The rise of the machines: Fact or fiction?

In acclaimed new British science fiction series Humans, state-of-the-art humanoid robots called “synths” are household servants, manual workers, office drones and companions; functional creations that exist purely to make human lives easier. But when some of the robots start to think and feel for themselves, troubles arise.

Science fiction has long been captivated by the idea of the “singularity” – a hypothetical moment in the future when robots, computers and machines can match, or outperform humans at any intellectual task, to the point where they will be able to self-improve, rendering us humans obsolete.

The Terminator films are built on the fear that some day there will be a war between humanity and our robotic creations, which will rise up and turn against us.

In these days of drone warfare, it is a fear that researchers in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) recognise. In July, an open letter from The Future of Life Institute was presented to the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, calling for a ban on the development of AI weapons – robots capable of killing autonomously, without human control.

The letter was signed by leading...