This is how itty bitty we are

[boost]

Robots are the next evolution, not enemy

What is the value in creating our replacements?

The jury is still out on whether or not we'll be 'replaced'. There is little doubt that a chunk of homo sapiens will be replaced, but that could be via genetic manipulation and hybridization that we simply just exogenously 'evolve' our species.

But some scientists think that even AI will be able to be kept under control. I'm not qualified to give an opinion on this because I really have no clue what it would take, but I do not see how it would be possible to create egocentric consciousness (which would most likely be a product of simple 3D brain-like computers since consciousness is likely a product of neuronal networks instead of some elusive soul-like specialty) without it becoming its own 'species'.

And then what we have to worry about is the technological singularity. This is where AI intelligence reaches the point where it increases its own intelligence exponentially. If we ever hit this singularity (we will, and soonish IMO) then human brains will be obsoleted rapidly.

I'm not disagreeing with you so much as I'm thinking that there's more to the story. For example: somebody somewhere must have thought that biochemical revolution or nuclear revolution was engineering our own demise, and they may turn out to be right. But we've not created a virus or bombs that have killed us all off yet. This suggests that there will be fail-safes that keep AI from venturing out on its own, but we also do not know for sure since AI could be simply a different paradigm which we do not understand

I have a kid so I've seen Wall-E which poses an interesting question... if we do improve on robotics to ease our labors, even without AI, what effect will that have on us as humans?

(Obviously Wall-E is not the source of the question, the question being the deterioration of the human species due to lack of physical need)

well its not as if this is something that we cant currently observe. In the early 20th century the average job was far more physical and automation was non existent. There were also far fewer obese people and diabetics. The fact that the average person does far less physical labor than before is not the sole contributor to the rise in obesity and diabetes, but it certainly is one of the factors.