Intro
Humans have long been transforming the world to accommodate their existence. We used to hunt, like the rest of the animal kingdom, until we developed farming to make feeding large groups easier. When lifting and transporting heavy things became far too arduous over long distances, we created the wheel.
Since then, we’ve continued to take it upon ourselves as a species to develop, advance, and overcome.
We have remained the dominant species on Earth for precisely that reason. In the face of everyday, seemingly insurmountable challenges, we adapt ourselves and our tools.
The world has changed a lot in the last 100 years, almost exponentially so.
The first automobiles were invented about 140 years ago and became more widely adopted only 20 years later. In just a blink of an eye, cars transformed the way we travel and reshaped the very construction of our cities. Cars also marked the first steps toward a future where machines would become integral to our daily lives.
It took only 10 to 20 years after the car, around the 1920s, before we saw the mass adoption of machines designed for destruction - tanks, warplanes, and weaponry that forever altered the face of conflict. Fast forward a few decades, in the 1930s and 40s, when the world found itself entangled in the chaos of war, and science created some of the most destructive and inhumane weapons in history.
The conditions of the world pushed our innovative capabilities to optimize our capacity to kill our enemies. Technological innovation, though always a force for progress, wielded a double-edged sword.
Yet, in its wake, the airwaves crackled to life. Radio, television, and broadcasting became widely available to the public as the conduits through which the world connected and became informed. Information flowed in ways never before seen, transcending borders and cultures. New entertainment markets developed, new industries were forged, and people became increasingly aware of the world around them.
Then came a seismic shift. The advent of the internet - a digital frontier that blurred the lines between the real and the virtual. A realm where ideas traversed the globe in milliseconds, and connectivity was our ticket to a new era of progress.
Vid of ARPANET
While many of the early networks such as ARPANET, were closed off, meaning they were only used between select communities of people, namely researchers, the combined push of select private organizations, researchers, and investors eventually brought the “internet” to a wider commercial capacity. Eventually, the World Wide Web came in the 90s. Though faced initially with a great degree of skepticism, the internet has since become a staple in every facet of our lives. Today, internet usage in the United States has soared to an astonishing 92%.
It would not be fallacious to say we have domesticated the world wide web, as we did with crops and animals all those centuries ago, to suit our needs and push the boundaries of human efficiency to new extremes.
We have made it available in every home and in every pocket. The collective of human research, data, and knowledge, all compiled into an increasingly complicated and wide-reaching web of information, all accessible at the touch of a button.
But this new realm of information has also sped up the development of the physical. This brings us to M R and D. Mobility, Robotics, and Drones – three fields in the physical technology realm that have significant implications not only on how we may conduct business and society itself in the future, but how our very lives may function.
So, what are they?
Mobility serves the function of transportation, both individual and at large. From enhancing human capabilities, to self-functioning automobiles. Mobility is the comprehensive category of technology built to let us move and work.
Robotics is, as it sounds. Robots: Mechanical contraptions built to ease and automate work and simplify a variety of business processes.
Lastly, Drones are the culmination of scanning, surveillance, and flight technology, designed for a variety of applications, whether that be military tactics, delivery of materials and products, or surveillance.
But they all have a common identifier in the modern, disruptive innovation revolution. AI.
AI (BLUR, TEXT ANIM)
Artificial intelligence is the umbrella term for digital programs and data models that attempt to understand user input in a way that mimics human intelligence. By utilizing different learned information, AI is able to make assumptions, assessments, and understand information that it may not be 100% familiar with.
Far from the movies, AI is still in its baby stage. That is, it is yet to be functional enough to take over human work. It is still prone to “hallucination,” the possibility to make up information or return false results to try and fit in an answer. Little to no current monitoring and internal review on the AI’s part to correct itself, though that may be coming.
So, what’s the concern then? AI is able to, in its current state, enhance workflow and function as an assisting tool to existing professional work, you may say. It has plenty of good uses, and it isn't dangerous to us like pop culture made it out to be! Isn't that a good thing?
While yes, people like programmers can use AI to tap into a large GitHub database and be corrected or have their code filled in, and an increasing amount of digital work is being storyboarded with AI, including writing assistance, idea generation, and even image generation, there are still valid concerns.
The concerning part comes with where we want AI to go. The term AGI, or Artificial General Intelligence IS what we see in science fiction; a mechanical or digital mind that is capable of the same level, or potentially a greater level, of sophisticated thought that human minds are capable of.
The development of such an AI doesn’t even seem particularly far away considering how suddenly AI has emerged as a disruptive force in the market. In this short last year, ChatGPT and similar AI services have made strides in commercializing AI functionality for the average consumer. Though in large part due to the more available development APIs, the swift normalization of AI into the business world should be telling how quickly changes can occur in various industries.
But AI has not just been revolutionary in the digital realm with products like ChatGPT or the GitHub CoPilot. AI also has significant implications on how physical processes may be done, in business, and on the day-to-day.
Mobility (Blur, text anim)
Prosthetics have a long history. Some of the oldest artifacts have been identified as originating from as old as 3000 years ago. Back then, we used wood and leather to mimic movements. Then we made them metal, used gears for better joint mobility.
Now, we are expanding the possibilities into the digital.
We are reaching the point where we have a better understanding of the neural passages that our brain uses to interact and command our limbs. New technology is allowing us to create pseudo-neural interfaces that allow brain control of robot limbs.
Neural interface video
The utilization of AI allows these limbs to detect patterns in grabbing behaviors and movement, as well as use sensors in combination with machine learning to identify and “aim” limbs in the desired direction. AI functioning as an intermediary interpreter of brain signals allows for greater accuracy and more “natural” movement.
A big limitation of older artificial limb technology was the need to hyper focus on movements.
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In turn, new tech that controls limbs via interpretive machine learning allows for a greater sense of control, as minor twitches and micro-adjustments are made by a computer rather than the active thought of the individual.
In addition, some researchers, like those at MIT and Bionic Vision Australia, are working towards developing neurostimulator devices that help with degenerative vision loss. In fact, it may be possible to allow for the blind to have vision restored in the form of external cameras controlling brain signals to send visual information.
Talk about bionic vision in interview -
On the more general implementation side, some companies have toyed around with exoskeleton enhancements to allow for assisted movement. Here, a robot exoskeleton allows people to lift a significantly heavier load.
But underlying all this is a fundamental fear of meshing biology and machine; how can we be sure that something will not go wrong? That the limbs will not kill us, or that the brain connection won’t allow someone to “hack into our minds.”
But these fears aren’t only recent. In 2017 Video Game, “The Surge,” a large corporation implements these kinds of neural interface technologies to aid its workers in being more efficient in their labor.
The game is set in a dystopian world, intentionally done in a way that resembles our own to make the fear element of such a world hit harder.
But is this really a threat? Professor Joseph Vesce of Seton Hall University, a man working decades with IT and related systems in various industries, would argue otherwise.
The technology is going to continue to evolve over the coming years, especially as we develop AI functionality to be more robust and adaptive. Namely, our ability to interpret brain signals as just another piece of data is going to be a major point to look out for going forward.
Mobility is also seeing massive changes in the way we approach travel. AI driven vehicles have kicked up a storm, with multiple companies implementing their own versions of assisted-driving or semi-autonomous driving as a way to get sensor data and testing. Tesla, for instance, allows automatic cruising on highways, and automatic lane switching capabilities at the push of a button.
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However, concerns are cropping up about the current functionality of this technology. Auto-taxi service Cruise had its operating license suspended in the city of San Francisco after the “driver” caused major injuries to a pedestrian.
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Yet we are still implementing AI into various other automated systems.
Robotics (blur, text an)
Most robotics automation on factory lines is done by machines, and although not all are AI, artificial intelligence certainly helps them run more smoothly.
Usage of AI camera systems works well for detection purposes, allowing monitoring of defective units on the factory line, accurate monitoring of statistics and numbers relating to the manufacturing process, and streamlining data all in one place. Companies like alwaysAI are offering these as part of their comprehensive AI manufacturing package. They boast capabilities such as real-time safety monitoring, volumetric space detection, and defect detection.
AI is also useful for machine-to-machine communication, as data on defects or hold-ups can be transferred between assembly line machines on the go, without user input. This allows for greater response times in case of back-ups and prevents cascading hold ups on multiple factory lines in case of factory-wide errors.
This kind of automation isn’t limited to manufacturing, however. Robot usage has continued to rise in a variety of areas. There are Roombas for automatically sweeping floors. Starship autonomous delivery robots use GPS tech and AI functionality to deliver items on campuses, while retaining semi-conversational functionality.
In addition, the NYPD is experimenting with implementing robot metro cops to monitor ticketing areas and platforms, being able to be used as a quick reporting tool for riders, or a monitoring tool for the police.
But concerns are raised about the ethicality of these AI powered problem-solvers.
But the business world side of replacing a once human-to-human interaction is just ethically concerning.
But Robotics, like the rest of the technological world, is just moving towards a more data-driven environment. An inevitability of automation is seeking greater efficiency. As a prime directive, it makes sense that companies want to be able to track and understand everything that their automatic machines do.
And while surveillance certainly is a concern for the average person, better surveilling technology is a great boon to lots of industries. Namely, companies in the drone business.
Drones
While the most popular form of drone tech you may have heard of is recreational, drones have been used for remote information gathering for decades.
Most notably, drones have been in use by the US military for all kinds of operations, from bomb defusals, surveillance, and even remote bombardment. They have served as an invaluable asset in achieving military operations without service member casualties.
But usage of these technologies has pushed US enemies to do the same. A “drone arms race” of sorts, between nations trying to one-up each other in the most efficient ways to conduct remote operations.
The US is also looking to step up its drone warfare next with the Valkyrie XQ-58A, an AI-assisted drone that can assist fighter jets in combat or bombard targets at a distance as well as stealth drones for covert tasks, all as a means of evening the odds against its military opponents.
But this raises several concerns about ethics and reliability.
The RAND corporation, for instance, has noted 3 points about military AI
Ethical risks are important from a humanitarian standpoint.
Operational risks arise from questions about the reliability, fragility, and security of AI systems.
And strategic risks include the possibility that AI will increase the likelihood of war, escalate ongoing conflicts, and proliferate to malicious actors.
Sufficed to say, military adoption of AI tech is going to remain in a gray, testing area until reliable technology is implemented. The baby-stage of Artificial Intelligence is far too soon for the tech to be deployed in active warzones.
But even if the military applications remain ambiguous for the next couple of years, drones powered by AI do already have positive uses for the average person.
An increasing number of farmers have been utilizing UAVs to scan their crops from afar, with top down views allowing them better and faster gathering of crop-yield information, irrigation needs, and early identification of pest and weed problems.
In addition, AI powered drones can provide higher resolution data for flood risk areas, and design models for better water management systems. 3D mapping technology paired with AI can even create financial estimates on crops, livestock, and material costs.
Even the average person gets a piece of the pie. Companies like Amazon are beginning to roll out delivery drones, with faster delivery speeds due to their ability to fly, avoiding traffic.
Amazon specifically launched a prescription medication delivery service, designed with drone flight in mind to deliver needed medication at a moment’s notice, without the need to personally pick up from the pharmacy
Regardless of what specific technologies develop, whether in MRD, AI, Biotech, or whatever else, the world will continue to change
the world will continue to change. Whether we like it or not, we humans are creatures of insight. We seek knowledge, and we strive to advance. Our drive for innovation is not limited to MRD. I urge you to examine all areas of technology and to look towards your futures. Change is only going to come faster, harder, and more unexpectedly. And with that... I bid you goodbye.
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Filip Malesev
