Question

Task 3. Write your opinion to the topic: ‘Will robots have an ability to think?’ Write 3 detailed paragraph. Tips for writing: Write your opinion Include reasons and examples Use linking words Use topic-related vocabulary accurately Use future active and/or passive and/or future continuous forms

Answer 1

Ответ:

Researchers Gave Robots the Ability to Think Ahead

The technology allows robots to "learn a range of visual object manipulation skills entirely on their own."

THINKING AHEAD

Humans have the ability to think about their action before they act. For example, if a person is about to kick a ball, they may wonder where the ball will go and how likely it is they’ll have to move to the ball’s new location. Robots (especially those that are not equipped with advanced artificial intelligence) are typically incapable of doing this, as they’re often programmed to perform simple tasks.

A team of researchers at the University of California Berkeley have determined that robots can be capable of such perception. To prove it, they’ve developed a new robotic learning technology that enables robots to think ahead in order to “figure out how to manipulate objects they have never encountered before.”

The team has taken to calling this technology “visual foresight” — but no, it doesn’t give robots the ability to predict the future. At least not yet.

The Berkeley researchers applied the technology to a robot called Vestri, enabling it to make predictions about what its cameras will see several seconds into the future. Equipped with new foresight, Vestri demonstrated the ability to move small objects around on a table without touching or knocking over nearby obstacles. The most impressive part, however, was that the technology allowed the robot to perform the small task without human input, supervision, or prior knowledge of physics.

“In the same way that we can imagine how our actions will move the objects in our environment, this method can enable a robot to visualize how different behaviors will affect the world around it,” explained Sergey Levine, assistant professor at Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences — the lab behind the technology’s development. “This can enable intelligent planning of highly flexible skills in complex real-world situations.”

Объяснение:

IMPROVED LEARNING

Visual foresight is based on “convolutional recurrent video prediction,” or dynamic neural advection (DNA). According to the team, DNA-based models are able to predict how the pixels in an image will move from one frame to another based on what the robot does. As Chelsea Finn, a doctoral student in Levine’s lab and inventor of the original DNA model, explained, robots like Vestri can now “learn a range of visual object manipulation skills entirely on their own.”

Frederik Ebert, a graduate student in Levine’s lab who worked on the project compared their work with robots to the way humans learn to interact with objects in their environment:

“Humans learn object manipulation skills without any teacher through millions of interactions with a variety of objects during their lifetime,” said Ebert. “We have shown that it possible to build a robotic system that also leverages large amounts of autonomously collected data to learn widely applicable manipulation skills, specifically object pushing skills.”

Levine notes the capabilities of Vestri are still somewhat limited, though additional work is being done to improve visual foresight. One day, the technology could be used to help self-driving cars while on the road, better equipping them to handle new situations and unfamiliar objects.

The technology needs various improvements before that would be possible, though, such as more refined video prediction and methods to gather more specific video data. Following these advancements, robots may be able to perform more complex tasks such as lifting and placing objects or handling soft and easy to deform objects like cloth or rope. Perhaps one day you won’t even need to fold your own laundry — your robot assistant could do it for you.

Объяснение:

Answer 2

In my opinion, the question of whether robots will have the ability to think is a fascinating one, and it hinges on how we define "thinking." While I believe that robots will continue to advance in terms of processing information and performing complex tasks, true conscious thought, in the way humans experience it, is unlikely to be replicated by machines. Robots can simulate decision-making through advanced algorithms, but this process is fundamentally different from human cognition.

One reason I hold this view is that robots lack consciousness and subjective experience. Human thought and consciousness are products of complex interactions within our brains, shaped by emotions, experiences, and a sense of self. While robots can mimic certain aspects of human behavior, they lack the capacity to feel emotions, have self-awareness, or possess a genuine understanding of the world. Without these essential components, it is difficult to argue that robots can truly "think" in the same way humans do.

Furthermore, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning continue to push the boundaries of what robots can do. They can process vast amounts of data, learn from it, and make decisions based on patterns and algorithms. However, this is a form of pattern recognition and problem-solving rather than conscious thought. As technology evolves, robots may become more adept at mimicking human-like behavior and interactions, but the underlying processes will remain fundamentally different from human cognition. In conclusion, while robots will undoubtedly become more intelligent and capable, the ability to truly think, with consciousness and self-awareness, is likely to remain a uniquely human attribute.