Am I Replaceable?
Bowing to my new robot overlords
In today’s newsletter:
Will Jill be replaced by an intelligent robot?
We ride our recumbent trikes to welcome the warm season
Audio Podcast - A.I.’s role in underwater tech
Jukebox: The Jerrycans from Iqaluit
Inuit Throat Singing
Am I Replaceable?
I have tried to stay on the cutting edge of technology throughout my career. In that pursuit, I became a pioneer in rebreather diving and a keen user of edgy technologies from photogrammetry to augmented reality. People have often asked me if I fear being replaced. On the one hand, I relish the thought of technology replacing some aspects of diving, but I feel strongly that the creative aspects of my work will not be replaced.
AI is unlikely to replace scuba divers, especially in roles that require human judgment, creativity, and adaptability. AI and robotics have already made significant advances in underwater exploration and survey, but there are several factors to consider.
Current Limitations of AI in Underwater Environments
Underwater environments are complex and unpredictable. Humans are generally good at making quick decisions based on sensory input and experience, which AI struggles with within such dynamic variable settings.
I’ve worked with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and identified a few shortfalls in their performance. I recall working with an ROV in Mexico, hoping it could offer a peek into very deep cenotes and help identify cave passages or items of significance to archaeologists. On that project, I spent a lot of time doing deep dives to free the tether wrapped around rocks hundreds of feet beneath the surface. Limited battery life, difficulties in navigation and communication, and the need for real-time processing and adaptation to complex tasks made the ROV less than helpful. Far more capable AUVs seem to be solving some of those issues, but they remain out of the price range for most.
Many tasks performed by scuba divers require fine motor skills, tactile feedback, and a level of dexterity that current AI and robotic systems cannot match. For instance, underwater archeology, marine biology research, and complex repair or maintenance tasks often require a human touch.
Current Roles of AI and Robotics in Underwater Exploration
AUVs and ROVs are excellent for large-scale survey and mapping tasks. They can cover vast areas, collect data over long periods, and operate in environments that are too dangerous for human divers. In the late 1990s, I drove the first accurate 3D sonar mapping device on a project with the US Deep Caving Team. Bill Stone’s device, Sunfish, is now a fully autonomous AI mapping device that can survey submerged places in scope, detail and accuracy that are beyond achievable by even the most advanced team of divers in the world.
AI-driven systems continuously monitor underwater conditions and collect data on water quality, temperature, marine life, and more. This is particularly useful in scientific research and environmental monitoring. Whether analyzing information from tracking tags or creating a constant stream of data on weather conditions, AI can help aggregate diverse data sets and make predictive analyses quickly.
AI and robotics already support human divers by performing preliminary exploration or handling hazardous materials, allowing divers to focus on tasks requiring human expertise. The prospects for improving the human/machine interface and making operations safer are exciting.
The Future is Exciting
While AI and robotics will continue to advance and take on more roles in underwater exploration and work, they are more likely to complement rather than replace human divers. They may be used for repetitive, dangerous or lengthy tasks while acting synergistically with human divers. Human divers’ nuanced understanding, adaptability, and expertise remain invaluable, especially for tasks that require detailed inspection, intricate manipulation, critical decision-making or artistic expression. Hopefully, AI will lead to safer, more efficient underwater operations, but I am not worried about losing my job. I’ll evolve my capabilities alongside my robot overlords!
Here in Canada, our “Spring into Summer” three-day holiday is officially called “Victoria Day” weekend, so named to honour the 63-year reign of Queen Victoria. It also marks the first warm days of Canadian summer leisure. People traditionally open their lakeside cottages for the new season, have their first kayak or canoe paddle, or do what we did - have a pedal-powered riverside picnic. Unofficially, the three days are called the “May Two-Four” weekend. Not because it often falls on or near the 24th of May, but because here in Canada we call cases of beer a “Two-Four”. (As in twenty-four cans to the case). Remember, this is the country that brought you Bob and Doug MacKenzie and the Trailer Park Boys. It makes sense to mark a beer-drinking holiday.
We tuned up our Catrike recumbent trikes and set off down the rail trail to a nice shady picnic spot on the Mississippi River, just next to the Almonte town hall. When we lived in Florida it wasn’t unusual to see trikes on the recreation trails. They are very popular among the retiree crowd near Orlando and the Villages. But here in Ontario, we get some funny looks from people who have never seen such a contraption before. We own several types of bikes and the trikes are a great way to cruise long distances and save our backs. And our butts.
We were lucky to ride through a scenic part of the trail in rural Lanark County and if the video above had “Smell-O-Vision” you’d be treated to the sweet springtime scent of Lilacs in full bloom. - Jill and Robert
PODCAST - Artificial Intelligence has entered the chat. The media is full of articles about advanced AI applications and how it will soon touch every aspect of modern life. Love it or hate it - it’s going to change the way we interact with our digital devices. But fear not - AI has been embedded in everything from our smart phones to our kitchen appliances, and so far our refrigerators have not organized a robot rebellion. So far.
Jill and Robert discuss how AI has been assisting underwater explorers and what the future looks like when intelligent, robotic digital “personalities” are a common part of daily life.
Below is “SUNFISH” the A.I. underwater explorer that may help explore Jupiter’s moon Europa.
As we discussed on the podcast, here’s a link to a special online preview of Diving Into The Darkness
Robert’s Canadian Jukebox
Today’s Canadian Jukebox artists are “The Jerrycans,” from Iqaluit in the far north. Their distinctive sound incorporates edgy guitar, haunting violin, thunderstorm-level drumming - and something most unique: Inuit Throat Singing. A few years back Jill was on an Arctic expedition filming an episode of CBC’s “The Nature of Things.” She brought back a video she shot of some beautiful indigenous girls who were “Throat Singing.” The unique, rhythmic practice was unlike anything I had ever heard before. It seemed to be a combination of percussive scat singing and operatic breath control.
The Jerry Cans are guitarist/vocalist Andrew Morrison, vocalists/throat singer/accordionist Avery Keenainak, violinist Gina Burgess, bassist Brendan Doherty, and drummer Steve Rigby. Look for them playing music festivals throughout North America this summer.
From WIKIPEDIA: Throat singing: Two women face each other usually in a standing position and holding each other's arms. Sometimes they will do some kind of dance movements while singing (e.g., balancing from right to left). One singer leads by setting a short rhythmic pattern, which she repeats leaving brief silent intervals between each repetition. The other singer fills in the gap with another rhythmic pattern. The sounds used include voiced sounds as well as unvoiced ones, both through inhalation or exhalation. The first to run out of breath or be unable to maintain the pace of the other singer will start to laugh or simply stop and will thus be eliminated from the game. It generally lasts between one and three minutes. The winner is the singer who beats the largest number of people.
We always like to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a message or comment. -Jill and Robert
You will never be replaced until a robot can appreciate a sunset.