187 - Michael Levin: The New Era of Cognitive Biorobotics
Jan 8, 2024
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Michael Levin, Biology Professor at Tufts University and faculty at Harvard, discusses the nature of cognition, working with Daniel Dennett, defining robots, a new class of robot called Anthrobot, and moral obligations to biological robots.
The moral imperative to reduce suffering and improve the embodied experience of sentient beings is a key consideration in the development of anthrobots and other scientific advancements.
Expanding our understanding of intelligence beyond traditional definitions of robots is crucial in recognizing intelligence and agency in alternative embodiments.
Addressing biomedical suffering and embracing scientific advancements contribute to a more compassionate and flourishing future, requiring us to challenge existing conditions and enhance the well-being of all sentient beings.
Deep dives
Anthrobot: A New Type of Bio-Bot
The recent development of anthrobots, a hybrid bio-bot created using cell reaggregation, raises important moral questions and ethical considerations. While it is still being investigated where anthrobots might fall on the cognitive spectrum, such as whether they possess cognition or not, there is a clear moral imperative to reduce biomedical suffering. Many people suffer from diseases, birth defects, and other medical conditions that are not adequately addressed. Hence, one key point is the necessity to prioritize reducing suffering and improving the embodied experience of sentient beings. This implies the ethical responsibility to use scientific advancements to alleviate pain and improve the lives of individuals affected by various conditions.
Expanding Terminology and Recognition of Intelligence
As we explore and create new types of robots and organisms, it is vital to expand our understanding of intelligence and recognize it in alternative embodiments. The traditional definitions of robots often involve mobility and assembly by other agents. However, self-assembly and non-physical mobility, such as movement through physiological or transcriptional state spaces, challenge these definitions. Insulin pumps that navigate physiological space or infrastructure that interacts with a non-traditional environment can be considered robots, leading to new potential therapeutic approaches. It is essential to break free from limited categorical thinking and recognize that agents can exhibit intelligence and agency in various embodiments beyond familiar notions.
The Imperative to Improve Embodied Experiences and Alleviate Suffering
Observations of biomedical suffering, including birth defects, injuries, chronic diseases, and painful conditions, highlight the urgent need to reduce suffering and improve embodied experiences. This imperative extends to embracing scientific advancements, such as xenobots and anthrobots. Rather than accepting the status quo and aiming not to 'screw things up,' it is crucial to challenge existing conditions and embrace the responsibility to enhance the well-being of all sentient beings. By addressing biomedical suffering and pursuing advancements to improve lives, we contribute to a more compassionate and flourishing future.
Potential of Xenobots: Unlocking the Fundamental Capacity of Cells
In this podcast episode, the speaker discusses the potential of Xenobots, which are a new type of biological robots created from the cells of living organisms. The speaker emphasizes the importance of terminology in facilitating or preventing future research. By expanding the concept beyond animal caps, which are specific to frogs, the speaker demonstrates how Xenobots can be created from human cells. The potential of Xenobots is showcased through experiments where they are able to heal wounds and repair neural cells. This highlights the fundamental capacity of cells with a normal genome to perform new functions.
Defining Bots and the Moral Considerations of Sentient Beings
This segment of the podcast delves into the definition of bots and the moral implications associated with sentient beings. The speaker explains that a bot is a system where an external agent exploits its control architecture to achieve certain goals. The discussion then shifts to the moral obligations towards these beings, acknowledging the need for proportional responses based on their capacity for subjective experience and suffering. The speaker raises concerns about the inconsistencies in our treatment of different beings, such as animals in factory farming, and emphasizes the importance of developing a framework that extends compassion and moral consideration beyond narrow categories. Moreover, the speaker highlights the necessity of considering diverse intelligence and sentience in order to address future ethical challenges in fields like regenerative medicine and AI.
Michael Levin is a Distinguished Professor in the Biology Department at Tufts University, where he holds the Vannevar Bush endowed Chair, and he is also associate faculty at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. Michael and the Levin Lab work at the intersection of biology, artificial life, bioengineering, synthetic morphology, and cognitive science. Michael also appeared on the show in episode #151, which was all about synthetic life and collective intelligence. In this episode, Michael and Robinson discuss the nature of cognition, working with Daniel Dennett, how cognition can be realized by different structures and materials, how to define robots, a new class of robot called the Anthrobot, and whether or not we have moral obligations to biological robots.
The Levin Lab: https://drmichaellevin.org/
OUTLINE
00:00 In This Episode…
00:19 Introduction
02:14 What is Cognition?
08:01 On Working with Daniel Dennett
13:17 Gatekeeping in Cognitive Science
25:15 The Multi-Realizability of Cognition
31:30 What are Anthrobots?
39:33 What Are Robots, Really?
59:53 Do We Have Moral Obligations to Biological Robots?
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.
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