Robots were born in ancient Egypt

Every civilization had inventors trying to bring life to inanimate objects.

Robots assemble vehicles in the carmaker Kia Slovakia.Robots assemble vehicles in the carmaker Kia Slovakia. (Source: Sme)

Martin Spano is the author of Artificial Intelligence in a Nutshell, a book that explores the mystified subject of artificial intelligence (AI) with simple, non-technical language. Spano’s passion for AI began after he watched 2001: A Space Odyssey, but he insists this ever-changing technology is not just a subject for sci-fi novels and movies; artificial intelligence is present in our everyday lives.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

The story of Yan Yan

Read also: With fire came artificial intelligence Read more 

Yan Yan was a skillful engineer. He succeeded in creating an artificial being and presented it proudly to his master. The master was amazed. The creature was moving gracefully like a real human. It could sing beautifully and dance graciously. However, after a while, the artificial being started to flirt with ladies accompanying the master at the performance. This highly displeased the master. Yan, fearing the master's rage, showed the creation's internals to prove to his master that it was indeed only an artificial being that could be turned off. Then the master began dismantling the being piece by piece. He was astonished to see how it lost its ability to move, speak and see by removing its internal parts.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

Two bear incidents over weekend, an effort to revive Bratislava calvary, and storks in Trnava.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad