Star Trek: Voyager’s EMH points out why AI could never replace humans

Star Trek: Voyager's EMH points out why AI could never replace humans

As a huge fan of Star Trek and the captivating journey of Robert Picardo’s character, The Doctor, on Voyager, I can’t help but be in awe of his unique perspective on artificial intelligence and its role in our world. Having spent seven seasons portraying a hologram who evolved into more of a human than a machine, Picardo brings a profound understanding to the discussion of AI in fields like medicine.


Robert Picardo acted as a hologram character for seven consecutive years in Star Trek: Voyager. Later, he rejoined the cast in Star Trek: Prodigy for season two, continuing in the same role. During his seven-season tenure on Voyager, Picardo’s character underwent significant development, becoming more human-like despite retaining some holographic constraints regarding emotions.

In an interview with Inverse, it’s not surprising that the topic of artificial intelligence arose. Some companies are already implementing AI to carry out tasks traditionally done by humans. This trend may extend to the medical field, raising the possibility of AIs practicing as doctors. Picardo was recently interviewed by a Harvard doctor and researcher for a book on AI in medicine. The doctor wrote an entire chapter about Picardo’s EMH, whom he regarded as the ideal doctor.

As a seasoned healthcare professional with decades of experience in treating patients, I firmly believe that the doctor-patient relationship is an integral part of effective medical care. Having seen countless transformations throughout my career, I can attest to the profound impact this bond has on both parties.

Artificial intelligence has its role in our world, yet it falls short when it comes to conveying human emotions and forming genuine connections with people. This makes it challenging for AI to surpass humans in professions that heavily rely on emotional intelligence, such as medicine. Picardo’s hologram character attempted to evolve into a more human-like being, but he ultimately couldn’t match the crewmembers’ depth of emotion and understanding. As creators of AI, we must acknowledge these limitations.

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2024-07-24 20:23

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