Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Can a Machine Become Self-Aware? (The Sciences of Computing and Cognition)

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Exploring Science Through Science Fiction

Part of the book series: Science and Fiction ((SCIFICT))

  • 1320 Accesses

Abstract

One of the major characters in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation is the android Commander Data (played by Brent Spiner). Created by Dr. Noonien Soong (also played by Spiner), the twenty-fourth century’s foremost authority on cybernetics, Data are more than just an intelligent, humanoid robot. He is a sentient being. He is so sophisticated in design that he is aware of his own existence. He was introduced in the pilot episode, “Encounter at Farpoint”, at which time he was a Lieutenant Commander, and a member of the original crew of the newly designed galaxy-class starship Enterprise (NCC-1701D) [1]. An ongoing theme in the series is Data’s quest to become more like his human shipmates. In this chapter, we will consider what it might take to create something like Data. In order to do this, we will need to understand something about his technical specifications.

RIKER: Your file says that you’re a …

DATA : Machine. Correct, sir. Does that trouble you?

RIKER: To be honest, yes, a little.

DATA: Understandable, sir. Prejudice is very human.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

“Encounter at Farpoint”

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Star Trek: The Next Generation – “Encounter at Farpoint” (Corey Allen, Paramount 1987). Data’s quest to be human [DVD season 1, disc 1, scene 11]

    Google Scholar 

  2. Star Trek: The Next Generation – “The Measure of a Man” (Robert Scheerer, Paramount 1989). Data’s storage capacity and processor speed [DVD season 2, disc 3, scene 5]

    Google Scholar 

Information Storage

  1. Reber, P.: What is the memory capacity of the human brain? Sci. Am. Mind, May 2010. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-the-memory-capacity/

  2. For Your Eyes Only (John Glen, MGM 1981). Disc pack [DVD scene 8]

    Google Scholar 

Analog Calculating Devices and the First “Computers”

  1. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (Irwin Allen, Twentieth Century Fox 1961). Slide rule [DVD scene 8]

    Google Scholar 

  2. Top Secret Rosies (Leann Erickson, PBS 2010). History of computing; women in scientific computing [DVD scene 2 and full episode]

    Google Scholar 

  3. Destination Moon (Irving Pitchel, George Pal Production/Eagle Lion 1950). History of computing; Bush Differential Analyzer [DVD scene 4]

    Google Scholar 

  4. When Worlds Collide (Rudolph Maté, Paramount 1951). History of computing; Bush Differential Analyzer [DVD scene 2]

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hidden Figures (Theodore Melfi, 20th Century Fox 2016). Humans as the first “computers” [DVD scene 3]

    Google Scholar 

Digital Computers

  1. Hidden Figures (Theodore Melfi, 20th Century Fox 2016). IBM 7090 replaces human “computers” [DVD scenes 14, 19, 21, and 24]

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hidden Figures (Theodore Melfi, 20th Century Fox 2016). Katherine Johnson calculates to more digits than IBM 7090 [DVD scene 26]

    Google Scholar 

  3. IBM 7090 technical fact sheet, 4 Oct 1960. https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP7090.html

  4. Friden STW 10 Calculator. http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_690862

  5. Brenner, A.E.: The computing revolution and the physics community. Physics Today, Oct 1996

    Google Scholar 

  6. Moore’s Law plot created by Wgsimon, and reproduced under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

    Google Scholar 

  7. The 1984 Macintosh commercial may be viewed in its entirety on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhsWzJo2sN4

  8. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (Leonard Nimoy, Paramount 1986). Macintosh computer [DVD scene 10]

    Google Scholar 

  9. NOVA – “Smartest Machine on Earth” (Michael Bicks, PBS 2011). IBM’s WATSON, consisting of 2800 parallel processors, learns how to play JEOPARDY and eventually beats human champions [DVD scene 4]

    Google Scholar 

  10. “Is Watson the smartest machine on earth?” Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore City, 2011. https://www.csee.umbc.edu/2011/02/is-watson-the-smartest-machine-on-earth/

Machine Learning

  1. Bengio, Y.: Machines who learn. Sci. Am. 314(6), 46–51 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gopnik, A.: Making AI more human. Sci. Am. 316(6), 60–65 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kwon, K.: Self-taught robots. Sci. Am. 318(3), 26–31 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Chappie (Neill Blomkamp, Columbia Pictures 2015) [DVD scene 5]

    Google Scholar 

Beyond Digital Computers

  1. Star Trek: Voyager – “Caretaker” (Winrich Kolbe, Paramount 1995). Bioneural circuitry [DVD season 1, disc 1, scene 3]

    Google Scholar 

  2. The Editors: The next 20 years of microchips. Sci. Am. 302, 82–89 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Einstein, A., Podolsky, B., Rosen, N.: Can quantum-mechanical description of physical reality be considered complete? Phys. Rev. 47, 777 (1935)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bell, J.S.: On the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox. Physics. 1, 195 (1964)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hanson, R., Shalm, K.: Spooky action. Sci. Am. 319(6), 58–65 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  6. NOVA – “Einstein’s Quantum Riddle” (Jamie Lochhead, PBS 2019). Definitive test of Bell’s Inequality demonstrates quantum entanglement

    Google Scholar 

  7. Shah, A.: D-Wave’s $15 million quantum computer runs a staggering 2000 qubits. PC World, 24 Jan 2017. https://www.pcworld.com/article/3161034/d-waves-quantum-computer-runs-a-staggering-2000-qubits.html

  8. Google introduces Bristlecone, a 72-qubit quantum processing chip. https://ai.googleblog.com/2018/03/a-preview-of-bristlecone-googles-new.html

  9. Russell, J.: IBM quantum update: Q system one launch, new collaborators, and QC center plans. HPC Wire, 10 Jan 2019. https://www.hpcwire.com/2019/01/10/ibm-quantum-update-q-system-one-launch-new-collaborators-and-qc-center-plans/

The Human Brain as an Information Storage and Processing System

  1. Star Trek (The Original Series) – “The Changeling” (Marc Daniels, Paramount 1967). Machine memory, human memory [DVD vol. 19, ep. 37, scenes 1–4 or full episode]

    Google Scholar 

  2. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (Leonard Nimoy, Paramount 1986). Restoring Spock’s memory and knowledge [DVD scene 3]

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mason, R.A., Schumacher, R., Just, M.A.: How Physicists Think: the neural basis of advanced physics concepts. (submitted for publication, 2019)

    Google Scholar 

Intelligent Robots

  1. Metropolis (Fritz Lang, UFA 1927). Image conveyed by Czech word, from which robot is derived [DVD opening scene: shift change]

    Google Scholar 

  2. Jason and the Argonauts (Don Chaffey, Columbia Pictures 1963). Talos, earliest reference to artificial creature with human form [DVD scene 15]

    Google Scholar 

  3. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, MGM 1968). HAL 9000 computer; intelligent robot [DVD scene 15 (or 15 and 26, if time permits)]

    Google Scholar 

  4. Robot Hall of Fame. http://www.robothalloffame.org/. http://www.carnegiemellontoday.com/article.asp?aid=12

  5. Star Trek (The Original Series) – “The Ultimate Computer” (John Meredyth Lucas, Paramount 1968). M-5 multitronic unit; intelligent robot [DVD vol. 27, ep. 53 scene 5 or full episode]

    Google Scholar 

The Turing Test

  1. Turing, A.: Computing machinery and intelligence. Mind LIX. 236, 433 (1950). http://mind.oxfordjournals.org/content/LIX/236/433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. The Imitation Game (Morten Tyldum, Anchor Bay 2014). Feature film based on the life of Alan Turing and his code-breaking work during World War II

    Google Scholar 

Human–Computer Interactions: Beyond the Turing Test

  1. Ex Machina (Alex Garland, Universal 2014). Machine consciousness [DVD scenes 2 and 3]

    Google Scholar 

  2. Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, Warner Brothers 1982, Director’s Cut 2007). Test for consciousness [DVD scenes 3 and/or 7]

    Google Scholar 

Robot Behavior

  1. Forbidden Planet (Fred McLeod Wilcox, MGM 1956). Robby the Robot; Asimov’s Laws of Robotics [DVD scenes 4 and 5]

    Google Scholar 

  2. I, Robot (Alex Proyas, Twentieth Century Fox 2004). Asimov’s Laws of Robotics [DVD scene 22 (3 Laws dilemma – tragic)]

    Google Scholar 

  3. I, Robot [DVD scenes 3 and 4 (3 Laws dilemma – humorous)]

    Google Scholar 

  4. Robot and Frank (Jake Schreier, Stage 6 Films 2012). A robot programmed to lie, if necessary, to ensure the wellbeing of a human [DVD scene 9]

    Google Scholar 

Artificial Consciousness

  1. Transcendence (Wally Pfister, Alcon Entertainment & Warner Brothers 2014). Quantum computing and machine consciousness [DVD scene 2]

    Google Scholar 

  2. Koch, C., Tononi, G.: A test for consciousness. Sci. Am. 304, 44 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Colossus the Forbin Project (Joseph Sargent, Universal 1970). A machine becomes self-aware

    Google Scholar 

  4. Home page for Hans Moravec and predictions of fully intelligent robots. http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/~hpm/. https://frc.ri.cmu.edu/~hpm/talks/revo.slides/power.aug.curve/power.aug.html

  5. Moravec, H.: Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind, p. 170. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Transcendence (Wally Pfister, Alcon Entertainment & Warner Brothers 2014). Transfer of consciousness into a computer [DVD scenes 3 and 4]

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chappie (Neill Blomkamp, Columbia Pictures 2015). Transfer of consciousness into a robot body [DVD scene 15]

    Google Scholar 

  8. Star Trek (the original series) – “Mudd’s Women” (written by Stephen Kandel, Desilu/Paramount 1966). The promise of immortality in an android body [DVD season 1, vol. 2, episode 4]

    Google Scholar 

  9. Metropolis (Fritz Lang, UFA 1927). Transforming the Machine Man into the likeness of Maria and transferring Maria’s consciousness into the Machine Man [DVD scene 21]

    Google Scholar 

Ethical Treatment of Sentient Machines

  1. Bicentennial Man (Chris Columbus, Columbia Pictures 1999). Asimov’s Laws of Robotics; abuse of robots [DVD scenes 1–3]

    Google Scholar 

  2. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (Steven Spielberg, Warner Brothers 2001). Human obligations to sentient robots [DVD scene 1 (robots that love), scene 17 (I’m a boy)]

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chappie (Neill Blomkamp, Columbia Pictures 2015). Abuse of robots by fearful humans [DVD scene 8]

    Google Scholar 

  4. YouTube video of the Boston Dynamics “Atlas” robot in action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVlhMGQgDkY

  5. YouTube video of Carnegie Mellon’s Rescue robot, CHIMP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAHVxqf83Jk

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Barry B. Luokkala

Authors
  1. Barry B. Luokkala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Luokkala, B.B. (2019). Can a Machine Become Self-Aware? (The Sciences of Computing and Cognition). In: Exploring Science Through Science Fiction. Science and Fiction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29393-2_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation