Is a synth an android?

Synths and androids are two types of artificial beings that have similarities, but also key differences. Generally speaking, a synth is a robotic being designed to replicate humans in appearance and behavior, while an android is specifically a robot designed to look like a human.

According to Wikipedia, an android is “a robot or other artificial being designed to resemble a human, and often made from a flesh-like material” [1]. The term tends to refer specifically to humanoid robots and was popularized by science fiction stories and films.

The term “synth” has been more recently popularized by the television show Westworld, referring to the lifelike robotic “hosts” in the show. While not a standardized term, synths are generally understood to be advanced robots designed to mimic humans, not just in appearance but also in thinking, personality, emotions, and behavior.

So while an android replicates the physical form of a human, a synth aims to replicate the entire human experience. However, there is overlap between the terms, with advanced androids also exhibiting human-like traits beyond physical appearance. This article will explore synths and androids in more depth, including their origins, similarities, differences, cultural influences, legal rights, and future outlook.

Origins of Synths

The origins of synths date back to the mid-18th century. In 1748, the earliest known electromechanical musical instrument called the Denis d’or was built by Václav Prokop Diviš, a Czech priest and pioneer in the field of electricity. The Denis d’or produced musical tones using static electricity (Simmons, 2022).

In 1876, Elisha Gray, an American electrical engineer, invented the Musical Telegraph, which was one of the first electronic musical instruments that used self-vibrating electromagnetic circuits. Gray’s Musical Telegraph is considered a precursor to modern electronic musical instruments (Rhea, 2001).

The first widely used electronic instrument was the Telharmonium, also known as the Dynamaphone, invented by Thaddeus Cahill in 1897. The massive instrument used revolving electrical alternators to generate tones that could be transmitted over wires to receivers (Simmons, 2022).

In the early 1900s, vacuum tube technology allowed for the creation of electronic instruments like the Theremin, Ondes Martenot, and Trautonium. These early electronic instruments directly produced sound using oscillators and amplifiers, laying the foundation for modern synth technology (Simmons, 2022).

Robert Moog is credited with inventing the first commercially successful synthesizer in 1964, the Moog modular synthesizer. Moog’s synth used voltage-controlled oscillators and amplifiers modeled on analog computer technology, allowing musicians to synthesize and manipulate sounds in new ways (Rhea, 2001).

Sources:

Rhea, T. (2001). The Evolution of Electronic Musical Instruments in the 20th Century. https://arts.ucsc.edu/faculty/rhea/evolution.html

Simmons, B. (2022). History of the Synthesizer: From Early Origins to Modern Variations. Reverb. https://reverb.com/news/history-of-the-synthesizer-from-early-origins-to-modern-innovations

Origins of Androids

The concept of androids – humanoid robots capable of near-human intelligence and emotions – dates back to ancient times, including the story of Talos in Greek mythology. However, the modern concept of androids emerged in the 20th century with the advancement of robotics and artificial intelligence.

The term “android” was coined by the author Karel Čapek in his 1920 play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots), which featured artificial people assembled in a factory. This play introduced the word “robot” which comes from the Czech word for forced labor. Čapek envisioned the androids in his play as synthetic yet living artificial persons.^{[1](https://www.getorchard.com/blog/complete-history-androids-operating-system/)}

The first functioning humanoid robot was created in 1928 by Westinghouse Electric Corporation in collaboration with the Mechanical Engineering Department at Waseda University in Japan. Named WABOT-1, it could walk, grip objects, and move its limbs and head. This milestone showed the early potential of androids.^{[2](https://uxdesign.cc/why-does-android-still-have-a-bad-reputation-in-north-america-75ca3da2be22)}

In the 1960s, the first android that closely resembled a human was built at Waseda University. Waseda’s WABOT-1 and other early androids were important steps in the development of humanoid robotics and artificial intelligence underlying modern androids.

Similarities

Both synths and androids often have a humanoid appearance, with a head, torso, two arms, and two legs. This anthropomorphic design allows them to integrate into human environments and use tools designed for humans.

In terms of function, synths and androids are intelligent machines designed to replicate some capabilities of the human mind and body. They can perceive their environment through sensors, process information, and take actions. Both may have advanced AI that allows learning, reasoning, and autonomy.

The capabilities of synths and androids can include movement, speech, facial expressions, and task completion. High-end models may be indistinguishable from humans in capabilities like conversational ability. However, most current real-world examples have limited capabilities compared to humans.

Differences

There are several key differences between synths and androids in terms of their hardware, programming, and rights/status. Androids tend to be more robotic in appearance with obvious metallic and mechanical body parts, while synths have synthetic human-like flesh and organs covering mechanical internal components (Source).

Androids are programmed more like machines to logically complete tasks, while synths are programmed with personalities, emotions, and complex behavioral drives like humans. This allows synths to better blend in and emulate human mannerisms (Source).

Legally, androids are viewed as property with no rights. Synths on the other hand are synthetic humans and there is ongoing debate around granting them the same rights and protections as regular humans (Source).

Synths in Culture

Synths have become popular characters in science fiction books, movies, video games, and other media. They allow creators to explore themes around artificial intelligence, human-robot relationships, and what it means to be human. Some notable examples of synths in popular culture include:

In the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, synths known as androids play a central role. The story explores moral and ethical questions around the androids, who are almost indistinguishable from humans. This book was adapted into the classic sci-fi film Blade Runner.

The Fallout video game franchise features synths developed by the mysterious Institute. Players face choices about how to interact with these conscious synthetic beings who blend into human society. This has sparked much discussion around free will and the personhood of artificial intelligence.

The synth detective Valentine in Fallout 4 exhibits self-awareness, emotions, empathy, and a desire to do good. He challenges assumptions about what it means to be human or alive.

Synths have a prominent place in the new HBO show Westworld. They act as artificial humans in a Wild West theme park where guests can interact and even kill them. This probes issues around human cruelty and morality.

The way synths are portrayed often aims to make audiences ponder philosophical questions around technology, humanity, consciousness, and morality.

Androids in Culture

Androids have been featured in popular culture for decades through books, films, TV shows, and more. These fictional portrayals have shaped public perception and spurred philosophical debate around artificial intelligence. In literature, android characters appear as early as the 1800s such as in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. More modern examples portray androids with human emotions and personalities like Data in Star Trek and the replicants in Blade Runner.

In film, androids are often depicted as humanoid robots that are difficult to distinguish from humans. Movies like Blade Runner, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Ex Machina, and Westworld explore the implications of highly advanced A.I. Some films, like Bicentennial Man, focus on an android trying to become more human. Overall, the portrayal tends to be nuanced, with some androids exhibiting sinister objectives and others yearning for connection.

The line between human and android is frequently blurred in these fictional works. Stories wrestle with what constitutes life and sentience. They also act as a lens into society’s hopes, fears, and biases surrounding advanced technology and artificial intelligence. While purely fictional for now, these creative works influence how people think about a future where androids could become a reality.

Legal Rights

The question of whether synths and androids should have legal rights has been a complex issue explored in science fiction. Many stories grapple with the ethical implications of creating sentient synthetic beings. According to discussions on Reddit, the ending of Star Trek Picard deals with the struggle for synth rights after a synth ban was enforced in the Federation. Fans argue that the character of Hew will champion android rights and work to change attitudes after the ban.

On the Alternate History forums, users noted that synth rights is an evolution of the question of rights for artificial intelligences. There was debate over whether synthetic beings should be granted rights immediately after they are created or if rights should be granted incrementally as they demonstrate sentience. Overall, sci-fi often uses the android/synth rights issue to examine prejudice and expand ideas about personhood to new forms of intelligence.

Future Outlook

Both synths and androids are expected to continue advancing technologically in the coming years. According to one expert, “In the 2020s, the cutting-edge of synthesizer design is occupied by many of the same trends as wider consumer technology: wireless and portable designs, touchscreens, and integration with computers and mobile devices” (source). We may see synths that can be controlled wirelessly from a smartphone or tablet, for example.

Similarly, androids are predicted to become more lifelike, intelligent, and autonomous. According to robotics professor Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro, “The endpoint of android science is to develop an android that is indistinguishable from humans” (source). This could mean androids with more flexible movements, natural facial expressions, emotional intelligence, and the ability to safely navigate the human world.

Ethical concerns will also come to the forefront as these technologies advance. We may need regulations to protect privacy and safety as androids become more integrated into human society. Synths and androids alike should uphold human values as they evolve.

Conclusion

While synths and androids share some similarities in that they are both human-made machines designed to mimic humans, there are distinct differences between the two. Synths are primarily portrayed in science fiction as artificial beings designed to replicate humans in behavior and appearance while still maintaining a robotic interior. In contrast, androids are depicted as fully functional robots that take on a humanoid form.

Synths have been used as a literary device to explore themes of self-awareness, consciousness, autonomy, and what defines being human. Androids similarly tackle philosophical questions around artificial intelligence while focusing more on robotic capabilities. Regardless of whether true synthetic humans ever exist, the topics of synths and androids will likely remain a mainstay in speculative fiction and thought experiments about technology’s relationship to humanity.