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Researchers investigate the swarming behavior of microrobots

Miniaturization is progressing rapidly in many fields, and the trend toward the creation of ever smaller units is also prevalent in the world of robot technology. In the future, minuscule robots used in medical and pharmaceutical applications might be able to transport medication to targeted sites in the body. Statistical physics can contribute to the foundations for the development of such technologies.

A team of researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has now taken a new approach to the issue by analyzing a group of robots and how they behave as collectives of motile units based on the model of active Brownian particles. The team’s findings demonstrating that there may be an alternative route to realize programmable active matter have been published in Science Advances.

Researchers are looking for new ways to perform tasks on the micro-and nanoscale that are otherwise difficult to realize, particularly as the miniaturization of devices and components is beginning to reach physical limits. One new option being considered is the use of collectives of robotic units in place of a single robot to complete a task.

AI is here to stay; it’s time to update your HR policies

The widespread use of advanced artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT means the rapidly developing technology is being used in workplaces across the country whether employers are aware of it or not.

So, for companies that have not yet developed ground rules for AI use, you’re being put on alert: It’s time to update your employee handbook, an human resources expert says.

Jennifer Morehead, owner and CEO of Flex HR, which handles outsourced human resources services for major firms like Harley-Davidson and Kimberly Clark, says there are an array of issues AI firms need to consider now that the tools are becoming increasingly accessible in the workplace.

Charismatic Robot Voices: A Boost for Team Creativity?

Summary: Robotic voices with a charismatic tone can positively influence the creative performance of teams.

Researchers designed a social robot’s speech to sound charismatic, employing a confident, passionate tone and tested its effects on students during a creativity task.

The results revealed students were more innovative when the robot used a charismatic tone, leading to more original and elaborate ideas.

AI Can Help You Ask Better Questions — and Solve Bigger Problems

Most companies still view AI rather narrowly, as a tool that alleviates the costs and inefficiencies of repetitive human labor and increasing organizations’ capacity to produce, process, and analyze piles and piles of data. But when paired with “soft” inquiry-related skills it can help people ask better questions and be more innovative.

There are two distinct, yet related, paths to do this. 1) Use the technology to change the cadence and patterns of their questions: AI increases question velocity, question variety, and question novelty. 2) Use AI to transform the conditions and settings where people work so that questions that spark change — what we call “catalytic” questions — can emerge. This pushes leaders out of their comfort zones and into the position of being intellectually wrong, emotionally uncomfortable, and behaviorally quiet and more reflective, all of which, it turns out, promotes innovative thinking and action.

Page-utils class= article-utils—vertical hide-for-print data-js-target= page-utils data-id= tag: blogs.harvardbusiness.org, 2007/03/31:999.356809 data-title= AI Can Help You Ask Better Questions — and Solve Bigger Problems data-url=/2023/05/ai-can-help-you-ask-better-questions-and-solve-bigger-problems data-topic= Technology and analytics data-authors= Hal Gregersen; Nicola Morini Bianzino data-content-type= Digital Article data-content-image=/resources/images/article_assets/2023/05/May23_26_887787366-383x215.jpg data-summary=

Tesla Bot has got our competitive juices flowing, says Boston Dynamics CEO

Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter has commented on Tesla Bot, Tesla’s humanoid robot project, and he says it ignited a competitive spirit at the company.

Ever since Tesla announced its humanoid robot project, it has often been compared to Boston Dynamics, which is widely recognized as the leader in robotics.

The company was founded three decades ago as a spin-off from the MIT.

OpenAI offers $1 million in grants to shape ethical AI, combat misinformation

In a blog post, OpenAI has officially declared its intentions to offer $100,000 grants for the best ideas on how we should regulate and control AI.

ChatGPT creators, OpenAI, have announced ten $100,000 grants for anyone with good ideas on how artificial intelligence (AI) can be governed to help address bias and other factors. The grants will be awarded to recipients who present the most compelling answers for some of the most pressing solutions around AI, like whether it should be allowed to have an opinion on public figures.


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This comes in light of arguments around whether AI systems such as ChatGPT may have a built-in prejudice because of the data they are trained on (not to mention the opinions of human programmers behind the scenes). Reports have revealed instances of discriminatory or biased results generated by AI technology. There is a growing apprehension that AI, when working alongside search engines like Google and Bing, might generate misleading information with great conviction.

Could analog chips be the solution to AI’s power thirst?

Digital chips have revolutionized the world beyond all recognition. Yet, despite their enormous advantages to computing, for power-hungry processes like AI, analog might be best.

Digital computer chips are the mainstay of our current digital age.

They are found in almost any device that uses electricity, from fridges to cars and your cell phone. But their predecessor, analog chips, could be about to have a resurgence.

In the past, analog chips governed computing, operating over continuous value ranges.


Visualspace/iStock.

Baidu’s AI revolution: CEO announces launch of game-changing generative AI model

CEO Robin Li recently revealed that the company is primed to launch Ernie 3.5, a generative AI large-language model.

Baidu is China’s leading search engine and a powerhouse of technological innovation. Now, they are at the edge of a breakthrough. CEO Robin Li recently revealed that the company is primed to officially launch Ernie 3.5, a generative AI large-language model that promises to revolutionize Baidu’s ChatGPT-like app, Ernie Bot, and enhance its renowned search engine.

The announcement during the prestigious Zhongguancun Forum marks an exciting milestone for Baidu’s journey into advanced artificial intelligence.


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