Category Archives: Robotics

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DOD officials say autonomous killing machines deserve a look | Ars Technica

[ … ] military officials are looking hard at the possibility of developing robotic systems that are capable of acting on their own if remote control is cut off and decisions must be made on when to deploy a weapon—whether it’s an armed drone dropping a bomb or launching a missile or a ground robot firing weapons. “These are hard questions, and a lot of people outside of us tech guys are thinking about it, talking about it, engaging in what we can and can’t do,” she said. “That’s important. We need to understand and know that it doesn’t necessarily need to happen, but we also have to put the options on the table because we are the worst-case scenario guys.”

Source: DOD officials say autonomous killing machines deserve a look | Ars Technica

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Basic income may be needed to combat robot-induced unemployment, leading AI expert says | News | Lifestyle | The Independent

Dr Moshe Vardi, a computer science professor at Rice University in Texas, believes that a basic income may be needed in the future as advances in automation and AI put human workers out of jobs.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Dr Vardi said: “Our current economic system requires people to either have wealth or to work to make a living, with the assumption that the economy creates jobs for all those who need them.”

“If this assumption breaks down – and progress in automation is likely to break it down, I believe – then we need to rethink the very basic structure of our economic system.”

Source: Basic income may be needed to combat robot-induced unemployment, leading AI expert says | News | Lifestyle | The Independent

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Sorry, Terminator conspiracists: AI-equipped drones can now think for themselves | VentureBeat | Business | by Andrew Thomson, VentureRadar

Until recently, drone technology relied heavily on human controllers and acted as carriers for cameras and instruments which would then be monitored manually. But, in news that will strike fear into the heart of any Terminator movie conspiracists, experts are now merging drones with artificial intelligence (AI) systems with incredible results.

My firm recently carried out two technology scouting projects that had us assessing many of the players in this field. We found that drones fitted with AI technology are being used to disrupt a number of industries and undertaking a range of tasks with minimal human input.

Source: Sorry, Terminator conspiracists: AI-equipped drones can now think for themselves | VentureBeat | Business | by Andrew Thomson, VentureRadar

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Robots: Destroying jobs, our economy, and possibly the world | Ars Technica

Vardi raised the concerning possibility that an over-reliance on automation and AI could have the same effect on our economy as the Roman dependence on slaves. “Can our economic system deal with labor participation rates below 25 percent? Below 50 percent?” he asked. The solution in ancient Rome, he pointed out, was bread and circuses or life as a legionary.

Source: Robots: Destroying jobs, our economy, and possibly the world | Ars Technica

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Robots in Health Care Could Lead to a Doctorless Hospital – Singularity HUB

Hospitals will be very different places in 20 years. Beds will be able to move autonomously transporting patients from the emergency room to the operating theatre, via X-ray if needed.

Triage will be done with the assistance of an AI device. Many decisions on treatment will be made with the assistance of, or by, intelligent machines.

Your medical information, including medications, will be read from a chip under your skin or in your phone. No more waiting for medical records or chasing information when an unconscious patient presents to the emergency room.

Robots will be able to dispense medication safely and rehabilitation will be robotically assisted. Only our imaginations can limit how health care will be delivered.

Source: Robots in Health Care Could Lead to a Doctorless Hospital – Singularity HUB

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Senior citizens may accept robot helpers, but fear robot masters | Penn State University

The participants in the study indicated they saw robots as useful in three aspects of their lives: physical, informational and interactional. They felt most comfortable with robots as helpers and butlers, according to Sundar. Older adults also seemed more likely to accept robots that provide them information and entertainment, according to the researchers.Seniors, however, may be less likely to use robots that are designed to be more autonomous. An autonomous robot can make its own decisions and may not need to wait for a senior’s commands to engage in a task.”It is clear senior citizens want robots to play passive and non-confrontational roles,” said Sundar. “Seniors do not mind having robots as companions, but they worry about the potential loss of control over social order to robots.”

Source: Senior citizens may accept robot helpers, but fear robot masters | Penn State University

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Experts At Davos Say Weaponized Artificial Intelligence Robots Are Dangerous  – STGIST

This may sound like science fiction, or the plot of a Marvel movie, but AFP is reporting that scientists and arms experts in attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland have issued a dire warning saying that robots with advanced artificial intelligence (or AI robots) could one day join wars and kill many people.

Source: Experts At Davos Say Weaponized Artificial Intelligence Robots Are Dangerous  – STGIST

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Helicopter Robot Airdrops Recon Ground Robot, No Humans Necessary – IEEE Spectrum

The UAV arrives at the drop-off location, hovers, autonomously descends, and alerts the UGV of touchdown. The UGV control station then confirms touchdown, drives out of the holding “kennel” to a safe distance, and alerts the UAV it is clear to take off. The UAV can ascend and return to base, while the UGV autonomously drives off to its first area of interest to investigate.

Source: Helicopter Robot Airdrops Recon Ground Robot, No Humans Necessary – IEEE Spectrum