About this episode
The episode discusses the advancements in robotics and AI, particularly in China, and explores how robots are beginning to integrate into everyday life.
Last month at Beijing’s half marathon, a robot named Lightning beat the human world record by nearly seven minutes. It’s the latest in a string of AI-powered milestones that have got people wondering whether robots are about to enter our everyday lives, just as chatbots have. And the country leading the charge is China, where the government has pledged to invest more than £100bn in robotics over the next 20 years. To find out how robots are already entering the workforce, and what needs to happen to get them cleaning our homes and weeding our gardens, Ian Sample hears from the Guardian’s senior China correspondent, Amy Hawkins, and from Nathan Lepora, professor of robotics and AI at Bristol University, who researches how robots can achieve human-like dexterity. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
People in this episode
Host: Ian Sample
Guests: Amy Hawkins, Nathan Lepora
Topics covered
- robots
- AI
- China
- workforce
- technology
- automation
Keywords
- robots
- AI
- China
- automation
- workforce
- technology
- human-like dexterity
- Beijing half marathon
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Guardian
Places: China
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