The Artificial Intelligence Database
Books
Dystopia Is All Too Plausible in The School for Good Mothers
Jessamine Chan's new novel makes a world full of surveillance android children seem very real.
By Kate Knibbs
Hourly Rate
Now You Can Rent a Robot Worker—for Less Than Paying a Human
Automation is reaching more companies, imperiling some jobs and changing the nature of others.
By Will Knight
Space Atlas
Astrophysicists Release the Biggest Map of the Universe Yet
A powerful astronomy instrument called DESI charts millions of galaxies in the night sky. Can it help scientists finally figure out what dark energy is?
By Ramin Skibba
Ideas
When Mind Melds With Machine, Who’s in Control?
Brain-computer interfaces are getting better all the time—and they’re about to land us in a philosophical quagmire.
By Kelly Clancy
Sow It Goes
John Deere's Self-Driving Tractor Stirs Debate on AI in Farming
The automation, and control of the resulting data, raises questions about the role of human farmers.
By Will Knight
The Future of Robot Nannies
A machine can't love our children, but our children might love them.
By Joanna J. Bryson
Ideas
Who Killed the Robot Dog?
The robotic companion was once a dream of techno-utopianism, but has instead become a terrifying weapon. What happened?
By Britt H. Young
ai
Robots Won’t Close the Warehouse Worker Gap Anytime Soon
Even Amazon’s new AI-powered machines aren’t nearly capable enough to handle the most important fulfillment tasks.
By Will Knight
RE:WIRED
Kai-Fu Lee and Yoky Matsuoka Imagine AI's Potential for Good
The investor and entrepreneur discuss "human-in-the-loop" technology, and how artificial intelligence might be used for health and caregiving.
By Brent Rose
On Their Own
These Robots Follow You to Learn Where to Go
Burro makes carts that help growers of trees and vineyards with harvests. Meanwhile, the maker of Vespa scooters wants to carry your groceries.
By Khari Johnson
Beware
These Virtual Obstacle Courses Help Real Robots Learn to Walk
Researchers used specialized chips and simulation software to teach a four-legged robot to navigate stairs and blocks.
By Will Knight
Shiny Objects
Tesla Promised a Robot. Was It Just a Recruiting Pitch?
The highlight of an event aimed at AI whizzes was a human simulating a robot that might someday replace a human.
By Aarian Marshall
Green Machines
Is the Robot-Filled Future of Farming a Nightmare or Utopia?
A new paper argues that the rise of artificial intelligence in agriculture could be the best—or worst—innovation for our environment.
By Katrina Miller
High Note
This Device Helps Paralyzed People Breathe—and Sing
Called the Exo-Abs, the robotic device uses artificial intelligence to gauge how much pressure to put on a person’s midsection.
By Khari Johnson
On the Farm
John Deere Doubles Down on Silicon Valley and Robots
The farm-equipment giant is buying Bear Flag Robotics, which makes autonomous tractors, marking its second big tech buy in four years.
By Will Knight
Opinion
Boston Dynamics, BTS, and Ballet: The Next Act for Robotics
The company’s latest video, “Spot’s on It,” signals its deepening, complexifying relationship with dance.
By Sydney Skybetter
Oops
Don't End Up on This Artificial Intelligence Hall of Shame
A list of incidents that caused, or nearly caused, harm aims to prompt developers to think more carefully about the tech they create.
By Tom Simonite
Food for Thought
Peanut the Waiter Robot Is Proof That Your Job Is Safe
Restaurants are struggling to hire people, so one Jersey Shore grill employed a machine. It confirms that humans remain indispensable.
By Matt Simon
Oh Crap
The Dog Poodemic Is Here. Call in the Dung-Hunting Drones
Lockdown puppy madness has left sidewalks littered with feces. Robots that scan and scoop can help.
By Jeremy White
Touching Story
This Brain-Controlled Robotic Arm Can Twist, Grasp—and Feel
Nathan Copeland learned to move a robotic arm with his mind, but it was kind of slow. Then researchers gave him touch feedback.
By Max G. Levy