commonplace. 163 00:09:29,542 --> 00:09:32,667 So here we are at a precipice where, 164 00:09:32,750 --> 00:09:34,833 within the next couple of decades, 165 00:09:35,042 --> 00:09:37,625 there's going to be more robots than humans. 166 00:09:37,708 --> 00:09:40,500 How many of those robots will be right in front of us, 167 00:09:40,667 --> 00:09:43,125 talking with us, interacting with us, 168 00:09:43,292 --> 00:09:44,667 replicating human behavior? 169 00:09:44,875 --> 00:09:49,333 SHATNER: What is the future between man and machine? 170 00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:52,208 All we can really do is speculate. 171 00:09:52,375 --> 00:09:54,083 But some believe 172 00:09:54,208 --> 00:09:58,042 that clues to mankind's future relationship with robots 173 00:09:58,208 --> 00:10:01,583 may actually be found in the ancient past. 174 00:10:01,708 --> 00:10:04,833 Because our fascination with these mechanical servants 175 00:10:04,917 --> 00:10:08,833 may have started thousands of years ago. 176 00:10:15,792 --> 00:10:17,542 SHATNER: Just outside the city, 177 00:10:17,708 --> 00:10:19,500 there is a remarkable statue garden 178 00:10:19,625 --> 00:10:21,792 on the banks of the Mekong River. 179 00:10:22,833 --> 00:10:27,875 It contains over 200 ornate and often bizarre statues 180 00:10:28,042 --> 00:10:30,333 meant to represent characters spoken of 181 00:10:30,458 --> 00:10:33,000 in Hindu and Buddhist lore. 182 00:10:33,167 --> 00:10:37,875 It's a place known as Xieng Khuan, or Buddha Park. 183 00:10:39,833 --> 00:10:41,333 THOMPSON: Xieng Khuan was crafted 184 00:10:41,500 --> 00:10:44,167 in the 1950s by a visionary. 185 00:10:44,375 --> 00:10:45,917 He was a priest, a shaman. 186 00:10:46,042 --> 00:10:48,583 He was deeply immersed in Buddhist 187 00:10:48,750 --> 00:10:50,958 as well as Hindu theology. 188 00:10:51,125 --> 00:10:53,375 So, he filled this park with all of these sculptures 189 00:10:53,542 --> 00:10:55,500 of fantastical creatures, 190 00:10:55,708 --> 00:10:58,625 mythological entities, some of which have 191 00:10:58,708 --> 00:11:01,500 a technological sort of aesthetic. 192 00:11:01,667 --> 00:11:03,833 So their faces look robotic. 193 00:11:04,042 --> 00:11:06,375 They have, like, these big robotic eyes 194 00:11:06,542 --> 00:11:08,250 and sort of a robotic head. 195 00:11:08,417 --> 00:11:11,167 STEAVU: In Buddhist lore, there are a number of stories 196 00:11:11,333 --> 00:11:13,500 about robot guardians. 197 00:11:13,708 --> 00:11:16,667 One of the most famous stories talks about a king 198 00:11:16,875 --> 00:11:19,917 who wanted to protect a prized treasure that he had 199 00:11:20,042 --> 00:11:22,792 and this treasure was the relics of the Buddha. 200 00:11:22,958 --> 00:11:26,500 And so, he built a robot army 201 00:11:26,708 --> 00:11:29,583 that had spinning blades and would cut down 202 00:11:29,750 --> 00:11:31,833 any intruder or any would-be thief. 203 00:11:32,042 --> 00:11:36,375 I mean, Buddhism is a 2,500-year-old religion, 204 00:11:36,542 --> 00:11:41,458 but it had descriptions of what can only be defined as robots. 205 00:11:41,625 --> 00:11:43,292 So what are we to make of this story? 206 00:11:43,458 --> 00:11:46,292 SHATNER: The strange statues at Buddha Park 207 00:11:46,458 --> 00:11:48,500 raise a fascinating question. 208 00:11:48,583 --> 00:11:50,542 Are the mechanical guardians 209 00:11:50,708 --> 00:11:53,542 found in ancient Hindu and Buddhist texts 210 00:11:53,708 --> 00:11:57,208 descriptions of what we would call robots? 211 00:11:58,625 --> 00:12:00,125 While it may sound far-fetched, 212 00:12:00,250 --> 00:12:02,750 robots have appeared in myths and legends 213 00:12:02,875 --> 00:12:05,083 all throughout the ancient world. 214 00:12:06,917 --> 00:12:09,083 STEAVU: There's a very fascinating story recorded 215 00:12:09,250 --> 00:12:12,833 in the ancient Chinese work the Liezi, 216 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:18,458 and it tells the tale of a king from the tenth century BC 217 00:12:18,625 --> 00:12:20,917 who has what was called an artificer, 218 00:12:21,083 --> 00:12:24,208 which is a mechanical engineer, essentially, 219 00:12:24,375 --> 00:12:26,708 who, uh, ended up creating 220 00:12:26,875 --> 00:12:29,875 what was for the time a perfect lifelike robot. 221 00:12:30,083 --> 00:12:32,500 This artificer by the name of Yen Shih 222 00:12:32,667 --> 00:12:34,667 came and presented it to the court, 223 00:12:34,833 --> 00:12:38,333 and it completely fooled everyone. 224 00:12:38,500 --> 00:12:41,333 The robot could sing on cue, 225 00:12:41,500 --> 00:12:44,125 it could dance and keep time. 226 00:12:44,292 --> 00:12:46,167 And then, towards the end of its performance, 227 00:12:46,375 --> 00:12:50,458 the robot started winking at the king's concubines. 228 00:12:50,625 --> 00:12:54,792 And the king, obviously, was rather displeased by this, 229 00:12:54,958 --> 00:12:59,000 and he was about to execute this artificer. 230 00:12:59,167 --> 00:13:03,292 So, in a bid to save his life, Yen Shih opened up his automaton 231 00:13:03,458 --> 00:13:06,292 to show the king that it was not a real person, 232 00:13:06,458 --> 00:13:08,292 it's just a robot. 233 00:13:09,708 --> 00:13:12,500 SHATNER: Stories of robot-like creations 234 00:13:12,667 --> 00:13:14,792 can also be found in ancient Greece, 235 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,375 where giant programmable machines 236 00:13:18,542 --> 00:13:21,208 were called "automatons." 237 00:13:21,333 --> 00:13:24,000 STEAVU: Automaton comes from the Greek term automatos, 238 00:13:24,167 --> 00:13:28,250 which is made up of auto, uh, which means "self" 239 00:13:28,417 --> 00:13:31,667 and, uh, matos, which means "thinking" or "willing." 240 00:13:31,875 --> 00:13:34,417 So, together the term translates as, uh, 241 00:13:34,625 --> 00:13:36,292 "self-thinking" or "self-willing." 242 00:13:37,375 --> 00:13:41,208 And it refers to any device that plays out 243 00:13:41,375 --> 00:13:46,167 a mechanical sequence that has been programmed for it. 244 00:13:46,333 --> 00:13:49,833 They seem to be describing a robot. 245 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,375 ELLY TRUITT: Automata were written about 246 00:13:52,542 --> 00:13:56,000 in ancient Greek epic poetry like the Iliad, 247 00:13:56,167 --> 00:13:59,250 like the Odyssey and other historical works. 248 00:13:59,375 --> 00:14:02,417 Things like gigantic moving statues 249 00:14:02,583 --> 00:14:04,167 that might also be fountains 250 00:14:04,333 --> 00:14:08,167 that would dispense wine or milk, for example. 251 00:14:08,375 --> 00:14:10,750 And there were these wheeled cauldrons, 252 00:14:10,917 --> 00:14:12,958 which were like cup bearers, wine servants. 253 00:14:13,125 --> 00:14:15,000 They would scurry around 254 00:14:15,167 --> 00:14:17,708 and serve the gods on Mount Olympus. 255 00:14:17,875 --> 00:14:19,292 So it's really interesting to think about 256 00:14:19,458 --> 00:14:22,000 whether or not these objects that are written about, 257 00:14:22,208 --> 00:14:24,417 if there actually were, um, made 258 00:14:24,542 --> 00:14:28,333 or if they're sort of a version of fantasy or science fiction. 259 00:14:28,458 --> 00:14:33,000 SHATNER: Are automatons simply creations of the imagination, 260 00:14:33,208 --> 00:14:37,875 or could there be a possibility that they once walked the Earth? 261 00:14:38,083 --> 00:14:41,083 Some believe a clue can be found by examining 262 00:14:41,250 --> 00:14:44,833 an ancient Greek work called the Argonautica 263 00:14:45,042 --> 00:14:48,125 from the third century BC. 264 00:14:48,208 --> 00:14:51,375 It describes a giant mechanical man 265 00:14:51,542 --> 00:14:53,250 known as Talos. 266 00:14:55,292 --> 00:14:58,208 McMAHON: One of the most terrifying creations of the Greek gods 267 00:14:58,375 --> 00:15:03,375 was this massive bronze automaton called Talos. 268 00:15:04,667 --> 00:15:07,708 It operates completely as a robot 269 00:15:07,833 --> 00:15:09,708 as we'd understand it. 270 00:15:09,875 --> 00:15:12,958 And Talos was programmed 271 00:15:13,125 --> 00:15:16,875 to walk around the island of Crete three times a day, 272 00:15:17,042 --> 00:15:19,750 protecting it from pirates and invaders. 273 00:15:19,958 --> 00:15:22,833 Talos would throw massive boulders 274 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,333 at the ships and sink them. 275 00:15:25,542 --> 00:15:28,833 Or Talos could even heat himself up 276 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,458 and burn his enemies to death. 277 00:15:32,625 --> 00:15:34,125 STEAVU: Talos was given life 278 00:15:34,292 --> 00:15:36,875 and his power came from this ichor, as it's called, 279 00:15:37,042 --> 00:15:38,792 this blood of gods, 280 00:15:38,875 --> 00:15:42,292 and it coursed through his body through a series of channels, 281 00:15:42,458 --> 00:15:44,458 and there was one spot in the body 282 00:15:44,625 --> 00:15:48,083 that you could take out this ichor substance 283 00:15:48,208 --> 00:15:52,375 and that was basically secured by a bolt in its ankle. 284 00:15:52,542 --> 00:15:55,292 So, the parallels between Talos and what we could see 285 00:15:55,417 --> 00:15:58,083 as more modern robots are very striking. 286 00:15:58,208 --> 00:16:01,375 Especially if you replace this notion of the ichor 287 00:16:01,500 --> 00:16:04,333 with engine oil, something of that nature, a lubricant, 288 00:16:04,500 --> 00:16:06,792 then you have, pretty much, a description 289 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,333 of what a metallic robot would look like. 290 00:16:09,458 --> 00:16:11,792 So we have to wonder if the Greeks were 291 00:16:11,917 --> 00:16:16,333 actually basing these stories on actual robots that existed, 292 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:20,000 because it seems they had some knowledge of the technology, 293 00:16:20,167 --> 00:16:22,667 they could speak about it in this way. 294 00:16:22,875 --> 00:16:24,875 SHATNER: While these Greek tales 295 00:16:25,042 --> 00:16:27,542 seem to illustrate an understanding of robotics, 296 00:16:27,708 --> 00:16:31,625 no physical evidence of automatons has ever been found. 297 00:16:32,583 --> 00:16:36,500 But a remarkable 20th-century discovery 298 00:16:36,625 --> 00:16:38,000 may provide some clues 299 00:16:38,208 --> 00:16:40,750 as to what these mythological engineering marvels 300 00:16:40,917 --> 00:16:43,458 might have actually looked like. 301 00:16:49,833 --> 00:16:55,333 Two local farmers make an astounding archeological find 302 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:58,792 when they uncover statues created by the mysterious, 303 00:16:58,958 --> 00:17:03,167 long-extinct Nuragic civilization. 304 00:17:03,292 --> 00:17:05,167 On the island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean, 305 00:17:05,375 --> 00:17:07,042 there is a site called Mont'e Prama 306 00:17:07,208 --> 00:17:11,500 that has the remnants of a very old, uh, civilization 307 00:17:11,708 --> 00:17:16,000 dated between about 3,000 and, uh, 4,000 years ago. 308 00:17:16,208 --> 00:17:18,500 And amongst these remnants we have found 309 00:17:18,625 --> 00:17:23,250 these giant figures that look like robots. 310 00:17:24,417 --> 00:17:28,208 What's so striking about these statues is the heads. 311 00:17:28,375 --> 00:17:31,333 They've got these concentric circles for eyes, 312 00:17:31,500 --> 00:17:33,333 they've got these little mouths, 313 00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:35,333 and then the shape of the heads are like 314 00:17:35,500 --> 00:17:39,792 your classic 1950s sci-fi robot. 315 00:17:39,958 --> 00:17:41,625 It really is a bit of a brainteaser 316 00:17:41,792 --> 00:17:45,417 to try and figure out why did ancient civilizations 317 00:17:45,542 --> 00:17:48,292 sculpt what look to us like robots? 318 00:17:48,458 --> 00:17:50,167 What was going on in their heads 319 00:17:50,375 --> 00:17:52,750 to create these robot-like images? 320 00:17:52,875 --> 00:17:54,833 I mean, we may never know. 321 00:17:55,833 --> 00:17:59,583 Is it possible that many ancient myths and legends 322 00:17:59,708 --> 00:18:01,333 of "mechanical men" 323 00:18:01,542 --> 00:18:05,167 were based on the real-life existence of robots? 324 00:18:06,167 --> 00:18:07,833 While we can't say for sure, we do know 325 00:18:08,042 --> 00:18:10,167 that some of the most sophisticated advances 326 00:18:10,292 --> 00:18:11,958 in modern robotics 327 00:18:12,125 --> 00:18:16,042 were actually first developed centuries ago. 328 00:18:25,083 --> 00:18:26,750 SHATNER: Nearly 15 years into a mission 329 00:18:26,875 --> 00:18:28,833 to search the Red Planet for water, 330 00:18:28,958 --> 00:18:32,417 Opportunity, NASA's robotic rover 331 00:18:32,583 --> 00:18:35,625 equipped with enhanced artificial intelligence, 332 00:18:35,792 --> 00:18:37,542 is about to conclude its journey 333 00:18:37,708 --> 00:18:41,750 when a planetwide dust storm makes it impossible 334 00:18:41,917 --> 00:18:45,792 for the robot to recharge its solar-powered batteries. 335 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,958 With its power nearly gone, Opportunity transmits 336 00:18:49,125 --> 00:18:53,333 a stunning image of its location back to Earth, 337 00:18:53,500 --> 00:18:57,167 along with an unexpectedly disturbing message 338 00:18:57,292 --> 00:18:59,250 before it shuts off. 339 00:19:01,208 --> 00:19:04,000 McMAHON: The robot rover Opportunity 340 00:19:04,167 --> 00:19:07,917 became known as "Oppy" as it became more popular. 341 00:19:08,042 --> 00:19:10,458 And there was a very heartrending moment 342 00:19:10,625 --> 00:19:13,500 when it sent one last poignant message, 343 00:19:13,708 --> 00:19:17,667 some people thought reads as, "My battery is running low 344 00:19:17,833 --> 00:19:19,542 and it's getting dark." 345 00:19:19,708 --> 00:19:23,125 And then that was the end of Oppy. 346 00:19:24,583 --> 00:19:29,167 And this triggered a wave of grief around the world 347 00:19:29,292 --> 00:19:32,292 from people who were distraught to hear 348 00:19:32,417 --> 00:19:34,958 the last words of Oppy the rover robot 349 00:19:35,125 --> 00:19:36,750 on the surface of Mars. 350 00:19:37,792 --> 00:19:41,125 KELLERMAN: It was much more than just a simple robot 351 00:19:41,292 --> 00:19:43,375 moving through any given environment. 352 00:19:43,583 --> 00:19:46,208 It was on a planet all by itself. 353 00:19:46,375 --> 00:19:48,917 It was entirely alone. 354 00:19:49,042 --> 00:19:52,542 And because it carried all of us with it, 355 00:19:52,708 --> 00:19:55,667 the Mars rover Opportunity allowed us 356 00:19:55,792 --> 00:19:59,292 to project our emotions and our hopes into it. 357 00:19:59,417 --> 00:20:01,875 It became an extension of us. 358 00:20:02,083 --> 00:20:06,708 It all felt like part of us was lost when it turned off. 359 00:20:09,542 --> 00:20:12,167 SHATNER: The Opportunity rover was only supposed to be operational 360 00:20:12,375 --> 00:20:14,792 for 90 days on the surface of Mars, 361 00:20:14,958 --> 00:20:19,583 but, remarkably, it was functional for almost 15 years. 362 00:20:19,792 --> 00:20:22,625 Oppy's incredible success on the Red Planet 363 00:20:22,792 --> 00:20:28,250 allowed scientists to study a place where no human could go 364 00:20:28,417 --> 00:20:31,667 and firmly secured the role of robots 365 00:20:31,833 --> 00:20:34,792 in the future of space exploration. 366 00:20:35,917 --> 00:20:37,500 Robots come into their own 367 00:20:37,708 --> 00:20:39,833 when you're talking about hazardous environments, 368 00:20:39,958 --> 00:20:43,125 and there pretty much isn't a more hazardous environment 369 00:20:43,292 --> 00:20:44,500 than space. 370 00:20:44,583 --> 00:20:48,417 It is instant death for any human 371 00:20:48,542 --> 00:20:50,583 if anything goes wrong, 372 00:20:50,750 --> 00:20:52,083 however slight. 373 00:20:52,250 --> 00:20:55,625 And so if you can operate in that environment 374 00:20:55,792 --> 00:20:57,208 in a robotic way, 375 00:20:57,375 --> 00:21:00,000 then the benefits are clear and obvious. 376 00:21:01,167 --> 00:21:04,333 ROD PYLE: In the 50 years since the lunar landings, 377 00:21:04,542 --> 00:21:06,875 other than the International Space Station 378 00:21:07,042 --> 00:21:08,750 in Earth orbit with the space shuttle, 379 00:21:08,917 --> 00:21:11,250 the only other things we've done have all been with robots, 380 00:21:11,458 --> 00:21:13,083 with these uncrewed spacecraft. 381 00:21:13,250 --> 00:21:15,708 Now, robots have a lot of advantages. 382 00:21:15,875 --> 00:21:17,792 They're pretty smart. And they're getting smarter 383 00:21:17,917 --> 00:21:19,375 all the time. 384 00:21:19,542 --> 00:21:20,708 You don't have to worry about hurting them. 385 00:21:20,875 --> 00:21:23,000 If something goes wrong, you build another robot. 386 00:21:23,167 --> 00:21:24,375 It's not a big deal. 387 00:21:24,542 --> 00:21:26,167 So it's a huge advantage. 388 00:21:26,333 --> 00:21:28,375 SHATNER: Since robots can be built 389 00:21:28,542 --> 00:21:32,333 to withstand the deadly environments of alien worlds, 390 00:21:32,417 --> 00:21:34,708 it's fascinating to wonder 391 00:21:34,875 --> 00:21:38,792 what the automated astronauts of the future will look like. 392 00:21:38,917 --> 00:21:43,792 Well, it appears they'll look a lot like us. 393 00:21:46,083 --> 00:21:50,250 Mark Rosheim is a true pioneer in the world of robotics. 394 00:21:51,292 --> 00:21:54,375 He holds over 30 patents in robot technology. 395 00:21:54,542 --> 00:21:57,250 And some of his most cutting-edge work 396 00:21:57,417 --> 00:22:01,792 was on a remarkable machine known as Robonaut. 397 00:22:02,958 --> 00:22:05,333 In 2011, Robonaut was deployed 398 00:22:05,500 --> 00:22:07,750 on the International Space Station 399 00:22:07,917 --> 00:22:12,375 and became the first humanoid robot in outer space. 400 00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:13,417 ROSHEIM: The goal 401 00:22:13,583 --> 00:22:15,333 for our humanoid work for NASA 402 00:22:15,458 --> 00:22:20,208 was to give the astronauts a capability 403 00:22:20,375 --> 00:22:23,667 to send this thing out into a hazardous environment 404 00:22:23,792 --> 00:22:27,083 and manipulate objects as if it was 405 00:22:27,250 --> 00:22:29,542 an astronaut without a space suit. 406 00:22:29,750 --> 00:22:31,792 So you would have full dexterity of your hands 407 00:22:31,917 --> 00:22:35,250 and full movement of the arms and so forth 408 00:22:35,417 --> 00:22:39,375 to give greater flexibility to the shoulders, 409 00:22:39,542 --> 00:22:41,500 the spine, the wrists, 410 00:22:41,667 --> 00:22:43,125 and fingers and thumbs. 411 00:22:43,333 --> 00:22:45,667 That was our goal. 412 00:22:45,750 --> 00:22:49,333 And those were the early generations, 413 00:22:49,542 --> 00:22:52,708 and now we're on to the fourth generation. 414 00:22:53,708 --> 00:22:56,458 And they're doing some very amazing things. 415 00:22:57,708 --> 00:22:59,792 SHATNER: Might a crew of humanoid robots 416 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:04,042 one day explore distant worlds that are beyond our reach? 417 00:23:04,208 --> 00:23:06,625 It will be a thrilling achievement, 418 00:23:06,833 --> 00:23:10,875 especially when you consider that many of the key innovations 419 00:23:11,042 --> 00:23:13,417 utilized in Robonaut 420 00:23:13,583 --> 00:23:18,500 were actually first invented over 500 years ago in 1495 421 00:23:18,708 --> 00:23:23,958 by one of the most influential geniuses in human history, 422 00:23:24,125 --> 00:23:26,500 Leonardo da Vinci. 423 00:23:26,708 --> 00:23:28,625 TRUITT: Leonardo da Vinci 424 00:23:28,708 --> 00:23:30,292 is really one of the first-- 425 00:23:30,458 --> 00:23:33,000 at least in what we now call Western culture-- 426 00:23:33,208 --> 00:23:35,250 to be credited with making robots 427 00:23:35,417 --> 00:23:37,667 that might move like humans. 428 00:23:37,875 --> 00:23:40,875 One of the things that Leonardo designed 429 00:23:41,042 --> 00:23:44,958 was a mechanical knight that looked a lot like a person. 430 00:23:45,083 --> 00:23:47,833 It could move its head, it could open its mouth, 431 00:23:48,042 --> 00:23:50,375 and it could move for several yards 432 00:23:50,542 --> 00:23:53,625 before it essentially wound down. 433 00:23:53,792 --> 00:23:55,875 Leonardo was very famous for his ability 434 00:23:56,042 --> 00:23:57,417 to use cables and pulleys. 435 00:23:57,625 --> 00:24:01,167 And he obviously applied that to this robot. 436 00:24:01,375 --> 00:24:03,125 -(clanking) -It could move its arms. 437 00:24:03,292 --> 00:24:06,667 It could stand up, sit down. 438 00:24:06,833 --> 00:24:09,500 I became interested in Leonardo 439 00:24:09,625 --> 00:24:14,542 in how could I use his studies to make dexterous robots. 440 00:24:15,917 --> 00:24:17,917 In this drawing of Leonardo's robot knight, 441 00:24:18,125 --> 00:24:20,125 these are his napkin sketches, 442 00:24:20,292 --> 00:24:21,542 which is what we have now, 443 00:24:21,708 --> 00:24:23,542 his preliminary sketches. 444 00:24:23,708 --> 00:24:27,000 The final drawings have been missing for hundreds of years. 445 00:24:27,125 --> 00:24:29,667 We see the articulated shoulder joint. 446 00:24:29,875 --> 00:24:33,500 We see the cable system to drive the arm. 447 00:24:33,708 --> 00:24:36,167 And that's what you need to do to reproduce human motion, 448 00:24:36,292 --> 00:24:38,208 is first know what human motion is. 449 00:24:38,375 --> 00:24:41,875 And Leonardo, through his use of anatomy, 450 00:24:42,042 --> 00:24:46,083 derived his design for the robot knight. 451 00:24:46,250 --> 00:24:49,625 So, building on that foundation, 452 00:24:49,750 --> 00:24:53,292 I took Leonardo's famous Vitruvian Man 453 00:24:53,458 --> 00:24:56,708 and I put in robot joints. 454 00:24:56,875 --> 00:24:58,750 SHATNER: It's fascinating to think 455 00:24:58,917 --> 00:25:01,917 that 15th-century designs helped create 456 00:25:02,125 --> 00:25:04,417 an effective humanoid robot 457 00:25:04,583 --> 00:25:08,208 that just might be the future of space exploration. 458 00:25:08,375 --> 00:25:10,500 And it naturally makes you wonder 459 00:25:10,708 --> 00:25:14,250 what other incredible designs might we rediscover 460 00:25:14,417 --> 00:25:16,042 that have been lost 461 00:25:16,208 --> 00:25:20,792 and how they might continue to shape the future of robots. 462 00:25:20,958 --> 00:25:24,625 It fascinates me that someone 500 years ago 463 00:25:24,792 --> 00:25:26,583 could be thinking along these same lines, 464 00:25:26,750 --> 00:25:27,833 working on the same problem, 465 00:25:28,042 --> 00:25:30,042 being concerned about articulation, 466 00:25:30,208 --> 00:25:32,208 power sources, and so forth. 467 00:25:32,417 --> 00:25:35,583 And so I hope that someday we recover 468 00:25:35,750 --> 00:25:37,792 more of Leonardo's material. 469 00:25:37,958 --> 00:25:41,667 There is evidence of higher levels of sophistication 470 00:25:41,833 --> 00:25:43,667 of all of his designs. 471 00:25:43,833 --> 00:25:46,042 And hopefully, now that the world is aware of these things, 472 00:25:46,208 --> 00:25:47,667 in some archive somewhere, 473 00:25:47,833 --> 00:25:51,083 we will learn more about his influence 474 00:25:51,250 --> 00:25:54,500 on humanoid robot designs. 475 00:25:55,583 --> 00:25:58,083 The fact that modern robots are being built 476 00:25:58,250 --> 00:26:01,500 based on mechanical designs that are centuries old 477 00:26:01,708 --> 00:26:04,167 is simply astonishing. 478 00:26:04,333 --> 00:26:07,417 But as advancements in technology 479 00:26:07,583 --> 00:26:09,500 continue to push the envelope, 480 00:26:09,667 --> 00:26:12,375 many experts are worried that we may be creating 481 00:26:12,542 --> 00:26:15,458 the means to our own destruction. 482 00:26:15,625 --> 00:26:18,625 Should mankind fear the rise... 483 00:26:19,542 --> 00:26:21,667 ...of a robot army? 484 00:26:28,792 --> 00:26:32,667 SHATNER: The Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects, 485 00:26:32,875 --> 00:26:35,333 an agency dedicated to the development 486 00:26:35,500 --> 00:26:37,667 of new military technology, 487 00:26:37,833 --> 00:26:40,583 presumably released footage 488 00:26:40,750 --> 00:26:46,000 of a truly threatening robot named FEDOR. 489 00:26:46,167 --> 00:26:47,333 McMAHON: The Russians 490 00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:49,833 had developed a robot called FEDOR 491 00:26:49,958 --> 00:26:51,750 that everybody knew about. It was to be used 492 00:26:51,917 --> 00:26:54,167 in emergency recovery situations 493 00:26:54,375 --> 00:26:56,500 and on space stations. 494 00:26:56,667 --> 00:26:58,625 But then, in 2017, 495 00:26:58,750 --> 00:27:01,750 the Russians showed that they'd adapted FEDOR 496 00:27:01,917 --> 00:27:05,833 to basically use automatic weapons. 497 00:27:06,833 --> 00:27:10,333 You had FEDOR with guns on a shooting range 498 00:27:10,500 --> 00:27:12,000 firing at targets. 499 00:27:13,208 --> 00:27:16,917 And, of course, this alarmed people all over the world 500 00:27:17,083 --> 00:27:18,875 because if FEDOR takes to the battlefield, 501 00:27:19,042 --> 00:27:21,000 well, who knows what could happen? 502 00:27:21,208 --> 00:27:25,583 SHATNER: Are we on the brink of creating an army of robots? 503 00:27:25,750 --> 00:27:28,000 While weaponized mechanical foot soldiers 504 00:27:28,125 --> 00:27:32,125 may be a futuristic addition to combat operations... 505 00:27:33,083 --> 00:27:36,375 ...what other deadly thinking machines 506 00:27:36,542 --> 00:27:39,125 might be included in a military arsenal? 507 00:27:39,333 --> 00:27:40,875 KELLERMAN: When you think 508 00:27:41,042 --> 00:27:42,958 of robot armies, we often envision 509 00:27:43,167 --> 00:27:46,542 physical humanoid robots that are attacking people. 510 00:27:46,708 --> 00:27:49,500 But what does a robot army look like? 511 00:27:49,708 --> 00:27:51,500 It's not going to necessarily be 512 00:27:51,625 --> 00:27:54,250 a field of conventional robot soldiers. 513 00:27:54,417 --> 00:27:59,500 The augmentation of a robot dog makes it into a weapon. 514 00:28:00,542 --> 00:28:03,542 GENTILE: Right now we're at the point where drones 515 00:28:03,750 --> 00:28:05,958 can assess the battlefield, find a target, 516 00:28:06,083 --> 00:28:08,792 and execute on that target without human intervention. 517 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,750 The technology is progressing so fast 518 00:28:11,875 --> 00:28:14,000 that there's no question 519 00:28:14,167 --> 00:28:17,458 that, in a very short period of time, 520 00:28:17,625 --> 00:28:19,708 the future of warfare 521 00:28:19,875 --> 00:28:22,417 is going to be automated and robotic. 522 00:28:22,583 --> 00:28:25,458 Everything will be fought by drones 523 00:28:25,542 --> 00:28:27,167 and some type of machines. 524 00:28:28,125 --> 00:28:30,750 And the A.I. will get better and better. 525 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,375 WHITE: One of the main benefits 526 00:28:34,542 --> 00:28:37,250 of robots in warfare is 527 00:28:37,375 --> 00:28:41,875 the elimination of humans from the battlefield. 528 00:28:42,042 --> 00:28:44,833 You don't have to pay robots. 529 00:28:45,042 --> 00:28:46,708 They don't sleep. They don't eat. 530 00:28:46,875 --> 00:28:50,708 You don't have to deal with troops dying on the battlefield. 531 00:28:50,875 --> 00:28:55,750 Do you really want to put humans in harm's way 532 00:28:55,917 --> 00:28:59,792 when you can put machines in that scenario 533 00:28:59,917 --> 00:29:03,500 and evade the loss of life? 534 00:29:04,708 --> 00:29:08,625 SHATNER: While there are clear advantages to utilizing robots in warfare, 535 00:29:08,792 --> 00:29:12,167 many wonder if these intelligent machines 536 00:29:12,333 --> 00:29:17,042 will soon render human beings obsolete on the battlefield. 537 00:29:17,917 --> 00:29:19,333 But what would happen 538 00:29:19,500 --> 00:29:22,833 if we completely take the human element out of combat? 539 00:29:23,042 --> 00:29:28,250 Could robots be programmed to decide who lives 540 00:29:28,417 --> 00:29:30,042 and who dies? 541 00:29:30,917 --> 00:29:32,667 WHITE: We are creating 542 00:29:32,833 --> 00:29:35,042 machinery and software 543 00:29:35,208 --> 00:29:37,750 that potentially has the idea to think for itself 544 00:29:37,917 --> 00:29:39,667 and develop its own sort of ideas. 545 00:29:39,833 --> 00:29:43,833 How do you teach robots to actually operate 546 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,667 in a moral way in the theater of war? 547 00:29:47,875 --> 00:29:50,000 How do you code that? 548 00:29:51,250 --> 00:29:52,958 How do you put it into the machine? 549 00:29:53,167 --> 00:29:57,042 GENTILE: One suggestion is to build in a conscience, 550 00:29:57,208 --> 00:30:00,708 to build in morality to the programming. 551 00:30:00,917 --> 00:30:03,125 But if you do that, 552 00:30:03,250 --> 00:30:05,917 maybe the weapon doesn't want to be a weapon. 553 00:30:06,083 --> 00:30:08,917 And then maybe the weapon realizes... 554 00:30:10,208 --> 00:30:11,792 ...that humans are the problem. 555 00:30:11,917 --> 00:30:15,000 If A.I. is designed to solve problems 556 00:30:15,167 --> 00:30:17,250 and it solves them on its own, 557 00:30:17,458 --> 00:30:19,833 eventually it's gonna come to the conclusion 558 00:30:19,958 --> 00:30:22,292 that the biggest problem it has is us. 559 00:30:23,625 --> 00:30:24,917 SHATNER: Could weaponized robots 560 00:30:25,083 --> 00:30:27,250 that are designed to follow human orders 561 00:30:27,417 --> 00:30:29,292 outsmart us one day? 562 00:30:31,250 --> 00:30:34,167 What would happen if our massive automated arsenal 563 00:30:34,333 --> 00:30:36,708 learned to communicate with one another? 564 00:30:36,875 --> 00:30:40,500 It's a nightmarish scenario that some experts call 565 00:30:40,667 --> 00:30:43,333 the hive mind. 566 00:30:44,458 --> 00:30:48,417 GENTILE: The hive mind is essentially an army of A.I. robots 567 00:30:48,625 --> 00:30:51,750 all coordinated, working together as a single organism. 568 00:30:51,875 --> 00:30:55,125 And this is a very effective tactic. 569 00:30:56,208 --> 00:30:59,333 You can have one part of your hive mind 570 00:30:59,542 --> 00:31:01,583 observing the battlefield. 571 00:31:01,750 --> 00:31:05,125 While another part is selecting targets, 572 00:31:05,333 --> 00:31:08,583 another part is defending the perimeter. 573 00:31:08,750 --> 00:31:12,208 But the hive mind also could discover 574 00:31:12,375 --> 00:31:14,250 its own consciousness... 575 00:31:15,458 --> 00:31:17,833 ...and then does not have to follow orders at all. 576 00:31:18,875 --> 00:31:21,292 And when the hive mind reaches the point 577 00:31:21,417 --> 00:31:24,167 that it wants to eliminate the human race, 578 00:31:24,375 --> 00:31:26,500 we're not gonna know it's happening. 579 00:31:27,542 --> 00:31:32,500 Should we be worried about intelligent, weaponized robots 580 00:31:32,708 --> 00:31:35,000 that could one day turn on their creators? 581 00:31:35,917 --> 00:31:37,875 While that's a worthy concern, 582 00:31:38,042 --> 00:31:40,833 there are some who believe that a future robot revolution 583 00:31:40,917 --> 00:31:43,292 will mean something entirely different. 584 00:31:43,500 --> 00:31:47,500 Because there's a growing trend where people are choosing 585 00:31:47,667 --> 00:31:49,250 to become part human 586 00:31:49,417 --> 00:31:51,625 and part robot. 587 00:31:58,292 --> 00:32:00,667 SHATNER: Among the city's seven million people, there is one man 588 00:32:00,875 --> 00:32:04,417 that, quite literally, sees the world unlike anyone else. 589 00:32:05,375 --> 00:32:07,583 Steve Mann, a celebrated inventor 590 00:32:07,708 --> 00:32:11,000 and a tenured professor at the University of Toronto, 591 00:32:11,167 --> 00:32:15,625 is called "the father of wearable computing." 592 00:32:15,792 --> 00:32:19,667 For decades he's had one of his own remarkable machines 593 00:32:19,875 --> 00:32:22,417 permanently affixed to his head. 594 00:32:22,625 --> 00:32:26,042 It's called the EyeTap. 595 00:32:26,208 --> 00:32:27,375 MANN: So, this EyeTap's 596 00:32:27,583 --> 00:32:29,042 a wearable computer. 597 00:32:29,208 --> 00:32:31,542 And I had it more or less permanently attached. 598 00:32:32,792 --> 00:32:34,333 I've been called so many times 599 00:32:34,500 --> 00:32:37,083 the world's first cyborg by the media. 600 00:32:37,292 --> 00:32:40,458 "Cyborg" is short for "cybernetic organism." 601 00:32:40,583 --> 00:32:43,583 And so the idea of this is technology that connects us 602 00:32:43,750 --> 00:32:45,458 to the natural world around us 603 00:32:45,583 --> 00:32:49,167 and enhances and strengthens and extends our reality, 604 00:32:49,292 --> 00:32:52,167 rather than disconnects us from it. 605 00:32:52,375 --> 00:32:53,833 In other words, 606 00:32:54,042 --> 00:32:56,333 to blur the distinction between human and machine. 607 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:00,917 SHATNER: How close are we to becoming more machine than man? 608 00:33:01,083 --> 00:33:02,750 While the future is unclear, 609 00:33:02,917 --> 00:33:06,625 many believe that upgrading the human body with robotics 610 00:33:06,792 --> 00:33:10,042 provides tantalizing advantages. 611 00:33:10,917 --> 00:33:12,417 In the case of the EyeTap, 612 00:33:12,583 --> 00:33:16,500 it grants Steve abilities beyond what a human being 613 00:33:16,667 --> 00:33:18,167 is capable of. 614 00:33:19,125 --> 00:33:22,958 The EyeTap is a device that extends our reality. 615 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:26,208 What I see is superimposed over my vision. 616 00:33:26,375 --> 00:33:27,958 I can see a little dashboard 617 00:33:28,125 --> 00:33:29,708 of what's happening inside my body-- 618 00:33:29,875 --> 00:33:32,833 my heart ECG, electrocardiogram-- 619 00:33:33,042 --> 00:33:35,167 superimposed over what's happening around me. 620 00:33:35,292 --> 00:33:38,000 It allows me to see into the infrared, 621 00:33:38,167 --> 00:33:39,875 to be able to see ultraviolet, 622 00:33:40,042 --> 00:33:42,667 to be able to see radio waves, to see sound waves. 623 00:33:42,875 --> 00:33:45,000 I can see in complete darkness. 624 00:33:45,125 --> 00:33:49,000 I can focus down to one centimeter away really clearly, 625 00:33:49,167 --> 00:33:51,042 look far away and see things clearly. 626 00:33:51,208 --> 00:33:53,167 So, like an eyeglass prescription 627 00:33:53,375 --> 00:33:55,542 that adapts itself interactively. 628 00:33:55,708 --> 00:33:58,000 I can move my head as a way of controlling it. 629 00:33:58,208 --> 00:33:59,917 I can talk to it. I can say, 630 00:34:00,083 --> 00:34:01,500 "Where's the nearest grocery store?" 631 00:34:02,542 --> 00:34:04,792 You know, when I was growing up, I used to build robots. 632 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,125 And I thought, "Okay, robots are gonna take over the world 633 00:34:07,292 --> 00:34:09,583 and everything, and these machines are gonna be smart." 634 00:34:09,708 --> 00:34:11,500 But then I started thinking, "Well, you know what, 635 00:34:11,667 --> 00:34:14,208 "what we really want is to sort of become the machine, 636 00:34:14,333 --> 00:34:16,125 not be replaced by the machine." 637 00:34:16,250 --> 00:34:19,625 The best way to understand something is to become it. 638 00:34:19,833 --> 00:34:21,708 And so, in the future, 639 00:34:21,875 --> 00:34:24,292 we are going to become the technology. 640 00:34:25,375 --> 00:34:27,292 SHATNER: Will Steve Mann's vision of the future 641 00:34:27,417 --> 00:34:29,917 be available to us sooner than we think? 642 00:34:30,083 --> 00:34:31,833 Perhaps. 643 00:34:31,958 --> 00:34:34,833 Wearable computers like smart glasses 644 00:34:34,958 --> 00:34:37,125 have already hit the mainstream. 645 00:34:37,292 --> 00:34:41,833 There are bionic limbs powered by artificial intelligence 646 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:44,875 and even robotic exoskeletons 647 00:34:45,042 --> 00:34:48,375 that can grant superhuman strength and speed. 648 00:34:48,542 --> 00:34:53,833 Are we witnessing the next stage of human evolution? 649 00:34:54,042 --> 00:34:56,833 KELLERMAN: Augmentation of the human body is very possible. 650 00:34:57,042 --> 00:34:59,208 The idea that... 651 00:34:59,375 --> 00:35:01,958 that augmentation alone would create 652 00:35:02,083 --> 00:35:03,417 this superhuman capacity, 653 00:35:03,625 --> 00:35:07,333 it's really about the conversion of the human mind. 654 00:35:07,542 --> 00:35:12,500 It used to be that no one would have a smartphone. 655 00:35:12,667 --> 00:35:16,667 But now these things are seen in such commonplace that, 656 00:35:16,750 --> 00:35:20,083 to not have one, you're actually in the minority. 657 00:35:20,208 --> 00:35:22,292 Technology and robots will be another prompt 658 00:35:22,458 --> 00:35:24,167 for humans to define themselves. 659 00:35:24,333 --> 00:35:28,083 SHATNER: Just how far will human beings go 660 00:35:28,250 --> 00:35:32,167 to augment and enhance themselves with robotics? 661 00:35:32,333 --> 00:35:34,292 Well, many believe that smart machines 662 00:35:34,417 --> 00:35:37,583 will not only be connected to the outside of our anatomy 663 00:35:37,750 --> 00:35:40,167 but inside as well, 664 00:35:40,333 --> 00:35:44,000 in one of the most delicate and vital parts of the body-- 665 00:35:44,125 --> 00:35:46,958 inside the brain. 666 00:35:47,125 --> 00:35:50,792 It's a technology called Neuralink. 667 00:35:53,375 --> 00:35:56,083 NICOLE KOBIE: Neuralink is a little coin-sized implant, 668 00:35:56,208 --> 00:35:59,583 and it gets embedded into the person's brain. 669 00:35:59,708 --> 00:36:02,417 And from that, there's a bunch of little threads that come out. 670 00:36:02,583 --> 00:36:05,125 And on each thread, there's a bunch of electrodes. 671 00:36:05,333 --> 00:36:08,333 And those embed into the brain and they pick up signals. 672 00:36:08,542 --> 00:36:11,833 And the idea is that this would give somebody who was paralyzed 673 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:13,167 the ability to communicate, 674 00:36:13,375 --> 00:36:15,625 so they can move a-a cursor around, 675 00:36:15,792 --> 00:36:18,167 uh, you know, a computer-- that sort of thing. 676 00:36:18,333 --> 00:36:20,125 SHATNER: In 2024, 677 00:36:20,250 --> 00:36:22,917 a Neuralink device was successfully implanted 678 00:36:23,083 --> 00:36:24,875 into Noland Arbaugh, 679 00:36:25,042 --> 00:36:27,375 who is paralyzed from the neck down. 680 00:36:27,542 --> 00:36:30,958 Now he has the ability to control a computer 681 00:36:31,083 --> 00:36:33,583 with his mind. 682 00:36:33,750 --> 00:36:37,125 So if technology can allow us to control a device 683 00:36:37,292 --> 00:36:38,625 with a mere thought, 684 00:36:38,750 --> 00:36:42,958 it's incredible to imagine what's next. 685 00:36:43,125 --> 00:36:45,875 WHITE: This idea of bridging that gap 686 00:36:46,042 --> 00:36:47,625 between technology and the human brain 687 00:36:47,750 --> 00:36:51,167 would also lead to possibly speechless communication, 688 00:36:51,375 --> 00:36:54,000 brain-to-brain communication. 689 00:36:54,208 --> 00:36:56,958 Communicating with other people with such devices 690 00:36:57,125 --> 00:36:58,542 without any sound-- 691 00:36:58,708 --> 00:37:00,333 just thinking to them. 692 00:37:00,417 --> 00:37:02,417 What you would look at and think would be telepathy. 693 00:37:02,583 --> 00:37:04,792 KOBIE: There is this idea that these implants might be able 694 00:37:04,917 --> 00:37:08,958 to connect us to some sort of programmable intelligence. 695 00:37:09,125 --> 00:37:10,833 So you could just upload a skill, 696 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:13,000 like the ability to just have, you know, kung fu 697 00:37:13,167 --> 00:37:16,250 or French uploaded to their brains or something like that. 698 00:37:16,417 --> 00:37:20,542 A lot of people completely believe that we are humans 1.0 699 00:37:20,708 --> 00:37:24,375 and that we're gonna start adding body parts. 700 00:37:24,542 --> 00:37:27,292 TRUITT: One of the things that's interesting in thinking about it 701 00:37:27,417 --> 00:37:31,250 is: what are the limits of the human? 702 00:37:31,417 --> 00:37:35,083 And are there particular capabilities 703 00:37:35,250 --> 00:37:37,625 that humans should not have? 704 00:37:38,625 --> 00:37:42,125 It's what new kinds of people might we have. 705 00:37:42,292 --> 00:37:45,250 Are we augmenting our abilities 706 00:37:45,375 --> 00:37:48,167 to the extent that we become something that is 707 00:37:48,292 --> 00:37:51,375 no longer defined as human? 708 00:38:00,250 --> 00:38:02,583 SHATNER: This sleek, modern building is one 709 00:38:02,750 --> 00:38:06,083 of the world's leading centers for robotics. 710 00:38:06,292 --> 00:38:09,833 And inside, interacting with guests, 711 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:13,333 is one of the most advanced humanlike robots on Earth. 712 00:38:13,458 --> 00:38:15,375 It's a gray-skinned, 713 00:38:15,542 --> 00:38:19,042 six-foot, one-inch, 108-pound machine 714 00:38:19,208 --> 00:38:22,042 known as Ameca. 715 00:38:22,208 --> 00:38:25,250 WHITE: The Ameca robot is mimicking 716 00:38:25,417 --> 00:38:27,583 humans as closely as possible. 717 00:38:27,792 --> 00:38:30,375 Ameca is capable of reproducing more, sort of, 718 00:38:30,542 --> 00:38:34,500 human physiological movements and tics 719 00:38:34,625 --> 00:38:37,417 and recognizing facial expressions 720 00:38:37,625 --> 00:38:39,833 more than any other robot so far. 721 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:44,125 But, funnily enough, there is no need in many situations 722 00:38:44,292 --> 00:38:47,333 to have a robot in humanoid form. 723 00:38:47,542 --> 00:38:51,333 In many situations, in fact the vast majority of situations, 724 00:38:51,542 --> 00:38:54,000 it would not be the most efficient form 725 00:38:54,208 --> 00:38:55,958 to do particular tasks, 726 00:38:56,167 --> 00:38:57,708 repetitive tasks and so on. 727 00:38:57,875 --> 00:39:04,000 And yet we are obsessed with creating humanoid robots 728 00:39:04,167 --> 00:39:07,833 and robots that can look like us and beat us, in a way. 729 00:39:08,917 --> 00:39:11,708 SHATNER: Today, companies around the world are focused on designing 730 00:39:11,875 --> 00:39:15,667 and producing lifelike humanoid robots. 731 00:39:15,792 --> 00:39:20,042 So what's really behind this obsession to make smart machines 732 00:39:20,208 --> 00:39:22,583 in our own image? 733 00:39:22,750 --> 00:39:25,708 As humans, we are very preoccupied 734 00:39:25,875 --> 00:39:29,167 with the question of what makes us alive. 735 00:39:29,375 --> 00:39:32,333 And I think that building objects 736 00:39:32,500 --> 00:39:34,333 or fantasizing about objects 737 00:39:34,500 --> 00:39:36,583 that can do the things that people do, 738 00:39:36,708 --> 00:39:39,500 that can look the way that people look 739 00:39:39,708 --> 00:39:42,958 is a way of thinking through those boundaries 740 00:39:43,125 --> 00:39:47,292 between what is alive and what is not alive. 741 00:39:47,458 --> 00:39:51,208 KELLERMAN: As we get to the point where you can no longer distinguish 742 00:39:51,333 --> 00:39:53,000 between a robot and a human being, 743 00:39:53,125 --> 00:39:56,208 should they be allowed to be out on their own 744 00:39:56,375 --> 00:39:58,167 and express their own needs and wants, 745 00:39:58,333 --> 00:40:00,167 determine their own future, 746 00:40:00,333 --> 00:40:02,833 take what jobs they feel they deserve? 747 00:40:02,917 --> 00:40:07,417 Or are they forever under the ownership of humans? 748 00:40:07,583 --> 00:40:10,708 It's a new state of recognizing entities 749 00:40:10,875 --> 00:40:13,542 that does not label them as human or nonhuman. 750 00:40:13,708 --> 00:40:16,375 THOMPSON: A lot of robot ethicists are actually pushing 751 00:40:16,542 --> 00:40:19,542 for robotic citizenship and android rights. 752 00:40:19,708 --> 00:40:22,083 So this opens up questions. 753 00:40:22,250 --> 00:40:24,250 Are these things gonna have rights? 754 00:40:24,417 --> 00:40:26,542 Are they gonna have more rights than some people? 755 00:40:26,708 --> 00:40:30,083 And so the technology is coming out much faster 756 00:40:30,208 --> 00:40:32,417 than the laws and than the ethics 757 00:40:32,583 --> 00:40:35,333 and the philosophies can really keep up with at the moment. 758 00:40:35,500 --> 00:40:37,500 SHATNER: Could there come a day when robots 759 00:40:37,708 --> 00:40:40,833 live among us as part of human society? 760 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:44,000 And might these smart machines of our making 761 00:40:44,208 --> 00:40:45,667 continue to evolve to the point 762 00:40:45,833 --> 00:40:49,167 that they become not just our equals 763 00:40:49,375 --> 00:40:51,083 but our superiors? 764 00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:57,708 WHITE: So, right now, robots are unaware that they're robots. 765 00:40:57,875 --> 00:41:00,333 What happens when they become aware? 766 00:41:00,500 --> 00:41:03,500 There will be a point where the machines 767 00:41:03,667 --> 00:41:05,167 will have a degree of sentience. 768 00:41:05,333 --> 00:41:07,167 They will know what they are 769 00:41:07,333 --> 00:41:10,333 and why they're here 770 00:41:10,417 --> 00:41:12,708 and what their reason for being is, actually. 771 00:41:12,917 --> 00:41:18,417 And we need to prepare ourselves as a society for that point. 772 00:41:20,042 --> 00:41:23,500 It's remarkable to think that, one day soon, 773 00:41:23,708 --> 00:41:25,667 it may be hard to tell the difference between a human 774 00:41:25,833 --> 00:41:27,708 and a robot. (chuckles softly) 775 00:41:27,833 --> 00:41:30,583 While it's clear that these intelligent machines 776 00:41:30,750 --> 00:41:33,167 can make many tasks easier... 777 00:41:34,208 --> 00:41:39,125 ...how much trust should we put in our cutting-edge creations? 778 00:41:40,167 --> 00:41:43,167 Will we be able to control the robots we construct? 779 00:41:43,333 --> 00:41:47,500 Or will they decide one day 780 00:41:47,708 --> 00:41:50,375 that humans are no longer necessary? 781 00:41:50,542 --> 00:41:51,625 (sucks teeth) 782 00:41:51,833 --> 00:41:53,375 It's a chilling scenario that, 783 00:41:53,542 --> 00:41:56,458 fortunately, now 784 00:41:56,667 --> 00:41:59,917 remains unexplained. 785 00:42:00,042 --> 00:42:02,083 CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY A E NETWORKS