William Shatner, Star Trek’s Captain Kirk, takes on an AI chatbot

AFP

Legendary “Star Trek” actor William Shatner has been spending time exploring the brand new frontier of synthetic intelligence.

The actor finest recognized for enjoying Captain Kirk on Star Trek talked with ProtoBot, a tool that mixes holographic visuals with conversational AI, and grappled with philosophical and moral questions concerning the know-how.

“I’m asking ProtoBot questions that ordinarily a computer doesn’t answer,” Shatner informed Reuters. “A computer answers two plus two, but does ProtoBot know what love is? Can ProtoBot understand sentience? Can they understand emotion? Can they understand fear?”

The ProtoBot gadget was developed by hologram know-how supplier Proto Inc with conversational AI developer CodeBaby.

It shall be launched on September 8 and out there free to house owners of Proto M or Proto Epic hologram items.

The smaller Proto M unit prices round $6,500 whereas the life-size Proto Epic sells for $65,000. Proto intends to launch a less expensive mannequin for customers within the subsequent 18 months.

Shatner is a paid adviser for Proto.

Raffi Kryszek, the principal AI architect and head of innovation at Proto Hologram, stated the gadget was designed to be taught from conversations however it may well solely create one thing when prompted to take action.

“It shouldn’t just think about it on its own,” he stated.

Lawmakers all over the world are racing to place safeguards round using AI because the know-how quickly evolves.

Proto hopes its gadget shall be utilized by educators, scientists and companies to provide you with new concepts, or for medical diagnostics, recommendation or simply companionship.

“We’re at a crossroads everywhere,” Shatner stated. “We’re going to burn up or we’re going to exceed all expectations and this is part of the crossroads. This will help us decide the current way to move on or it will defeat us. We’re at a really interesting time in history.”