March 22, 2020 9:31 pm

Explore the Rise of Robots with Neil deGrasse Tyson and C-3PO Himself, Anthony Daniels

Well, amidst the global pandemic we are all currently dealing with, the world keeps spinning. And one of the recent biggest movie releases of our spinning world was Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. And now it has hit the shelves for home release and we are thrilled to have C-3PO himself, Anthony Daniels, on our latest episode of StarTalk Radio to discuss his iconic character and the rise of robots today.

Neil is joined in-studio by comic co-host Chuck Nice and robot ethicist Kate Darling, PhD. Kate investigates “human-robot interaction from a social, legal, and ethical perspective” so she is just the person we want for this conversation. We start with a deceptively easy question – what makes C-3PO so likable? Find out why his humanity is the key to his likeability.

We explore how the concept of a robot has evolved. Discover the differences between an android and a robot. Kate tells us about the implementation of robots into more shared spaces like grocery stores, cafes, etc. You’ll learn about the “uncanny valley.” Kate explains why the goal of robotics should not be to re-create humans, but to make something better.

Anthony takes us behind-the-scenes of his legendary role as C-3PO. Find out why he almost didn’t take the part. Anthony shares why C-3PO’s subtle asymmetrical design enhances our ability to emotionally connect with him. We investigate humanity’s relationship with robots: what does our interaction with robots say about us as people? Can you create strong bonds with a robot? Do our laws protect robots?

Lastly, we discuss the role of film in creating a “fear” of artificial intelligence and advanced robotics. Kate explains why a rise of A.I. should not be something we worry about. All that, plus, you’ll find out what the largest ethical dilemma will be as we move forward into more robotic advancements.

Please join us tomorrow for C-3PO and the Rise of Robots, with Anthony Daniels at 3pm ET right here on our website, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn. If you’re a StarTalk+ Patron or an All-Access subscriber, you can watch or listen to this episode ad-free at 3pm, too.

That’s it for now. Keep Looking Up!
-Ian Mullen