Which comes first: cyborgs or androids?

Cyborgs are already here…arguably. Like those with pacemakers or artificial hearts. But if you mean “superhuman cyborgs” then the question is more interesting.

There are already chat bots that have human type heads like BINA48.

The BINA48 Artificial Intelligence Transcript Regarding Cruise Missiles

There are also various vaguely human shaped robots that could be made more human like.

There are also autonomous cars.

Combining these technologies into a robot body could make an android. It wouldn’t quite fool anybody that is was human…yet. But if the desire was there (and a large bucket of money) an android could be created.

However there are also pretty elaborate artificial robotic limbs.

Mind-controlled arm prostheses that ‘feel’ are now a part of everyday life

The capability certainly exists to boost the strength of an artificial limb. Which could fit the superhuman cyborg description. There just is no desire to do this and “scare people”.

YouTube: Artificial Limb from Army of Darkness

In summary, the technology already exists for both. I vote that a “superhuman cyborg” would be easier to create than an android, but I would bet the android will come first. It will be a slow, clunky, awkward android though, that might be tethered to a power supply.

See the original on Quora (and more):

Dave Brown on Quora

Leave a comment