Robotics

A woman walks past a new anti-US mural on the wall of former US Embassy portraying the interception of Global Hawk US drone by Iran in Persian Gulf, after an unveiling ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. 

Ladder theory: Part I

Critical State

Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive this week into why the destruction of drones is treated as less of an attack.

About 15,000 robots named “Pepper” are used in Japanese and European banks, fast service restaurants, and healthcare settings. Pepper is now in US bank branches too — HSBC has them in select locations to help answer basic customer questions.

Will the next wave of humanoid robots make our lives better — or steal our jobs?

Science & Technology
robot

In Finnish experiment, robots teach language and math classes

Education

Voyager

Arts, Culture & Media

Special Guest: Rodney Brooks

Arts, Culture & Media

ArtBots

Arts, Culture & Media

Can a hunk of metal and plastic learn to make art? The Robot Talent Show that took place in New York City two weekends ago featured several robots whose builders claim they actually…create. Produced by Trent Wolbe.

Robot Hut

Arts, Culture & Media

The toy collector John Rigg began wiring circuits in kindergarten. He was still little when he gave his mom a cardboard robot he built with motors, electric lights, and a little candy-filled drawer. Today, John Rigg displays thousands of “metal men” in a big barn near Spokane, Washington. Produced by Harriet Baskas.

Voyager

Arts, Culture & Media

The Voyager computer program is a powerful robot. It composes music — improvised, unpredictable music — using a virtual 64-piece orchestra. The Voyager’s inventor, George Lewis, improvises with his robotic partner, and creates music that we’d like to think only humans could make. Produced by Ted Panken.

Special Guest: Rodney Brooks

Arts, Culture & Media

Rodney Brooks is a scientist, professor, and director of the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab. He is the inventor of many robots, including the Roomba, the intelligent vacuum cleaner. His latest book is Flesh and Machines.

The Fembot Factor

Arts, Culture & Media

Most of the robots you know from the movies are male. There’s Robbie the Robot, C-3PO, Data the sensitive android on Star Trek, and the violent cyborgs of Terminator and Robocop. But what about the female robots? Writer Susie Bright has some thoughts on the ways they’ve been imagined on the big screen. Produced by […]