Will robots take our place?

Too often we consider technology - especially the most innovative ones such as robotics and artificial intelligence - as something foreign. Conversely, we literally live immersed in the most disparate technological solutions, from the most ancient such as the wheel to the most modern such as the smartphone, so much so that it would be impossible to imagine the world without the continuous inventions of human beings. In short, the history of man is also the history of the technologies that we have developed and that accompany us on our journey. And knowing technology is essential to understand our time and prepare for the future that awaits us.

This is the underlying theme of the book "Shall we all be robots?" (Il Castoro Editore, 2022, pp. 144) which is part of the popularization series for young people "The 15 Questions", edited by Pierdomenico Baccalario and Federico Taddia.

In each of the volumes of the series, the curators are supported by an expert who helps to orientate oneself in issues that are not always simple, as is the case with contemporary technology.

In "Will We All Be Robots?" leading the young readers is Massimo Temporelli, an expert who for 25 years has dealt with the dissemination of scientific, technological and innovation culture.

At Temporelli we first propose one of the fifteen questions that make up the book: will robots take our place on Earth?

“For now, there are no robots that can think like humans and take their place entirely. However, what will happen more and more often in the near future is that the value that the human being brings in a given activity is questioned by robots capable of carrying out the same tasks. And the fundamental issue is not whether it will happen, but how it will happen ”.

Help us understand ...

“Certainly robots will replace humans in certain tasks. It is sure, but also right that this is the case because the replacement will take place in those areas of the most repetitive and boring work. We will be replaced in those activities in which human specificities make very little difference and this will leave us more space to devote ourselves to design, creativity, the most rewarding phases of work. We will therefore have to get used to a new way of conceiving our work commitment and we should do it quickly because technologies are improving rapidly and becoming less and less expensive ”.

So is there a less frustrating future ahead of us thanks to technology?

“This is what we hope for and we must work hard to build a future with these characteristics, which is not a foregone conclusion when new technologies are at stake. The technology of the future, therefore, must be designed to be functional to the needs of human beings. And for this to happen, our minds must be trained to approach technology in a critical way since we are young. This is the message we want to convey in the volume Will we all be robots ?. We must learn to ask ourselves questions about technology, we must ask ourselves how it can improve our life at home, at school, at work. We must ask ourselves what tasks a robot should perform to positively affect our existence. Often these are questions that do not have a univocal answer, but it is essential to train as a child to think about these questions ".

How important is it to know the technologies we use?

“It is not important: it is fundamental. Many problems that afflict Italy today are due to technological ignorance. Let's take Bill Gates for example. We may not like him as a character, but together with Steve Jobs he marked the last decades of our history. Well Bill Gates at thirteen, in 1968, already had the opportunity to study computer science in his school and to do programming. At the time, computer science represented the vanguard of technology as robotics and artificial intelligence are today, subjects that are currently taught in American schools. In Italy, on the other hand, we are decades behind schedule, with some exceptions. This delay translates into a gap for all of us ”.

What are the consequences?

“This ignorance of technology results in an inability to read the complications and complexities of the present. In practice, we cannot keep up with the times: we cannot as individuals, Italian companies cannot and Italy cannot. In every era, "handling" cutting-edge technology has always given an advantage. It was valid when you had to chip a stone or light a fire, it is even more valid today that the technologies are so complex and widespread ".