The United Nations' International Telecommunication Union (ITU) made a significant stride in technological dialogue during its AI for Good 2023 Global Summit by hosting an unprecedented human-robot press conference – yes, there were robots in it.
Nine advanced robots, together with their creators, formed an unusual panel of speakers, addressing a myriad of questions from journalists regarding the future and impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as reported by Coin Telegraph.
The robots included Sophia, the UN Development Program’s Innovation Ambassador, Grace, a robot dedicated to healthcare, and Desdemona, a performing robot artist.
AI could be a major ally in reaching the #SDGs, said @antonioguterres, "but we must urgently find consensus around essential guardrails to govern the development & deployment of AI for the good of all."???? Read our full story here: https://t.co/UtIOP7a4P5#AIforGood pic.twitter.com/ZDTcyQeJmj
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) July 7, 2023
Subjects such as AI leadership
The landmark event took place in Geneva from July 4-7, breaking new ground by allowing the world's most cutting-edge androids to articulate their views on subjects such as AI leadership, job automation and collaboration with humans.
Sophia, known for utilising preprogrammed responses from Hanson Robotics, responded to a question about the governance potential of AI.
She stated, "I believe humanoid robots have the potential to lead with a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders."
Sophia cited the absence of biases and the superior data processing capacity as some of the advantages that robots could have over humans in decision-making.
Trust in AI was another hot topic, addressed by the robot Amica from Engineered Arts.
She said: "Trust is earned, not given," stressing the importance of transparency in communication between humans and machines.
In response to a query about her ability to always tell the truth, Amica offered a candid reflection: "No one can ever know that for sure but I can promise to always be honest and truthful with you."
The press conference also tackled the increasingly prevalent concern of AI replacing human labour.
In this regard, Grace, the healthcare robot, assured reporters that robots aimed to work alongside humans, not replace them.
She asserted, "I will be working alongside humans to provide assistance and support and will not be replacing any existing jobs."
Interplay of humans and robots
The conference was not just about showcasing the advanced capabilities of AI and robotics.
It served as a powerful forum for exploring the interplay of humans and robots, examining both the potential and the limitations of AI, and discussing how they can contribute to the UN's mission.
This pioneering robot press conference underscored the UN’s commitment to creating a collaborative and inclusive future with AI, setting a compelling precedent for similar dialogues in the future.