Progress – Social Robot Futures

We Can’t Look to Technology To Solve Our Problems

November 16, 2017September 20, 2021

— Video

Saint Mary’s University English professor Teresa Heffernan teamed up with Paul Abela of the Department of Philosophy, Acadia University, to argue for the “con” side in a policy debate last month on the implications of AI and robots for the future of society. Stan Matwin (Dalhousie) and Danny Silver (Acadia) defended the pro side. While the pro vs. con structure was simplistic, it generated a dynamic conversation on the “grounds for optimism” compared to “concerns about what the future will bring.” A video of the debate is now available.

Discussion

Companion Species Manifesto 2.0: Jibo the Family Robot

September 19, 2014September 16, 2021

By Karen Asp

As the video that accompanied the July 2014 launch of the Jibo crowdsourcing campaign shows, Jibo is a personal robot designed to convincingly interact in conversations, as well as perform organizational, cognitive and educational tasks such as conducting internet searches on command and telling children’s stories. From the various interviews that Jibo’s inventor Cynthea Breazeal gave during the launch, one can surmise that the project aims to dispel a myth. (Original video is no longer available; an alternative upload can be viewed here.)

Discussion

Humans Need Not Apply: Will Better Tech Make More,…

September 17, 2014September 20, 2021

— Documentary video, with summary by Karen Asp

CPG Grey recently uploaded “Humans Need Not Apply,” a compelling documentary video on the breadth, depth and implications of contemporary workplace automation through developments in AI and robotics. The narrator makes the point that if the history of automation primarily concerned the transformation of physical labour through the invention of “mechanical muscle,” the revolution underway now is characterized by the transformation of intellectual and social labour through AI and robotic mechanization.