A Robot Commits Suicide?

Famous Kannada novelist and scholar T R Subba Rao, (Talukina Ramaswamaiah Subba Rao), popularly known as Ta. Ra. Su. (ತ. ರಾ. ಸು.) was a nephew of T S Venkannaiah (Talukina Venkannaiah), a towering personality who did yeomen service to the growth of Kannada language. Subba Rao was well-known especially for his chain of historical novels centred around Chitradurga Fort and the royal families that ruled from that place. His novel "Durgaastamaana" (ದುರ್ಗಾಸ್ತಮಾನ), about the fall of Chitradurga fort and the Madakari Nayaka rule, earned him Sahitya Academy award. Many of his novels were made into movies and are even today considered as trend setters. Chandavalliya Tota (ಚಂದವಳ್ಳಿಯ ತೋಟ), Chakrateertha (ಚಕ್ರತೀರ್ಥ), Chandanada Gombe (ಚಂದನದ ಗೊಂಬೆ), Gaali Maatu (ಗಾಳಿ ಮಾತು), Bidugadeya Bedi (ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯ ಬೇಡಿ)i, Benkiya Bale (ಬೆಂಕಿಯ ಬಲೆ) were all popular films based on his novels. "Hamsageete" (ಹಂಸಗೀತೆ) was another classic movie that is considered as one of the finest movies made during the golden years of Kannada film industry and a milestone in the career of popular artiste and hero Anant Nag.

Three of his novels, Naagara Havu (ನಾಗರಹಾವು), Sarpa Matsara (ಸರ್ಪ ಮತ್ಸರ), Eradu Hennu Ondu Gandu (ಎರಡು ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಒಂದು ಗಂಡು) were merged and made into a movie under the title "Naagara Haavu", meaning King Cobra, by Puttanna Kanagal, one of the most famous directors of the South Indian film industry. This film launched the film career of Vishnuvardhan (ವಿಷ್ಣುವರ್ಧನ್) and Arati (ಆರತಿ), both evolving into highly popular hero and heroine of Kannada movies subsequently. The film was also made in Hindi later, with the title "Zahreela Insaan" and directed by Puttanna Kanagal himself. 

When the movie Naagara Haavu was released in 1972, there were mixed reviews. Some people said that they had never seen such a magnificent and big Cobra. Others had a different view though it was a big box office hit. Ta. Ra. Su. himself is reported to have said that it is not a Cobra but a "Kere Haavu", meaning it was a non-poisonous snake or "Rat Snake".

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Three new legislations dealing with criminal laws have come into force in India from 1st July, 2024. Titled Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Saakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), they replace Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal procedure Code (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act (IEA). Those in support of the new acts say that the three new acts are path-breaking and replace the age old British-era acts. Those against the acts say that they are draconian and will be used to silence the critics of people in power. Many in South India appear to have not gone into the acts themselves, but stuck in the titles itself. These are Sanskrit origin words and not acceptable, they say. English is fine, even if it is a foreign language, but we don't want Sanskrit names, is their line of thinking. 

The acts were passed by the parliament when most of the opposition pary members of parliament were suspended from the houses for various reasons. While the jury is out about the true test of these laws, the opinions expressed on them reminds us about the reviews we read and heard when the film "Nagara Haavu" was released.  A former Union Home Minister well known for his talents in drafting and changing drafts has even gone on record to state that these legislations have been drafted not by professionals, but by part-timers. Only the roles are reversed here. Those opposed to the Acts see big cobras in them whereas those in favour are seeing not even rat snakes, but beautiiful flowers!

This is the tale of three novels there, and three acts here.

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Many of us believed that natural and artificial could not co-exist. Like for example, teeth. The Lord gives us natural teeth. When they fall due to old age or extra affection shown by someone, we go to a dentist and get a set of artificial dentures. It is artificial teeth after natural. It was so thought for intelligence as well. One thought that artificial intelligence will come after we lose all natural intelligence. It ia not so. Now artificial intelligence not only exists with natural intelligence, it is in fact created by natural intelligence and is even threatening to overtake natural intelligence. The story of Frankenstein is coming to mind, For example, the picture given at the top of the blog post is said to have been created by using AI. 

Gurmi City Council in South Korea had created a Robot, called as "Robot Supervisor" for assisting people in various tasks when they visited its office. A picture of the robot is given alongside. It was working fine for quite some time there, until last week, when pressure of work caught up with it. 

Robots have been created for quite sometime to enable transfer of many routine, risky and monotonous tasks to them so that humans are safe. One thought that robots  will not feel tired after sometime and can work for long times without fatigue. They were also expected to work without pressure of work, the most common excuse given by humans for all their mistakes and blunders. Korea is one of the countries that has excelled in modren technology and created many robots for performing various tasks in all walks of life. 

Around 4 PM on Thursday, 4th July, 2024, it started "behaving strangely and circling in one spot as if some thing was there". Then it fell from second floor and was found in a heap between second and first floors. 

A picture of the robots body after the said suicide is given alongside.

This is called as the first "Robot Suicide" in the world and has sparked a worldwide debate. 

It happened in Seoul and hence no conspiracy theories have been floated so far. There is also no speculation yet as to whether there should be a commission of enquiry, and if so, whether it should be headed by a next generation robot or a retired superior court judge or a serving senior judge. 

While scientists and robot manufacturers may suggest that this was no suicide, but a routine malfunction that can happen anytime, labour unions may take up the cause of stress in working environment for their actually working colleagues. 

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What is the connection between "Robot Suicide" and the three criminal laws? 

When someone contemplates suicide, it should be executed with all heart and mind. Then there is final solution and salvation. But a failed attempt at suicide will bring in even more misery. An attempted suicide or even abetment of such attempt was punishable under Section 309 of the now repealed IPC. It was punishable with imprisonment up to one year or fine, or both!

Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 exempted such punishment in certain circumstances.

Fortunately for all suicide lovers, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which has come into effect from 1st July, 2024 does not have an equal provision against the Section 309 of its predecessor, IPC. Thus the act of attempt to suicide is actually decriminalised now.

One trusts that this good news for suicide lovers should be equally applicable for robots as well.

Did you Vacuum Clean Today?

There were two families living in the same street of the small town as we did, some fifty years ago.  The two families were headed by two brothers.  Their big ancestral house and other properties including agricultural lands was divided between them equally.  Elder brother occupied the eastern portion of the house and the younger brother occupied the western part.  Both were teachers by profession and commanded respect from the community, respect earned by their polished and courteous behavior.  The two families lived in perfect harmony and their children too had excellent relationship between them.  More importantly, the two wives, co-sisters as many would like to call, were like twin sisters.

Now a question may arise as to what is the purpose of this piece when everything is just perfect.  The two brothers differed in their views about sharing responsibilities of daily life.  The system of sharing routine work taught and practiced in the family were different.  Elder brother believed that the work should be shared by all the children at home irrespective of the nature of work.  All children, boys or girls, were expected to wash their respective clothes and clean their plates after taking food. Any child could be asked to attend outdoor work like bringing the items for daily use from shops.  The practice in the younger brother's house was totally different.  All indoor work was to be done by the girls and outdoor work was the exclusive domain of the boys.  A girl child would not be asked to go to the market for bringing vegetables or such other items.  No boy was asked to wash clothes or clean dishes.  This made an interesting study for me.  There were no such rigid rules in our own house; any child could be asked to do any work assigned to them.  Assignment of work depended basically on the nature of work, age of the child and capacity to carry out the desired purpose.  Both brothers were right in their own way though opinions may differ when the practices are viewed and evaluated in present times.

Much water has flowed under and over the bridge in fifty years.  Society and its outlook has changed enormously in this time span and there is little difference between men and women today as far as handling different jobs are considered.  Women are still discriminated against, but the spirit has indeed changed for the better. From running houses to flying planes and venturing into outer space, there is no bar and girls have been eminently successful in all vocations.  Many families are encouraging their daughters to take up professional jobs which were exclusive male bastions some years ago.  When both husband and wife are engaged in matching professional pursuits, sharing of work at home also becomes equally important.  Some men are excellent cooks, but the kitchen work still stays with the wife generally.  When the tasks are identified and apportioned, vacuum cleaning generally falls on the husbands side.  This provides an excellent chance to the wife to keep reminding the husband every week: "Have you vacuum cleaned today?"

One husband who was allotted vacuum cleaning at home did his job faithfully for several months.  But he probably disliked the job or disliked even more being reminded by the wife again and again.  There is a maxim in HRD: assign the toughest job to the laziest person in the team.  He will find the easiest way to do it, finish it fast and get back to lazying!  This young man could never be accused of being lazy. But he was innovative.  He found out an excellent way of getting the house vacuum cleaned - he did lot of research and found out about Neato.

Neato is a robot vacuum cleaner; only it does not look like a Rajanikanth model Robot. It looks just like a simple weighing scale. It is battery operated an is smart.  Armed with a 360 degree laser range finder, it scans the room, maps and plans its work and later systematically cleans the entire room.  Its sensors enable it to avoid obstacles like furniture, walls, stairs and even pets.  Its boundary markers tell Neato where not to go.  It can remove all the hairs dropped by pets like cats and dogs.  It takes care of itself and cleans all floor surfaces.  The dirt is collected in a dirt bin inside the robot and can be emptied.  No need for trash bags and recurring expenditure in buying such bags.  Filters provided in it can be changed periodically to make it more effective.  Its blades and batteries can be replaced. When the battery is replaced in the middle of the cleaning, it starts from where it left off and there is no need to set it again!

 

Now "Neato" vacuum cleans when the husband plays with his other electronic gadgets. He now has an assistant in "Neato" which is not a sweeper but a real vacuum cleaner.  He may be advising his friends (other husbands) to spend $ 400 to $500 on a "Neato" and avoid the frequent question form their wives: "Have you vacuum cleaned today?"

 

Of course, he may not know what the wife is thinking.  She must be thinking of another assignment for him to protect her right to go on asking that favorite question:  "Did you ...........today?"!