logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2014
1h 8m

Episode 44: Killer Robots

Tamler Sommers & David Pizarro
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Jul 14
Episode 336: That Oceanic Feeling (Stanisław Lem's "Solaris")
David and Tamler tackle the first half of the VBW Madness topic tournament winner, Stanislaw Lem's science fiction masterpiece, Solaris, about a mysterious ocean planet that resists all attempts to understand and communicate with it. We talk about the epistemological obstacles th ... Show More
1h 35m
Jun 30
Episode 335: The Wright Stuff
The great Robert Wright returns to the podcast to talk about his new book The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning. We debate the magnitude of AI's potential impact, the natural selection analogy Bob presses in the book, and a whole lot more. Plus, a ... Show More
1h 30m
Jun 16
Episode 334: Let's Get Metaphysical
What are the legitimate ways to inquire about the nature of the universe? We have science, metaphysics, phenomenological inquiry, but what about mystical and meditative practices? David and Tamler talk about a paper that argues for allowing mystical insight into our broader searc ... Show More
1h 20m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2020
Killer Robots and the Future of War
Fully autonomous lethal weapons—robots that can select and engage targets without human intervention—are fast becoming possible. They might minimize casualties and protect civilians in times of war. But is it morally wrong to put a computer in charge of life or death decisions? C ... Show More
1h 3m
Apr 2021
Punish the Machine, Part 2
What will we do when robots and artificial intelligences break the law? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the issue of robot moral and legal agency. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listene ... Show More
1h 4m
May 2022
From the Vault: Punish the Machine, Part 1
What will we do when robots and artificial intelligences break the law? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the issue of robot moral and legal agency. (originally published 4/13/21)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
1h 1m
Sep 2024
The Future of Robot “Servants”
The human world is increasingly 'assisted' by a pantheon of automations. Yet this emergent reality brings to bear fundamental philosophical quandries about the nature of not only the mind but the soul of things called 'artificial.' In tonight's episode, sponsored by Illumination ... Show More
1h 14m
Dec 2016
Philosophy and the Future of Warfare
Can there be such a thing as a ‘moral’ war? Can it ever be right to kill innocent people, even in self-defence? Can there be such a thing as a ‘moral’ war? Can it ever be right to kill innocent people, even in self-defence? How do autonomous weapons, remote control weapons and dr ... Show More
1h 2m
Feb 2011
Love, Hate and Robots
<p>Will the hopeless romantics of the future fall in love with robots? In this episode, Robert and Julie explore the line between love and hate -- and what a world of beautiful robots may mean for the future. Tune in to learn more.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at ... Show More
32m 44s
Mar 2025
Good Robot #2: Everything is not awesome
When a robot does bad things, who is responsible? A group of technologists sounds the alarm about the ways AI is already harming us today. Are their concerns being taken seriously? This is the second episode of our new four-part series about the stories shaping the future of AI. ... Show More
53m 40s
Nov 2021
Robot as Threat
When a robot goes bad, who is responsible? It’s not always clear if the user or the manufacturer is liable when a robot leaves the lot. Human behavior can be complex—and often contradictory. Asking machines to interpret that behavior is quite the task. Will it one day be possible ... Show More
23m 11s
Mar 2021
Are ‘killer robots’ the future of warfare?
Could humans ever trust machines with the power to make life or death decisions on the battlefield? And have we already begun to?Advances in artificial intelligence are slowly creeping into almost every aspect of the world, including warfare. Suzanne Kianpour explores the technol ... Show More
22m 59s
Jun 2023
In and Around War(s): Season 2, Episode 4: War and the Cyberspace
Cyberspace is increasingly used for war related purposes. But does international humanitarian law apply to cyber operations? In the season’s 2 last episode, Paola Gaeta and Ana Srovin Coralli host a very special guest – Antonio Coco, a Lecturer in International Law at the Essex U ... Show More
31m 29s