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Lethal Autonomous Robots and the plight of the non-combatant

30 May 2018
6.00pm – 7.15pm AEST
Michael Crouch Innovation Centre
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One of the most controversial aspects of the rise of intelligent machines is the development of what are known as ‘lethal autonomous systems’ and what they will mean for the way wars are fought. Initial discussions in the UN in recent years have focused on the need to retain some form of human control, as well as considering the potential risks and benefits.

Roboticist and robot ethics expert Ron Arkin has worked extensively on the military applications of robots. In his work, he asks difficult questions about how scientists can reduce human inhumanity to others. Join him to find out more about the big questions: Should robots be soldiers? Can they make war safer for civilians?

Location: Michael Crouch Innovation Centre, UNSW (Building E10) Venue Map

Speakers

Ronald C Arkin

Ronald C Arkin is a world-leading researcher in robotics and robot ethics. He is Regents' Professor and the Director of the Mobile Robot Laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr Arkin is currently a visiting Fellow/Scientist at QUT and the CSIRO Robotics and Autonomous Systems Group, Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies. He has published extensively on different topics in robotics and his research interests also include human-robot interaction, robot ethics, and learning in autonomous systems. His books include Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots and he is the Series Editor for the MIT Press book series Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Agents. For many years has been a distinguished contributor to professional bodies in robotics, robot ethics and the social implications of technology.

 

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Toby Walsh

Toby Walsh is Chief Scientist of UNSW.AI, UNSW Sydney’s new AI Institute. He is a strong advocate for limits to ensure AI is used to improve our lives, having spoken at the UN and to heads of state, parliamentary bodies, company boards and many others on this topic. This advocacy has led to him being "banned indefinitely" from Russia. He is a Fellow of the Australia Academy of Science and was named on the international "Who's Who in AI" list of influencers. He has written four books on AI for a general audience, the most recent is Faking It! Artificial Intelligence in a Human World.