Robotics Past, Present and Future; Dealing with the Challenges of AI: A Journalist's Perspective
(Room 271-272)
04 May 16
2:30 PM
-
3:00 PM
Dear Sir/Madam: I propose a fast paced, pictorial presentation on the relationship between machine intelligence (robots) and humankind -- past, present and future -- keyed to a series of PowerPoint slides. Before retiring in December, 2014, I was both an editor-in-chief and editorial director in magazine and web publishing, and this has provided me perspective and hands-on experience well-suited to producing an interesting, graphically compelling presentation. I led the launch of five magazines in my editorial career, all of which are still in publication. As editor-in-chief of Robot, I led the publication of 51 issues over 7+ years. Robot and the other publications I led in an editorial capacity address full scale aviation, RC aviation and, of course, robotics. I have received awards from the DOD, the White House and the California State Senate for my work in magazine arenas, scans available upon request. I am currently the executive director of the National Robotics Education Foundation (NREF), www.the-nref.org. A short biography is on LinkedIn. With that background, I believe I can put a winning PowerPoint presentation together – both on practical and informational levels. Presentation outline: 1. History of Robotics, a slide for each: Premise: Robots are computers with sensors, can interact with the world, and are typically mobile--but the history of robotics starts with the history of computers. - Antikythera mechanism, first known mechanical computer, for ancient Greek sea navigation, 2,000 years ago - Babbage mechanical computer, 1800s - in cinema, Metropolis, female android robot, 1920s - advent of personal computing, Commodore, 1980s - IBM Watson, Deep Blue beats Kasparov, 1996 - IBM vs. Apple saga, 1980s through 2000s 2. Robotics Today - Robots are ubiquitous and now working in every sector of our lives, from checkout stands and credit card applications to automobile driving systems and refrigerators. - Two of the fastest growing robotics markets, today, are in the automobile and drone (multirotor) sectors - Cell phones are “robots”; they have sensors and act independently to guide and assist humans. The growing number of cell phones more than matches the world human population. - Should robots be weaponized? 3. Robotics and Our Future - Will robots take our jobs? Will use of robots create more jobs than they take over? - What will the role of robotics be in SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence)? Will the role of robot proxies be in “first contact” with other life, primitive or advanced? - Will robotic artificial intelligence (AI) present benefits or pose threats to humanity? What are the requirements to manage AI safely? This discussion blends questions of real world technology, philosophy (both epistemology and the ethics of “AI rights”), and sci-fi. I suggest a 40-minute presentation with 20 minutes for Q&A. Please let me know if you'd like me to change any aspect of this proposal to better fit your program. I look forward to any questions to further flesh out my proposed presentation. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely. Thomas J. Atwood 813 u973-3540 office 203 470-8709 cell tatwood5@gmail.com tatwood@the-nref.org www.the-nref.org