Humanising the robot society
www.nesta.org.uk/event/humanising-robot-society/
www.nesta.org.uk/event/humanising-robot-society/
More and more people think the rise of the robots is coming. Advances in robotics and artificial intelligence mean that machines are poised to do more and more jobs once done by humans. This could be wonderful: it could free humans from drudgery and provide a better life for everyone.
Or it could be hell: a nightmare world where vast numbers of people are unemployed or surplus to requirements, while a small elite of machine-owners and technologists reap all the benefits. Some have argued that the widening gap between the rich and the poor is a sign that this is already happening.
The event marked the launch of Nesta's new book Our Work Here is Done which looks at the frontiers of robot technology and the consequences for the economy and our society.
Following the discussion with the book's contributors, Nesta's HQ was taken over by the robots themselves. As well as demonstrations of some fantastically cool robot tech, we heard presentations from engineers, hackers, designers, historians and philosophers.