The Life Scientific

Alan Winfield on Robots

Radio 4 Series 1 Episode 1
First broadcast 21st February 2017, 09:00
Duration: 27:34
Alan Winfield is the only Professor of Robot Ethics in the world. He is a voice of reason amid the growing sense of unease at the pace of progress in the field of artificial intelligence. He believes that robots aren't going to take over the world - at least not any time soon. But that doesn't mean we should be complacent. Alan Winfield talks to Jim al-Khalili about how, at a young age, he delighted in taking things apart. After his degree in microelectronics and a PhD in digital communication at Hull University, he set up a software company in the mid-80s, which he ran for the best part of a decade before returning to academia. In 1993, he co-founded the Bristol Robotics Laboratory at the University of the West of England, by far the largest centre of robotics in the UK. Today, he is a leading authority, not only on robot ethics, but on the idea of swarm robotics and biologically-inspired robotics. Alan explains to Jim that what drives many of his enquiries is the deeply profound question: how can 'stuff' become intelligent.

Clips from this programme

Introduction (Jim al-Khalili): Alan Winfield, Professor of Robot Ethics, co-founder of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory: Robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Swarm Robotics, biologically-inspired robotics

Duration: 01:02
Topics:

Alan Winfield, Robot Ethics: What is Robot Ethics? E.g. Drones, safety. Robot Definition: Embodied Artificial Intelligence (AI). Humanoid/ Android Robots

Duration: 03:28
Topics:

Alan Winfield, Robot Ethics: Background-Burton Grammar & degree in microelectronics, PhD in digital communication at Hull University, Company Metaforth: Stack-based architecture computer running Forth directly, Channel Tunnel & Police secure radio-communications systems. 1993: co-founded the Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

Duration: 04:46
Topics:

Alan Winfield, Robot Ethics: The Bristol Robotics Laboratory: Robots-artificial whiskers, artificial finger-tips, food-eating robots, assisted living lab to help elderly people, flying robots, swarming robots, bio-inspired robots mimicking nature. Swarm robotics: Emergent properties, adaptive foraging rules

Duration: 04:57
Topics:

Alan Winfield, Robot Ethics: Categories of Intelligence, learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics, behavioural traditions in Robot Swarms, social intelligence in robots through imperfect/ noisy imitation, Isaac Asimov Rules of Robotics and Sci-Fi

Duration: 04:19
Topics:

Alan Winfield, Robot Ethics: Isaac Asimov Rules of Robotics and Sci-Fi (Science Fiction), fear of robotics and super-intelligence / stupid Artificial Intelligence (AI), human rights. Ethical black box for robots (e.g. In the driverless car), robotic lethal autonomous weapons

Duration: 04:59
Topics:

Alan Winfield, Robot Ethics: Robots stealing our Jobs, wealth share, Luddites, public view of robots

Duration: 03:58
Topics:

Credits

Duration: 00:05

The Life Scientific

- Alan Winfield on Robots

Alan Winfield on Robots

First broadcast: 21st February 2017
Duration 27:34

Alan Winfield is the only Professor of Robot Ethics in the world. He is a voice of reason amid the growing sense of unease at the pace of progress in the field of artificial intelligence. He believes that robots aren't going to take over the world - at least not any time soon. But that doesn't mean we should be complacent. Alan Winfield talks to Jim al-Khalili about how, at a young age, he delighted in taking things apart. After his degree in microelectronics and a PhD in digital communication at Hull University, he set up a software company in the mid-80s, which he ran for the best part of a decade before returning to academia. In 1993, he co-founded the Bristol Robotics Laboratory at the University of the West of England, by far the largest centre of robotics in the UK. Today, he is a leading authority, not only on robot ethics, but on the idea of swarm robotics and biologically-inspired robotics. Alan explains to Jim that what drives many of his enquiries is the deeply profound question: how can 'stuff' become intelligent.

Now playing

- Eben Upton on Raspberry Pi

Eben Upton on Raspberry Pi

First broadcast: 16th January 2018
Duration 27:38

Jim Al-Khalili discusses the scientific life with fellow scientists. Eben Upton tells Jim how Raspberry Pi, a computer that costs little more than a toasted sandwich, was created.

Watch programme