Where What If Becomes What's Next – Détails, épisodes et analyse

What if a robot could be a compassionate companion - an antidote to loneliness as we age – and in some cases – help those suffering from dementia?

Loneliness among the elderly has become something of an epidemic.  According to a recent national survey, about 37 % of American adults aged 50 to 80 experienced loneliness, and about 34% of respondents said they felt socially isolated. Companion robots have the potential to alleviate loneliness and improve the well-being of these older adults as well as help those suffering from memory loss from dementia or Alzheimer’s. They can converse about daily activities, connect to new friends around the country, lead workout sessions, suggest and place calls to loved ones, provide gentle reminders for taking medicines, play music, suggest what's for dinner, and even host live bingo games. 

In this episode, which is Part 2 of a two-part episode on robots and health care, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for developing companion robots to help the elderly with loneliness.  We also meet ElliQ, an AI-powered companion robot that is already being used in thousands of older adults' homes. The future of companion robots may involve using softbotic technologies to create anthropomorphic features and lifelike physical interaction.

Joining us in part two are four experts in robotics and the elderly: Carmel Majidi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University; Selma Šabanović, Professor of Informatics and Cognitive Science and Director of R-House Lab at Indiana University Bloomington; David Crandall, Professor of Computer Sciences and Director of the Luddy Artificial Intelligence Center at Indiana University Bloomington; and Assaf Gad, VP Strategy and GM for Intuition Robotics. 

Robots and artificial intelligence are transforming the healthcare industry, from drug development to surgical procedures to personalized healthcare plans. 

In this, the first of a two-part episode, we'll take a big picture look at these transformational technologies and meet a leader in the emerging field of soft robotics, the creation of robots and wearable devices that look, feel, and move more like humans.  And we'll meet a co -founder of a fast-growing healthcare technology company and find out why their AI-powered technology is making life better for doctors and patients one doctor-patient visit at a time. We will also discuss how the use of robots and AI in healthcare raises regulatory and ethical considerations. 

In part two, coming up in two weeks, we'll do a deep-dive on companion robots, and how they are helping the elderly overcome their loneliness, manage illnesses such as Alzheimers and dementia, and improve their health and well-being. 

Joining us in part one are three experts in robotics and health care: Dr Christopher Müller, Director of the Statistical Department for the International Federation of Robotics; Carmel Majidi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University; and Zach Lipton, the Raj Reddy Associate Professor of Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon University and Chief Technology Officer and Chief Scientist of ABridge.

What if a self-driving robotic vehicle or drone delivered your next package? Artificial intelligence is transforming how companies deliver packages the “last mile” to your home, the most expensive and time-consuming part of the supply chain.  

Companies are using AI to reduce costs and improve sustainability in delivering products to customers. Robotic delivery vehicles, like Refraction AI's Rev One robot, are being used to deliver food from restaurants and grocery stores. The use of AI in last mile delivery has the potential to create new jobs that are sustainable and offer greater economic opportunities. Safety is a top priority, with measures in place to ensure the safe operation of robotic vehicles.  Drones may play a role in last mile delivery especially in rural areas, but face challenges such as weight limitations and landing points. The future of AI in last mile delivery is expected to be transformative and exciting.

Join host Jeanine Herbst and her guest Matthew Johnson-Roberson, Director of the Robotics Institute and a professor in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University.  He's also the co-founder of Refraction AI, an AI-powered last mile delivery company.  

To download CMU’s “A Responsible Voter’s Guide to Generative AI in Political Campaigning,” please go to this link:  https://cmu.app.box.com/s/uyuzcrwx8qpuh8ep3bzdej5ydk99fg38

What if AI-generated deep fakes could be used to influence our upcoming elections? Generative AI (GenAI) allows users to create realistic images, videos, audio and text, rapidly, cheaply and at scale. These capabilities can be useful, but during elections, they also could be misused to manipulate and deceive voters.

Deep fakes have already started to appear in this election season. There have been deep fake videos on social platforms, fake images on news outlets, and fake robo calls for candidates from small to big races. They can sound or look like well-known politicians starting at the top with President Biden, former President Trump or former President Obama, or even your favorite singer encouraging you to vote or not vote a certain way.

The accessibility, affordability and ease of AI technology have contributed to the proliferation of deep fakes and disinformation. But who’s doing them, and what’s at stake?  A fair election process, and perhaps democracy itself.  

What can be done? Watermarking AI-generated content is one piece of the puzzle in identifying deep fakes but it will require collaboration among industry, academia, and governments – as well as citizens themselves – to take action against deep fakes.

Join host Jeanine Herbst and her guests Matt Brown, National Race and Politics reporter for the Associated Press; Kathleen Carley, Director, Computational Analysis of Social and Organizational Systems, Carnegie Mellon University; and Ramayya Krishnan, Dean, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the Faculty Director of the Block Center for Technology and Society, Carnegie Mellon University.

To download CMU’s “A Responsible Voter’s Guide to Generative AI in Political Campaigning,” please go to this link:  https://cmu.app.box.com/s/uyuzcrwx8qpuh8ep3bzdej5ydk99fg38

What if AI could be used to help repair and rebuild America’s bridges? America’s aging infrastructure is crumbling, and that includes more than 600,000 bridges with nearly 45,000 considered structurally deficient. Millions of people drive across those bridges each day. 

On this episode, we explore how Artificial Intelligence – including robotics and drones – can help keep our nation’s bridges standing.  And how AI can perhaps revolutionize the way bridges are designed and built so they are more cost-efficient, smarter, more durable and eco-friendly.

Additionally, our guests explore the broader applications of AI in transportation infrastructure and Smart Cities, including an experimental project that uses AI sensors on buses to map out potholes as they drive.  Finally, the conversation emphasizes the need for responsible use of AI as a tool to assist human decision-making, not replace it.

Join host Jeanine Herbst and her guests Dr. Norma Jean Mattei, past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); Jim Garrett, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Carnegie Mellon University and former head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Troy Demmer, Gecko Robotics; and Karen Lightman, Executive Director of Metro21: Smart Cities Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.

What if The Beatles used AI to help produce their last song? This episode explores the use of artificial intelligence in music and entertainment. 

With a little help from their friend – Peter Jackson’s AI machine – the Beatles rescued John Lennon's voice from a 1970s demo, allowing them to remix and release their last new song - “Now and Then” – nearly 50 years after Lennon first sang it at the piano. 

However, AI has been used in pop recording sessions for years. Tools like AudioShake can separate vocal and instrumental stems. AI can also clean up and enhance vocals, as demonstrated with a 1923 Bessie Smith recording. AI is used in various ways in music production, from recommending songs to enhancing live performances. However, the use of AI in music raises ethical and legal issues, such as copyright ownership and the fair use of deceased musicians' work. What’s next for AI in music includes spatial audio and new opportunities for collaboration. 

Join host Jeanine Herbst and her guests Drew Thurlow, founder of Opening Ceremony Media; Jessica Powell, CEO, AudioShake.ai; Dan Green, Professor and the Director of the Entertainment Industry Management Program at Carnegie Mellon University; and Brett Crawford, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and Director of the Arts and Entertainment Management programs.

What if Artificial Intelligence can transform our world for the betterment of humankind?  Introducing WHERE WHAT IF BECOMES WHAT’S NEXT, a new podcast from Carnegie Mellon University.  In Season One, we explore one of the most revolutionary developments in human history — Artificial Intelligence.  Every other Thursday we’ll introduce you to the world’s top experts who work at the forefront of where AI is today, and who never stop asking how AI can truly benefit humankind. Subscribe to WHERE WHAT IF BECOMES WHAT’S NEXT so that you’ll never miss an episode.  For more information, please visit our podcast site at: https://ai.cmu.edu/podcast

What’s next for autonomous self-driving cars?  In this episode we explore the development of self-driving autonomous vehicles and the role of AI in improving their reliability, safety, and economic viability.

We discuss the history of self-driving vehicles, including the DARPA Challenges which kick-started self-driving automobile development, and the challenges and advancements in the industry. The conversation also focuses on the use of AI and computer vision in autonomous vehicles, a new concept of “shared autonomy” in self-driving and the benefits of autonomous technology.  We also do a deep-dive on the potential for autonomous trucking, and speak with a company that already has a fleet of self-driving trucks on the road – trucks that have driven more than 2 million miles delivering freight.

Joining us are three experts in autonomous driving: John Dolan, a Principal Systems Scientist in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University; Deva Ramanan, professor at Carnegie Mellon's Robotic Institute and  co-director for their Center of Autonomous Vehicle Research; and Bart Nabbe, VP of Corporate Development and Strategic Partnerships at Aurora Innovation.

What does it take to teach a robot to pick an apple? Let’s find out.  In today’s episode, we will explore how AI technologies are helping agriculture solve some of the world’s biggest problems – from world hunger to protecting the environment to a labor shortage down on the farm.  

Robots, drones and machine learning are being used by farmers around the world to monitor crop health, soil conditions and weather patterns -- so they can optimize the yield from their crops while conserving scarce resources such as water.  AI is protecting the environment when robots identify weeds and then eliminate them one at a time – a precision that dramatically reduces broader usage of potentially harmful chemicals and herbicides.  AI-powered self-driving tractors and robots are performing tasks such as watering, spraying and harvesting crops  to help farmers grow food from fields that might otherwise go untended due to a worldwide labor shortage.  Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras are monitoring crops for real-time signs of disease and pest infestations, thereby securing the safety of food for generations to come.  Across the USA and around the planet, AI is quickly becoming the newest tool in the farmer’s toolshed.  

Joining us are four experts in AI and agriculture: George Kantor is a research professor in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.  Pat Schnable is a distinguished professor at Iowa State University, director of its Plant Sciences Instituten and a co-founder of an ag-tech startup EnGeniusAg.  Abhi Silwal is a Senior Project Scientist at CMU’s Robotics Institute. Terry Bates is the Director of the Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Lab, a Senior Research Associate at Cornell’s School of Integrated Plant Sciences and the director of the Efficient Vineyard Project.

Happy 4th of July – from the Where What If Becomes What’s Next podcast team – and Carnegie Mellon University.  I’m your host Randy Scott, and we are giving the team a well-deserved break – and will see you on July 18th with our next episode on how Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing agriculture and helping to feed the world.