Is a Replicator Possible Now?

[EdEarl]

According to Wikipedia,

Quote

Self-replication is any behavior of a dynamical system that yields construction of an identical copy of itself. Biological cells, given suitable environments, reproduce by cell division. During cell division, DNA is replicated and can be transmitted to offspring during reproduction. Biological viruses can replicate, but only by commandeering the reproductive machinery of cells through a process of infection. Harmful prion proteins can replicate by converting normal proteins into rogue forms.^[1]Computer viruses reproduce using the hardware and software already present on computers. Self-replication in robotics has been an area of research and a subject of interest in science fiction. Any self-replicating mechanism which does not make a perfect copy will experience genetic variation and will create variants of itself. These variants will be subject to natural selection, since some will be better at surviving in their current environment than others and will out-breed them.

This definition is sufficient, but this discussion is about robotic self replication, but not about nanotechnology or cellular replication. . Finally the question, "Is a Replicator Possible Now," is too open; conditions follow:

• A robot with dexterity and mobility like humans
• Computer processing distributed, using both local and cloud based AI
• Plans for the robot and tools necessary to make itself complete and accessible by the robot
• Raw materials and energy provided for the robot to use making itself
• Teachers to led the robot and AI through building at least one copy of itself (Will it be a robot selfie?)

The initial skills the robot needs to master include, but are not limited to, tool and die maker. Additional skills may be making glass, pottery, cabinets, etc. Given grinding stones and raw materials, a tool and die maker can make rudimentary tools such as knives, saws and wheels. Using simple tools, more complex tools can be made, including foundries, presses, lathes, mills, etc. and ultimately machines to make computers and robots. Finally, assemble computer, robot and software to make a copy.

This version of a replicator is limited to making an exact copy of itself because it always uses the plans; although, if it is ever able to modify the plans, then the system can change. It is this possibility that interests me the most, because I believe the things already discussed are possible and perhaps being developed. There is a bit of evidence that an AI can be creative, for example the site creativeai.net has about four dozen examples of AI creativity. In addition, AlphaGo found an early move that generations of masters had not discovered.

That AlphaGo found a move is not remarkable, since by design it played games against itself to find winning strategies and moves. That no human had discovered that move makes it noteworthy, it only required that the AI knew the game rules and could play; thus, teaching an AI the basic sciences should allow it to simulate things before it does them. For example simulate walking across a plain strewn with objects, such that it determines a shorter path or perhaps the shortest path across the plain before taking a single step. Since AlphaGo was not conscious, I believe an AI that knows science will be able to make discoveries without being conscious; thus, will be able to improve upon its plans. Whether some discoveries require consciousness is a question I cannot answer and will not speculate.

Edited August 28, 2017 by EdEarl
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