Is it alive or is it Xeno-rex?

Is it alive or is it Xeno-rex?

Author: CNA December 17, 2021 Duration: 38:15

Andy and Dave discuss the latest in AI news and research, starting with the US Department of Defense creating a new position of the Chief Digital and AI Officer, subsuming the Joint AI Center, the Defense Digital Service, and the office of the Chief Data Officer [0:32]. Member states of UNESCO adopt the first-ever global agreement on the ethics of AI, which includes recommendations on protecting data, banning social scoring and mass surveillance, helping to monitor and evaluate, and protecting the environment [3:26]. The European Digital Rights and 119 civil society organizations launch a collective call for an AI Act to articulate fundamental rights (for humans) regarding AI technology and research [6:02]. The Future of Life Institute releases Slaughterbots 2.0: "if human: kill()" ahead of the 3rd session in Geneva of the Group of Governmental Experts discussing lethal autonomous weapons systems [7:15]. In research, Xenobots 3.0, the living robots made from frog cells, demonstrate the ability to replicate themselves kinematically, at least for a couple of generations (extended to four generations by using an evolutionary algorithm to model ideal structures for replication) [12:23]. And researchers from DeepMind, Oxford, and Sydney demonstrate the ability to collaborate with machine learning algorithms to discover new results in mathematics (in knot theory and representation theory); though another researcher attempts to dampen the utility of the claims. [17:57] And finally, Dr. Mike Stumborg joins Dave and Andy to discuss research in Human-Machine Teaming, why it's important, and where the research will be going [21:44].


Tune into AI with AI: Artificial Intelligence with Andy Ilachinski for a grounded and insightful conversation about a field that often feels like science fiction. Host Andy Ilachinski, alongside David Broyles, breaks down complex topics without the hype, focusing on what the latest breakthroughs in AI and autonomy actually mean. This isn't just a technical deep dive; each episode carefully considers the real-world ramifications, particularly how these technologies intersect with global security and military strategy. You'll hear clear explanations of emerging research, thoughtful analysis of current events, and discussions that connect laboratory advances to their broader societal impact. Produced by CNA, this podcast serves as a vital resource for anyone looking to move beyond headlines and understand the forces shaping our future. The perspectives offered are those of the hosts and commentators, providing a focused lens on a rapidly evolving landscape. For listeners curious about the intersection of technology and policy, this series offers consistently substantive content that clarifies the present while thoughtfully examining the path ahead.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

AI with AI: Artificial Intelligence with Andy Ilachinski
Podcast Episodes
Thunderbots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:14
Sam Bendett joins Andy and Dave to discuss the latest developments and happenings in Russia's research into artificial intelligence and autonomy capabilities. They discuss Russia's national strategy and the challenges th…
Lone Hacker and Child [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:38
In COVID-related AI news, Andy and Dave discuss the COVID-19 Grand Challenge from C3.ai. In non-COVID AI news, the Department of Defense releases its Data Strategy. The Defense Science Board publishes a report on Counter…
PROGRESS Out of the Blue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:32
Andy and Dave have a chat with Chad Jenkins, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, Director of the Laboratory for Perception, RObotics, and Grounded REasoning SystemS (PROGRESS), an…
The Robohattan Project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:31
The bipartisan Future of Defense Task Force releases its 2020 report, which includes the suggestion of using the Manhattan Project as a model to develop AI technologies. Facebook AI releases Dynabench as a way to dynamic…
Tell-Tale Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:47
In COVID-related AI news, Youyang Gu provides world- and county-level COVID-19 predictions using machine learning, along with a rolling examination of accuracy. In regular AI news, a military coalition of 13 countries me…
the social bot network [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:29
Andy and Dave kick off Season 4.0 of AI with AI with a discussion on social media bots. CNA colleagues Meg McBride and Kasey Stricklin join to discuss the results of their recent research efforts, in which they explored…
CONSORTing with the GPT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
In COVID-related AI news, another concerning report, this time in Nature Medicine, found "serious concerns" with 20,000 studies on AI systems in clinical trials, with many reporting only the best-case scenarios; in respo…
[Abstraction Intensifies] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:40
In COVID-related AI news, a report from Cambridge University and University of Manchester examines recent studies on using chest x-rays and CTs scans to detect and diagnose COVID, and finds that only 29 of 168 studies ha…
Some Pigsel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:44
In COVID-related AI news, Andy and Dave discuss an effort from Google and Harvard to provide county-level forecasts on COVID-19 for hospitals and first responders. The National Library of Medicine, National Center of Bio…
Rebroadcast: What is AI? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:51
CNA's Center for Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence kicks off its first panel for 2019 with a live recording of AI with AI! Andy and Dave take a step back and look at the broader trends of research and announcements in…