What can robots teach us about human interaction? | Pim Haselager | TEDxHaarlem

a couple of years ago I was watching a

a couple of years ago I was watching a football game you know it goes was not

football game you know it goes was not

football game you know it goes was not all that exciting but towards the end it

all that exciting but towards the end it

all that exciting but towards the end it became really exciting and I was getting

became really exciting and I was getting

became really exciting and I was getting into it home team trying to score a goal

into it home team trying to score a goal

into it home team trying to score a goal I wanted to beer but I didn’t want to

I wanted to beer but I didn’t want to

I wanted to beer but I didn’t want to leave the screen to go to the kitchen

leave the screen to go to the kitchen

leave the screen to go to the kitchen and then I thought how convenient it

and then I thought how convenient it

and then I thought how convenient it would be to have a beer robot you know

would be to have a beer robot you know

would be to have a beer robot you know this little fridge on wheels that would

this little fridge on wheels that would

this little fridge on wheels that would come in I would just call out get me a

come in I would just call out get me a

come in I would just call out get me a beer and come but then it dawned on me

beer and come but then it dawned on me

beer and come but then it dawned on me what if it would come in and would say

what if it would come in and would say

what if it would come in and would say you’re not getting another one because

you’re not getting another one because

you’re not getting another one because you had enough beer already excuse me

you had enough beer already excuse me

you had enough beer already excuse me but maybe my wife programmed it she

but maybe my wife programmed it she

but maybe my wife programmed it she knows me or maybe my doctor or maybe

knows me or maybe my doctor or maybe

knows me or maybe my doctor or maybe maybe my health insurance company or my

maybe my health insurance company or my

maybe my health insurance company or my employer so all of a sudden I wasn’t

employer so all of a sudden I wasn’t

employer so all of a sudden I wasn’t quite sure about how convenient this

quite sure about how convenient this

quite sure about how convenient this robotic future of ours was going to be

robotic future of ours was going to be

robotic future of ours was going to be and at the same time it’s clear that

and at the same time it’s clear that

and at the same time it’s clear that robots will come into our houses there

robots will come into our houses there

robots will come into our houses there will be in our living rooms there will

will be in our living rooms there will

will be in our living rooms there will be in our kitchens

be in our kitchens

be in our kitchens kitchens there will be in our gardens

kitchens there will be in our gardens

kitchens there will be in our gardens and in our beds and the reasons for

and in our beds and the reasons for

and in our beds and the reasons for these are actually quite simple first of

these are actually quite simple first of

these are actually quite simple first of all technically to become really much

all technically to become really much

all technically to become really much better better sensors better observation

better better sensors better observation

better better sensors better observation better motors more motoric capacities

better motors more motoric capacities

better motors more motoric capacities more processing speed so they will learn

more processing speed so they will learn

more processing speed so they will learn very quickly but most of all the most

very quickly but most of all the most

very quickly but most of all the most important reason that robots will be in

important reason that robots will be in

important reason that robots will be in our homes is a very mundane one that

our homes is a very mundane one that

our homes is a very mundane one that will become cheaper the price goes down

will become cheaper the price goes down

will become cheaper the price goes down five seven years ago at my department of

five seven years ago at my department of

five seven years ago at my department of artificial intelligence at the robot

artificial intelligence at the robot

artificial intelligence at the robot university of Naimah and we bought the

university of Naimah and we bought the

university of Naimah and we bought the now one of the robots you see everywhere

now one of the robots you see everywhere

now one of the robots you see everywhere and we had to pay well over a tenth

and we had to pay well over a tenth

and we had to pay well over a tenth euro last year we bought one it was

euro last year we bought one it was

euro last year we bought one it was below 5,000 if that development

below 5,000 if that development

below 5,000 if that development continues then pretty soon there will be

continues then pretty soon there will be

continues then pretty soon there will be around six seven eight hundred euros and

around six seven eight hundred euros and

around six seven eight hundred euros and then you can buy a nice robot at the

then you can buy a nice robot at the

then you can buy a nice robot at the prize of a TV or a refrigerator an M

prize of a TV or a refrigerator an M

prize of a TV or a refrigerator an M people will start buying them and when

people will start buying them and when

people will start buying them and when people start buying there will be a

people start buying there will be a

people start buying there will be a market so there will be better robots a

market so there will be better robots a

market so there will be better robots a better products and then it will go fast

better products and then it will go fast

better products and then it will go fast and Oh more or less the same will happen

and Oh more or less the same will happen

and Oh more or less the same will happen as what happened in the 80s with a

as what happened in the 80s with a

as what happened in the 80s with a personal computer at the beginning no

personal computer at the beginning no

personal computer at the beginning no one had a computer then the Commodore 64

one had a computer then the Commodore 64

one had a computer then the Commodore 64 appeared and we started buying these

appeared and we started buying these

appeared and we started buying these things I remember programming my first

things I remember programming my first

things I remember programming my first basic program number 64 with a little

basic program number 64 with a little

basic program number 64 with a little tape you know how the memory was just

tape you know how the memory was just

tape you know how the memory was just beautiful and within 10 years almost

beautiful and within 10 years almost

beautiful and within 10 years almost every household had a computer so we can

every household had a computer so we can

every household had a computer so we can expect something similar like that to

expect something similar like that to

expect something similar like that to happen within maybe 5 10 15 years who

happen within maybe 5 10 15 years who

happen within maybe 5 10 15 years who knows now that’s where the challenges

knows now that’s where the challenges

knows now that’s where the challenges begin because first of all robots and

begin because first of all robots and

begin because first of all robots and artificial intelligence in general is

artificial intelligence in general is

artificial intelligence in general is this weird combination of smartness

this weird combination of smartness

this weird combination of smartness superhuman intelligence and incredible

superhuman intelligence and incredible

superhuman intelligence and incredible stupidity they can be the success they

stupidity they can be the success they

stupidity they can be the success they can be the zest goal they’re incredible

can be the zest goal they’re incredible

can be the zest goal they’re incredible in analyzing huge amount of data and

in analyzing huge amount of data and

in analyzing huge amount of data and finding patterns that would be invisible

finding patterns that would be invisible

finding patterns that would be invisible to us at the same time they’re not very

to us at the same time they’re not very

to us at the same time they’re not very good in common sense just understanding

good in common sense just understanding

good in common sense just understanding what the situation is all about

what the situation is all about

what the situation is all about they have no social intelligence no

they have no social intelligence no

they have no social intelligence no empathy so they’re gonna be really

empathy so they’re gonna be really

empathy so they’re gonna be really different from us and we will have to

different from us and we will have to

different from us and we will have to deal with this weird combination of

deal with this weird combination of

deal with this weird combination of super intelligence and stupor stupidity

super intelligence and stupor stupidity

super intelligence and stupor stupidity and that’s going to show for instance

and that’s going to show for instance

and that’s going to show for instance when we give them instructions and they

when we give them instructions and they

when we give them instructions and they will follow it literally instead of

will follow it literally instead of

will follow it literally instead of thinking about what we actually mean

thinking about what we actually mean

thinking about what we actually mean when we give them those instructions or

when we give them those instructions or

when we give them those instructions or there won’t be that easily able to make

there won’t be that easily able to make

there won’t be that easily able to make exceptions to the rule you know it’s a

exceptions to the rule you know it’s a

exceptions to the rule you know it’s a football game beer well this is just you

football game beer well this is just you

football game beer well this is just you know a normal competition game so but ok

know a normal competition game so but ok

know a normal competition game so but ok this is the final for the Champions

this is the final for the Champions

this is the final for the Champions League so yeah there’s an exception

League so yeah there’s an exception

League so yeah there’s an exception well if you ask me okay that’s so

well if you ask me okay that’s so

well if you ask me okay that’s so another challenge who would be that

another challenge who would be that

another challenge who would be that different generations might be affected

different generations might be affected

different generations might be affected differently by robots and they will have

differently by robots and they will have

differently by robots and they will have different values different expectations

different values different expectations

different values different expectations different hopes or fears in relation to

different hopes or fears in relation to

different hopes or fears in relation to robots so imagine for instance this

robots so imagine for instance this

robots so imagine for instance this young kid five six year old and he or

young kid five six year old and he or

young kid five six year old and he or she will be growing up with a robot

she will be growing up with a robot

she will be growing up with a robot friend and his robot friend will always

friend and his robot friend will always

friend and his robot friend will always be supportive play the games that the

be supportive play the games that the

be supportive play the games that the guy the the child wants or the girl

guy the the child wants or the girl

guy the the child wants or the girl wants you know if there’s something to

wants you know if there’s something to

wants you know if there’s something to comfort robot will always be there will

comfort robot will always be there will

comfort robot will always be there will be a perfect friend that’s great but I

be a perfect friend that’s great but I

be a perfect friend that’s great but I grew up with a brother and a sister now

grew up with a brother and a sister now

grew up with a brother and a sister now don’t get me wrong they were great and

don’t get me wrong they were great and

don’t get me wrong they were great and they still are and I loved him dearly

they still are and I loved him dearly

they still are and I loved him dearly but they never wanted to play the games

but they never wanted to play the games

but they never wanted to play the games that I wanted to play and if I wanted to

that I wanted to play and if I wanted to

that I wanted to play and if I wanted to play with the toy then especially my

play with the toy then especially my

play with the toy then especially my little brother who was much faster than

little brother who was much faster than

little brother who was much faster than me would always get it first but these

me would always get it first but these

me would always get it first but these little frictions actually helped me to

little frictions actually helped me to

little frictions actually helped me to develop my social skills you know they

develop my social skills you know they

develop my social skills you know they prepared me for later at school or at

prepared me for later at school or at

prepared me for later at school or at work or in society at large

work or in society at large

work or in society at large to deal with situations that would

to deal with situations that would

to deal with situations that would require some negotiation for instance so

require some negotiation for instance so

require some negotiation for instance so how certain are we that the social

how certain are we that the social

how certain are we that the social development of infants will really be

development of infants will really be

development of infants will really be supported by robot friends it’s a big

supported by robot friends it’s a big

supported by robot friends it’s a big topic another topic is for instance the

topic another topic is for instance the

topic another topic is for instance the likes or the dislikes that people have

likes or the dislikes that people have

likes or the dislikes that people have now my mother she’s 87 she’s doing very

now my mother she’s 87 she’s doing very

now my mother she’s 87 she’s doing very well but she needs increasingly some

well but she needs increasingly some

well but she needs increasingly some support she would be absolutely

support she would be absolutely

support she would be absolutely horrified by the idea of having a robot

horrified by the idea of having a robot

horrified by the idea of having a robot in her house helping her out she would

in her house helping her out she would

in her house helping her out she would feel socially isolated neglected to be

feel socially isolated neglected to be

feel socially isolated neglected to be supported by a thing but there’s other

supported by a thing but there’s other

supported by a thing but there’s other possibilities here too so at one time I

possibilities here too so at one time I

possibilities here too so at one time I gave a lecture in Nijmegen at the

gave a lecture in Nijmegen at the

gave a lecture in Nijmegen at the library it was a young woman or

library it was a young woman or

library it was a young woman or somewhere in her 20s in a wheelchair and

somewhere in her 20s in a wheelchair and

somewhere in her 20s in a wheelchair and afterwards she came to me she said well

afterwards she came to me she said well

afterwards she came to me she said well you know when I have to take a bath I

you know when I have to take a bath I

you know when I have to take a bath I need assistance but I don’t want these

need assistance but I don’t want these

need assistance but I don’t want these caregivers to see me like this

caregivers to see me like this

caregivers to see me like this naked in the bathtub

naked in the bathtub

naked in the bathtub for me a robot would be nicely

for me a robot would be nicely

for me a robot would be nicely impersonal it would you know protect my

impersonal it would you know protect my

impersonal it would you know protect my privacy much better than could be done

privacy much better than could be done

privacy much better than could be done with with people so you can see that

with with people so you can see that

with with people so you can see that there’s all these kinds of different

there’s all these kinds of different

there’s all these kinds of different questions about what we want and why

questions about what we want and why

questions about what we want and why with robots in the near future and

with robots in the near future and

with robots in the near future and there’s an additional point maybe the

there’s an additional point maybe the

there’s an additional point maybe the biggest challenge of all that we not

biggest challenge of all that we not

biggest challenge of all that we not often realize except on days like today

often realize except on days like today

often realize except on days like today and that generations mix all the time

and that generations mix all the time

and that generations mix all the time take a simple house situation at home

take a simple house situation at home

take a simple house situation at home you know you have parents you have the

you know you have parents you have the

you know you have parents you have the kids you have the grandparents visiting

kids you have the grandparents visiting

kids you have the grandparents visiting and while we’re interacting during those

and while we’re interacting during those

and while we’re interacting during those situations we do that with enormous

situations we do that with enormous

situations we do that with enormous grace and ease you talk to a child and

grace and ease you talk to a child and

grace and ease you talk to a child and you talk slightly differently than you

you talk slightly differently than you

you talk slightly differently than you do to an out adult may be slightly more

do to an out adult may be slightly more

do to an out adult may be slightly more simple slightly more cheerful with an LG

simple slightly more cheerful with an LG

simple slightly more cheerful with an LG or more let’s say businesslike then with

or more let’s say businesslike then with

or more let’s say businesslike then with someone with the beginning dementia you

someone with the beginning dementia you

someone with the beginning dementia you also talk more simple but not in the

also talk more simple but not in the

also talk more simple but not in the same way that you did to the child maybe

same way that you did to the child maybe

same way that you did to the child maybe out of respect for greater wisdom etc so

out of respect for greater wisdom etc so

out of respect for greater wisdom etc so we adapt to this mix of generations very

we adapt to this mix of generations very

we adapt to this mix of generations very fluently almost automatically without

fluently almost automatically without

fluently almost automatically without thinking so how are we going to prepare

thinking so how are we going to prepare

thinking so how are we going to prepare our robots to deal with those kind of

our robots to deal with those kind of

our robots to deal with those kind of mixed situations it’s very clear that

mixed situations it’s very clear that

mixed situations it’s very clear that the situation is going to require a lot

the situation is going to require a lot

the situation is going to require a lot of subtlety and we don’t even understand

of subtlety and we don’t even understand

of subtlety and we don’t even understand very well the mechanisms operative in us

very well the mechanisms operative in us

very well the mechanisms operative in us it’s not going to be a one-size-fits-all

it’s not going to be a one-size-fits-all

it’s not going to be a one-size-fits-all kind of solution when I think about this

kind of solution when I think about this

kind of solution when I think about this and I teach to my students you know we

and I teach to my students you know we

and I teach to my students you know we have in the AI department at night and

have in the AI department at night and

have in the AI department at night and around 180 new students coming in every

around 180 new students coming in every

around 180 new students coming in every year and they are learning to develop

year and they are learning to develop

year and they are learning to develop the technology for the next decade it’s

the technology for the next decade it’s

the technology for the next decade it’s that generation they’re always between

that generation they’re always between

that generation they’re always between twenty and twenty four more or less I

twenty and twenty four more or less I

twenty and twenty four more or less I get older every year my students stay

get older every year my students stay

get older every year my students stay exactly the same

exactly the same

exactly the same Hof era

come harder and harder but they will

come harder and harder but they will develop this new technology and for them

develop this new technology and for them

develop this new technology and for them it’s kind of easy there are among the

it’s kind of easy there are among the

it’s kind of easy there are among the early adopters of the technology they

early adopters of the technology they

early adopters of the technology they have the latest you know gadgets and

have the latest you know gadgets and

have the latest you know gadgets and stuff and they’re the easy adapters to

stuff and they’re the easy adapters to

stuff and they’re the easy adapters to it they don’t need to read a manual you

it they don’t need to read a manual you

it they don’t need to read a manual you don’t even have manuals in you anymore

don’t even have manuals in you anymore

don’t even have manuals in you anymore because they don’t require them it’s

because they don’t require them it’s

because they don’t require them it’s like they were born knowing what the

like they were born knowing what the

like they were born knowing what the buttons do in everything I have to study

buttons do in everything I have to study

buttons do in everything I have to study they don’t but their products will work

they don’t but their products will work

they don’t but their products will work for people of other generations too and

for people of other generations too and

for people of other generations too and so the big challenge for instance for me

so the big challenge for instance for me

so the big challenge for instance for me and my colleagues at the ìiî

and my colleagues at the ìiî

and my colleagues at the ìiî Department is how to prepare them for

Department is how to prepare them for

Department is how to prepare them for that difference in perspectives that

that difference in perspectives that

that difference in perspectives that they need to take in order to develop

they need to take in order to develop

they need to take in order to develop the right kind of products the robots

the right kind of products the robots

the right kind of products the robots that will fit the kind of values the

that will fit the kind of values the

that will fit the kind of values the expectations or the hopes of the fears

expectations or the hopes of the fears

expectations or the hopes of the fears or different generations now in design

or different generations now in design

or different generations now in design there’s this beautiful tool that’s been

there’s this beautiful tool that’s been

there’s this beautiful tool that’s been developed for for people that make all

developed for for people that make all

developed for for people that make all kinds of let’s say simple products it’s

kinds of let’s say simple products it’s

kinds of let’s say simple products it’s called the old-age suit for instance I’m

called the old-age suit for instance I’m

called the old-age suit for instance I’m not sure if you ever seen them but they

not sure if you ever seen them but they

not sure if you ever seen them but they use this for students to get a feel of

use this for students to get a feel of

use this for students to get a feel of the perspective of the older generation

the perspective of the older generation

the perspective of the older generation I don’t want to make you depressed but

I don’t want to make you depressed but

I don’t want to make you depressed but let me summarize this so you get goggles

let me summarize this so you get goggles

let me summarize this so you get goggles that block your view a little bit so you

that block your view a little bit so you

that block your view a little bit so you see worse you get earphones that muffle

see worse you get earphones that muffle

see worse you get earphones that muffle the sound so you hear less there’s this

the sound so you hear less there’s this

the sound so you hear less there’s this kneecap that makes you not able to bend

kneecap that makes you not able to bend

kneecap that makes you not able to bend your knee so you have to you know walk

your knee so you have to you know walk

your knee so you have to you know walk excuse me for saying this but this is

excuse me for saying this but this is

excuse me for saying this but this is fine for let’s say physical

fine for let’s say physical

fine for let’s say physical understanding the understanding of the

understanding the understanding of the

understanding the understanding of the physical situation that may be elderly

physical situation that may be elderly

physical situation that may be elderly generations encounter but we don’t have

generations encounter but we don’t have

generations encounter but we don’t have anything like a cognitive old-age suit

anything like a cognitive old-age suit

anything like a cognitive old-age suit exactly how do you prepare students for

exactly how do you prepare students for

exactly how do you prepare students for let’s say the smaller periods of

let’s say the smaller periods of

let’s say the smaller periods of concentration that you can achieve when

concentration that you can achieve when

concentration that you can achieve when you get a little bit older or maybe the

you get a little bit older or maybe the

you get a little bit older or maybe the deeper understanding of the motivation

deeper understanding of the motivation

deeper understanding of the motivation of people behind their actions due to

of people behind their actions due to

of people behind their actions due to your longer life experience in your

your longer life experience in your

your longer life experience in your greater wisdom that’s also a cognitive

greater wisdom that’s also a cognitive

greater wisdom that’s also a cognitive difference although my students of

difference although my students of

difference although my students of course would not be willing to

course would not be willing to

course would not be willing to acknowledge this very easily the same

acknowledge this very easily the same

acknowledge this very easily the same goes for a cognitive suit for very young

goes for a cognitive suit for very young

goes for a cognitive suit for very young children we’ve all been 6 or 7 years old

children we’ve all been 6 or 7 years old

children we’ve all been 6 or 7 years old but do we really remember how we

but do we really remember how we

but do we really remember how we perceive the world in those days so one

perceive the world in those days so one

perceive the world in those days so one of the biggest challenges actually in

of the biggest challenges actually in

of the biggest challenges actually in robotics these days for the kind of

robotics these days for the kind of

robotics these days for the kind of problems that I just mentioned is how to

problems that I just mentioned is how to

problems that I just mentioned is how to prepare this new generation of

prepare this new generation of

prepare this new generation of developers for the difference in

developers for the difference in

developers for the difference in perspective and well what I suggested

perspective and well what I suggested

perspective and well what I suggested them in my college days too is there’s

them in my college days too is there’s

them in my college days too is there’s only one way discuss it talk to your

only one way discuss it talk to your

only one way discuss it talk to your parents to your grandparents ask them

parents to your grandparents ask them

parents to your grandparents ask them how they like the technology what they

how they like the technology what they

how they like the technology what they don’t like about the technology what

don’t like about the technology what

don’t like about the technology what they don’t like about the implications

they don’t like about the implications

they don’t like about the implications of the technology what they are afraid

of the technology what they are afraid

of the technology what they are afraid of what they would prefer ask them don’t

of what they would prefer ask them don’t

of what they would prefer ask them don’t think for the other generations just ask

think for the other generations just ask

think for the other generations just ask them so in a way robotics makes us

them so in a way robotics makes us

them so in a way robotics makes us understand the beauty and the difficulty

understand the beauty and the difficulty

understand the beauty and the difficulty of this enormous generation mix in which

of this enormous generation mix in which

of this enormous generation mix in which we found ourselves and it’s by producing

we found ourselves and it’s by producing

we found ourselves and it’s by producing these machines that are not capable of

these machines that are not capable of

these machines that are not capable of doing what we do that we learn to

doing what we do that we learn to

doing what we do that we learn to appreciate ourselves actually more we

appreciate ourselves actually more we

appreciate ourselves actually more we see by building models in robotics the

see by building models in robotics the

see by building models in robotics the limitations of our own understanding so

limitations of our own understanding so

limitations of our own understanding so as we were here I think today on stage

as we were here I think today on stage

as we were here I think today on stage and and you in the audience we adapt to

and and you in the audience we adapt to

and and you in the audience we adapt to each other to members of different

each other to members of different

each other to members of different generations which is great great ease

generations which is great great ease

generations which is great great ease and facility robotics makes us

and facility robotics makes us

and facility robotics makes us understand how complex this is but also

understand how complex this is but also

understand how complex this is but also how valuable most of all how beautiful

how valuable most of all how beautiful

how valuable most of all how beautiful this generation mixes thank you very

this generation mixes thank you very

this generation mixes thank you very much

much

much [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]