Do androids dream of electric gods?

[guillaumeb]

From the article, actually titled:Robots in Japan are now Buddhist priests

It seems there is literally no job that is safe from the rising tide of automation, including those who guide us into the afterlife.
At the curiously named “Life Ending Industry” funereal services convention in Japan on Wednesday, a plastics firm called Nissei Eco showed off a version of SoftBank’s Pepper robot that it had coded to chant traditional Buddhist funeral prayers, Reuters reported.

To read more:

https://qz.com/1060932/softbanks-pepper-robot-is-now-a-buddhist-priest-in-japan/

The title is, of course, in appreciation of Phillip K. Dick and his incredible writing.

[MineralMan]

1. Sounds like some people who used to hang out in airports.

I think they were Hindus of some sort, though, since they used the word Krsna (Krishna) a lot, and weren't really robots. At least I don't think they were robots.

[guillaumeb]

2. We were awakened one time at 4am by a group of Krishna people in Quebec.

They were singing and dancing in a public campground. If they were robots, they were robots with decent dancing skills.

[MineralMan]

3. Now, see, I wouldn't appreciate that one bit.

That's sort of forcing religion on people who are otherwise minding their own business, which is sleeping. I believe I'd have some pointed requests for that group of Hare Krishna folks. Their belief shouldn't disturb others, I think. It's OK in an airport, where one can simply walk on to another place, though.

I've not found the Krishna folks to be very interested in conversation, though, so I generally ignore them entirely.

[Cicada]

4. Maybe AI will be religious - they have invented their own languages already.

Some AI involves multiple units working together - such as in arranging things in physical locations. Some of the deep learning AI have literally developed their own language to communicate coordination. Really. Languages we have no understanding of. Chatting away to get the red block in the middle of the black blocks etc. So why not Cargo Cult religion next? I chose Cargo Cult because it strikes me as the most logical religion. Their God is a metal bird which brings us unbelievable gifts called "Cargo."

[guillaumeb]

5. Is religion exclusive to sentient beings?

If so, at what point, if ever, will AI artifacts be considered to be sentient?

[Cicada]

7. Those are genuinely interesting questions.

The future looks like it will be even weirder than Portland.

[saidsimplesimon]

6. guillaumeb K&R

Stephen Hawking has commented on the dangers of AI. Maybe "The Terminator" was ahead of its time?