Philip K. Dick, a science fiction author known for writing the story behind Blade Runner, died in 1982. In 2005, Hanson Robotics decided to resurrect him.

They built an android to look as much like him as possible. It can react to conversations using a microphone, motors in its face and cameras with face-recognition technology in its eyes. To recreate his personality, they put all of his writings from novels, personal letters and other sources into an algorithm. Here is the result:

Why would we want to create a robot that look just like a human? After all, they look just different enough to feel "off" but just similar enough that we cannot tell why, producing the extremely unpleasant uncanny valley effect when we look at them.

The Philip K. Dick android, while somewhat creepy-looking, provides an answer: AI can be used to "resurrect" people. If you have ever wondered, "What would they think about this?" about any historical figure, then you may be able to get an answer.

More importantly, "resurrected" historical figures can weigh in to help us understand and solve modern societal issues. Heck, maybe we should elect them to political office! Wouldn't a robot reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln be a better presidential candidate than the ones we have now?

The greatest minds in history could work together to figure out our toughest problems —

or to do anything, really, including entertainment. I would watch a public debate or a sitcom starring Socrates and Karl Marx. Maybe Star Trek: The Next Generation was onto something when one of its characters simulated playing poker with Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking:

While this technology opens up many new opportunities, it also raises many questions. For example, would you want to talk to an android —

or at least a personality algorithm —

for one of your ancestors, or someone that you admire? How about for a loved one who passed away? Would you be comfortable if an AI program was modelled after you, allowing people to know you after you die?

As technology blurs the line between human and machine, we will faced with tough questions unlike any that our ancestors had to. What is the difference between a person and a copy or simulation of that person's mind? How far will we allow the integration of technology and personhood to proceed? At what point, if any, can a program be considered a person?

Ultimately, where the path of technological progress leads is up to us. The incredible opportunities it provides can be frightening, but we can use them to build a better future.