Anne Foerst

Biography:

Dr. Anne Foerst is currently a visiting professor for Theology and Computer Science at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York. She has served as the theological advisor for the Cog and Kismet Projects at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. She has spoken extensively on artificial intelligence, computer science, and concepts of personhood and dignity to academic audiences and the media.

She is also a contributing editor to Spirituality & Health and consults for National Public Radio. As the only robotics theologian in the country, her work has captured much media attention, including coverage in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and Science.

Past Shows:

	Robots & Humanity
	Tuesday December 21, 2004

Robotics theologian Anne Foerst, the author of the new book God in the Machine,offered commentary on some of the provocative issues that will arise with robotics in the years to come. As robots become increasingly sophisticated in future decades, she believes they eventually will reach a level where they could be considered "persons." Even with identical machines, their personalities would develop differently based on their unique experiences, she said. At that juncture in the future, we will face new types of ethical dilemmas, Foerst noted, such as do humans have the right to "turn off" a robot? She suggested that robots may eventually be viewed as a "partner species" to humanity, and that they might generate completely fresh ideas that we never thought about.She detailed her experiences working at MIT on their artificial intelligence project Kismet. While very primitive, the robot had social intelligence and the ability to use different vocal melodies. Interestingly, Fo ... More
Host: George Noory