Bots in Society

AI experts, journalists and policymakers are raising concerns about the risks associated with advanced artificial intelligence (AI). In an effort to overcome the difficulties in discussing some of the most severe risks posed by AI, a group of prominent figures from the AI industry has issued a succinct statement. This statement aims to promote discussion and increase awareness of the experts and public figures who take the risks of advanced AI seriously.

Today Matthijs Smakman will defend his doctoral thesis titled “Robots in Education: The Morally Responsible Deployment of Robot Assistants”. Conducted under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Elly Konijn, his empirically grounded research represents a significant milestone in achieving a morally responsible integration of social robots as educational assistants in primary schools. Previous studies have already indicated that the utilization of social robots yields better outcomes compared to traditional educational technologies.

Waymo and Uber Technologies have announced a new strategic partnership aimed at making Waymo’s autonomous driving technology available to a wider audience through the Uber platform. The collaboration will initially launch in Phoenix.

In a move to promote responsible development, adoption, and usage of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, the Biden administration has released a comprehensive set of initiatives and recommendations. The White House aims to foster a culture of responsible AI technology usage and practice within the United States through a national strategic plan and education objectives.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) issued today a worldwide appeal calling to increase the value of pledges for digitalizing the world from the current USD 30 billion to USD 100 billion by 2026. 

The Digital, Autonomous and Robotics Engineering (DARE) Centre at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s testing facility in Blyth has been opened by Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart MP.

Hall B4 of Messe München will become the venue for a top-level event in the artificial intelligence and robotics sector on the second day of automatica (Wednesday, June 28, 2023). Visionaries from research and industry will put a spotlight on visionary developments and emerging technologies in four sessions held at the munich_i Hightech Summit. These experts will also share their input on consequences to society as technology impacts all aspects of life.

BT Group, the largest broadband and mobile provider in Britain, has announced plans to cut up to 55,000 jobs by 2030, which could amount to over 40% of its current workforce. This decision comes as the company nears the completion of its national fibre network and embraces emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

Engineers at the University of Waterloo have discovered a new way to program robots to help people with dementia locate medicine, glasses, phones and other objects they need but have lost. 

“As AI development affects nearly every aspect of our lives and its influence will further increase in the foreseeable future, member states must take concrete steps to ensure that people’s human rights are safeguarded in the design, development and deployment of AI systems” says Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović in a report released yesterday.