Second Volume of ICSR Proceedings

The proceedings of ICSR 2023 were published at the beginning of December 2023. The second volume contains the article “Pepper as a Learning Partner in a Children’s Hospital” by Sara Zarubica and Oliver Bendel. From the abstract: “Social robots are increasingly used in learning settings. So far, the main focus of this has been in school lessons and teaching at universities. Another possible setting is the children’s hospital. There, for example, young patients need to acquire basic knowledge about their disease so that they can deal with it appropriately. This should be done in a joyful, fun way, as the situation is stressful enough in itself, and so learning is also facilitated. The paper presents a learning application for diabetic children that runs on Pepper. This social robot was particularly well suited for this task because it has a large integrated touchscreen, similar to a tablet. A learning game is displayed on it that was developed especially for this setting. The children have to estimate the carbohydrate values of foods and meals or answer knowledge questions. The social robot gives verbal and gestural feedback in each case. The subjects responded overwhelmingly positively to the learning application. Pepper’s visible and audible feedback plays a special role in this. Social robots like Pepper are an interesting solution for knowledge transfer in a children’s hospital.” The volume can be downloaded or ordered via link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-99-8715-3.

First Volume of ICSR Proceedings

The proceedings of ICSR 2023 were published at the beginning of December 2023. The first volume contains the article “Alpha Mini as a Learning Partner in the Classroom” by Oliver Bendel and Andrin Allemann. From the abstract: “Social robots such as NAO and Pepper are being used in some schools and universities. NAO is very agile and therefore entertaining. Pepper has the advantage that it has an integrated display where learning software of all kinds can be executed. One disadvantage of both is their high price. Schools can hardly afford such robots. This problem was the starting point for the project described here, which took place in 2023 at the School of Business FHNW. The aim was to create a learning application with an inexpensive social robot that has the same motor capabilities as NAO and the same knowledge transfer capabilities as Pepper. The small Alpha Mini from Ubtech was chosen. It was possible to connect it to an external device. This runs a learning game suitable for teaching at primary level. Alpha Mini provides explanations and feedback in each case. Three teachers tested the learning application, raised objections, and made suggestions for improvement. Social robots like Alpha Mini are an interesting solution for knowledge transfer in schools when they can communicate with other devices.” The volume can be downloaded or ordered via link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-99-8715-3.

New Channel on Animal Law and Ethics

The new YouTube channel “GW Animal Law Program” went online at the end of November 2023. It collects lectures and recordings on animal law and ethics. Some of them are from the online event “Artificial Intelligence & Animals”, which took place on 16 September 2023. The speakers were Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland), Yip Fai Tse (University Center for Human Values, Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University), and Sam Tucker (CEO VegCatalyst, AI-Powered Marketing, Melbourne). Other videos include “Tokitae, Reflections on a Life: Evolving Science & the Need for Better Laws” by Kathy Hessler, “Alternative Pathways for Challenging Corporate Humanewashing” by Brooke Dekolf, and “World Aquatic Animal Day 2023: Alternatives to the Use of Aquatic Animals” by Amy P. Wilson. In his talk, Oliver Bendel presents the basics and prototypes of animal-computer interaction and animal-machine interaction, including his own projects in the field of machine ethics. The YouTube channel can be accessed at www.youtube.com/@GWAnimalLawProgram/featured.

Talking with Social Robotics Girl

On November 6, 2023, OpenAI made so-called GPTs available to ChatGPT Plus users. According to the US company, anyone can easily create his or her own GPT without any programming knowledge. Initial tests have shown the performance of the new function. ChatGPT suggests a name for the chatbot, creates the profile picture and accepts documents with text and reference lists to expand its knowledge of the topic. The function is ideal for creating your own learning companions, modern educational agents so to speak. But you can also benefit from chatbots from other users and providers. A GPT called Social Robotics Girl, which provides information about social robotics, has been available since November 12, 2023. It was created by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel and is based on a collection of his articles on this topic. It can therefore give his definition of social robots and make classifications based on his five-dimension model. ChatGPT Plus users can access Social Robotics Girl via chat.openai.com/g/g-TbhZSZaer-social-robotics-girl (Image: DALL-E 3).

AAAI 2024 Spring Symposium Series

The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) is thrilled to host its 2024 Spring Symposium Series at Stanford University from March 25-27, 2024. With a diverse array of symposia, each hosting 40-75 participants, the event is a vibrant platform for exploring the frontiers of AI. Of the eight symposia, only three are highlighted here: Firstly, the “Bi-directionality in Human-AI Collaborative Systems” symposium promises to delve into the dynamic interactions between humans and AI, exploring how these collaborations can evolve and improve over time. Secondly, the “Impact of GenAI on Social and Individual Well-being” addresses the profound effects. of generative AI technologies on society and individual lives. Lastly, “Increasing Diversity in AI Education and Research” focuses on a crucial issue in the tech world: diversity. It aims to highlight and address the need for more inclusive approaches in AI education and research, promoting a more equitable and diverse future in the field. Each of these symposia offers unique insights and discussions, making the AAAI 2024 Spring Symposium Series a key event for those keen to stay at the cutting edge of AI development and its societal implications. More information is available at aaai.org/conference/spring-symposia/sss24/#ss01.

The First General-purpose Humanoid Robot

Starting from February 2024, the biped H1 from Unitree Robotics will be available at Generation Robots. It is “the most powerful and cost-effective humanoid robot on the market, measuring 1.80 meters, weighing 47 kilograms, and capable of walking at a speed of 5.5 km/h” (Generation Robots website). Until now, the Chinese company has been particularly noted for its quadrupeds, which are able to compete with the products of Boston Dynamics. Entry-level models like Go2 are unbeatably affordable, although it remains to be seen whether prices will increase after the initial surge. Unitree itself markets the H1 as the “First General-purpose Humanoid Robot”. The price is expected to be under 90,000 dollars. A video demonstrates how the robot moves confidently on two legs and remains stable even when attacked, without stumbling or falling (Image: DALL-E 3).

Machine Learning for Lucid Dreaming

A start-up promises that lucid dreaming will soon be possible for everyone. This was reported by the German magazine Golem on November 10, 2023. The company is Prophetic by Eric Wollberg (CEO) and Wesley Louis Berry III (CTO). In a lucid dream, the dreamers are aware that they are dreaming (Image: DALL-E 3). They can shape the dream according to their will and also exit the dream. Everyone has the ability to experience lucid dreams. One can learn to induce this form of dreaming, but one can also have this form of dreaming as a child and unlearn it again as an adult. The Halo headband, a non-invasive neural device, is designed to make lucid dreaming possible. “The combination of ultrasound and machine learning models (created using EEG & fMRI data) allows us to detect when dreamers are in REM to induce and stabilize lucid dreams.” (Website Prophetic) According to Golem, the neuronal device will be available starting in 2025.

Be My AI

Be My AI is a GPT-4-based extension of the Be My Eyes app. Blind users take a photo of their surroundings or an object and then receive detailed descriptions, which are spoken in a synthesized voice. They can also ask further questions about details and contexts (Image: DALL-E 3). Be My AI can be used in a variety of situations, including reading labels, translating text, setting up appliances, organizing clothing, and understanding the beauty of a landscape. It also offers written responses in 29 languages, making it accessible to a wider audience. While the app has its advantages, it’s not a replacement for essential mobility aids such as white canes or guide dogs. Users are encouraged to provide feedback to help improve the app as it continues to evolve. The app will become even more powerful when it starts to analyze videos instead of photos. This will allow the blind person to move through his or her environment and receive constant descriptions and assessments of moving objects and changing situations. More information is available at www.bemyeyes.com/blog/announcing-be-my-ai.

Transport Authority Stops Cruise Robocabs

NBC BAY AREA reported on August 10, 2023: “California regulators on Thursday approved an expansion that will allow two rival robotaxi services to operate throughout San Francisco at all hours, despite safety worries spurred by recurring problems with unexpected stops and other erratic behavior that resulted in unmanned vehicles blocking traffic, including emergency vehicles.” (NBC BAY AREA, 10 August 2023) Oliver Bendel wrote on August 11, 2023 on Robophilosophy: “It is highly likely that accidents will occur, including personal injury. A city is a highly complex environment, and the technology for autonomous driving is far from mature. In addition, the population and tourists are not sufficiently prepared for this form of traffic.” According to several media outlets in late October 2023, Cruise is no longer allowed to send driverless cars on the streets of San Francisco for the time being after two accidents involving pedestrians. In early October, a woman was pinned under a fleet vehicle and dragged for several feet. This type of automated driving is still far from mature.

All that Groks is God

Elon Musk has named his new language model Grok. The word comes from the science fiction novel “Stranger in a Strange Land” (1961) by Robert A. Heinlein. This famous novel features two characters who have studied the word. Valentine Michael Smith (aka Michael Smith or “Mike”, the “Man from Mars”) is the main character. He is a human who was born on Mars. Dr “Stinky” Mahmoud is a semanticist. After Mike, he is the second person who speaks the Martian language but does not “grok” it. In one passage, Mahmoud explains to Mike: “‘Grok’ means ‘identically equal.’ The human clichĂ©. ‘This hurts me worse than it does you’ has a Martian flavor. The Martians seem to know instinctively what we learned painfully from modern physics, that observer interacts with observed through the process of observation. ‘Grok’ means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed – to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience. It means almost everything that we mean by religion, philosophy, and science – and it means as little to us as color means to a blind man.” Mike says a little later in the dialog: “God groks.” In another place, there is a similar statement: “… all that groks is God …”. In a way, this fits in with what is written on the website of Elon Musk’s AI start-up: “The goal of xAI is to understand the true nature of the universe.” The only question is whether this goal will remain science fiction or become reality.