The Human and the Machine

In this special three-part series, The Human and the Machine, generously sponsored by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI), we tackle some of the most urgent questions about our growing reliance on AI and the radical changes it might bring about in our world. These questions are of vital importance, especially when AI is becoming integrated into every facet of our lives. The more we grow to rely on these intelligent technologies, the greater their capacity to bring about radical changes—socially, politically, and economically. To shape our future relationship with AI, we need to think carefully about the potential for human flourishing and human harm.

THE SOCIAL LIVES OF ROBOTS

Timeline of robot evolution from 1999 to 2030, showcasing different robot designs.

Machines might surpass humans in terms of computational intelligence, but when it comes to social intelligence, they’re not very sophisticated. They have difficulty reading subtle cues—like body language, eye gaze, or facial expression…

WHAT CAN VIRTUAL REALITY (ACTUALLY) DO?

Man wearing a VR headset, immersed in virtual reality. 167 hours, 51 seconds in headset.

VR experiences transport users into all kinds of different realities, some modeled on the real world, others completely invented. Though still in its infancy, VR technology has become so sophisticated, it can trick the brain into treating the virtual experience as real…

OULD ROBOTS BE PERSONS?

Robot presenting a question mark, human and machine interaction

As we approach the advent of autonomous robots, we must decide how we will determine culpability for their actions. Some propose creating a new legal category of “electronic personhood” for any sufficiently advanced robot that can learn and make decisions by itself…

To ensure that humanity benefits from AI technology and that the benefits are broadly shared, the research that HAI supports is focused on three key areas: Human Impact, Augment Human Capabilities, and Intelligence. The following episodes from the archive address different aspects of these focus areas.