Robotics Past, Present & Future; Dealing with the Challenges of AI

Submitted by tatwood on Fri, 07/15/2016 - 13:34

In early May, 2016, at the AUVSI Xponential Conference in New Orleans, Thomas Atwood, executive director of the National Robotics Education Foundation (NREF), presented a thoughtful review of robotics technologies in our society -- past, present and future.  In his presentation, reproduced here, a PowerPoint overview presents historical robots, contemporary examples and provocative speculation on the future of robotics and the challenges of living with advanced artificial intelligence (AI).

What are the implications of Kurzweil's "Singularity"? Will robots be the next phase in human evolution? Should robots be weaponized? Will robots take over all the professional jobs now occupied by humans, and if so, what will people do to make a living?  How will people travel in a futuristic, fully automated world? Atwood offers eye-opening possibilities in a memorable presentation. Image of the Antikythera Mechanism by Cosmo Wenman.  AUVSI members can also access the presentation here.