Science Archives - NevilleHobson.com

Emerging tech:
Your bookmark for 2019

“We know from human history that developments in technologies over the centuries, ranging from the Industrial Revolution through to the invention of the automobile, then airplanes and so forth, the landscape of progress is littered with human casualties. People die because of these things being tested.” A provocative statement, the first thing you hear in episode 1 in the third season of the Digital Download podcast that I did with host Paul Sutton last month in which we discussed emerging…

Artificial intelligence risks GM-style public backlash, experts warn

Researchers say social, ethical and political concerns in the UK about artificial intelligence (AI) are mounting and greater oversight is urgently needed, according to the Guardian. Otherwise, we could expect to see the kind of social disruption that greeted the advent of genetically-modified (GM) foods during the past decades. The Guardian’s report notes that there are no testing standards or requirement for AI to explain their decisions. There is also no organisation equipped to monitor and investigate any bad decisions…

Genevieve Bell: ‘Humanity’s greatest fear is about being irrelevant’

The anthropologist explains why being scared about AI has more to do with our fear of each other than killer robots

Understanding the four types of AI, from reactive robots to self-aware beings

The common, and recurring, view of the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence research is that sentient and intelligent machines are just on the horizon. Machines understand verbal commands, distinguish pictures, drive cars and play games better than we do. How much longer can it be before they walk among us? By Arend Hintze, Michigan State University The new White House report on artificial intelligence takes an appropriately skeptical view of that dream. It says the next 20 years likely won’t see…

Broadcasting the wow factor

TV chat shows can be great platforms to introduce a new product, create interest in going to the cinema and see a hot movie, or any manner of things celebrity guests talk about and likely to attract a big audience. In today’s sharing society, you also want to extend the reach of a topic and its wow factor by building buzz online. A cool product that played a big part in the latest The Graham Norton Show last night –…