The largest gathering of AI robots is set to take place at the United Nation’s AI for Good Global Summit next week, being held at the UN’s headquarters in Geneva.
The summit will see experts in the field of artificial intelligence, ethics, and robotics gather together in order to find solutions on how humans can use AI for good.
The human-like robots lined up to speak include Aiden Miller’s ‘Ai-Da’ robot, Hanson Robotics robot ‘Sophia’, and it’s healthcare robot ‘Grace’, amongst many others including food delivery robots and therapeutic puppy robots, too.
However, it is not just physical robots taking to the stage, experts from Amazon, Microsoft and Deepmind, as well as the UN, will be there to discuss how AI software can advance health, climate, gender, inclusive prosperity, sustainable infrastructure, and other global development priorities.
At a time where AI has been the dominant topic of conversation in most capacities due to its rapid growth over the past few months, discussions and concerns over keeping AI ethical has been heated.
In March, technology leaders such as Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Steve Wozniak signed a letter calling for a pause in AI, suggesting that we may be risking losing control of civilisation if it is not stopped and controlled.
While a pause has not occurred, those working in AI express that it is vital to work on ethics within the sector: “It is critical that we address the importance of diversity, equality, and inclusion now. It’s not something that we can wait for, and it’s not the responsibility of any one organisation. This is a requirement within all our organisations,” said Google DeepMinds COO Lila Ibrahim in a talk at the TNW conference in Amsterdam recently (and who will also be in attendance at the UN Summit).
Aidan Miller’s robot Ai-Da, ‘commented’ on the upcoming gathering: “The Summit is a vital step forward, through these conversations, I hope we can collectively navigate the complexities of our technological age and strive towards a future that is both realistic and ethically grounded.”
Its creator, Miller, added: “As the world responds to the advances in AI, Summits like this one will become increasingly important. It is an honour that Ai-Da will take part, AI literally speaking for itself, and I look forward to her contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
