“Nadine” is only ten years old, but she is considered old for a robot. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence it has felt again. He also has confidence. Asked if she considers herself smarter than a human being, Nadine says, “In many ways I’m smarter than a human being because I can process so much data.”

At the latest after the activation of ChatGPT, which can theoretically write any kind of text, everyone is talking about artificial intelligence applications. Their common denominator is that robots can be trained to process vast amounts of data and make decisions based on specific, pre-determined criteria.

To this day, most people are skeptical about artificial intelligence. Others fear losing their jobs, others foresee a future dystopia in which machines will be omnipotent. However, it is possible that the new applications will also have beneficial effects, if they are used correctly. With the reasonable title “Artificial Intelligence for Good” (Artificial Intelligence for Good) organizations under the auspices of the United Nations create a meeting place every year in Geneva with experts working on modern applications of artificial intelligence.

“Artificial intelligence sparks sustainable development”

The first exhibition of its kind was organized in 2017. The question, among other things, is the contribution of artificial intelligence to the achievement of the 17 goals for sustainable development based on the “2030 Agenda” of the UN. The declared goals include the fight against poverty and hunger by 2030, ensuring drinking water around the world, ensuring opportunities for education and professional training. Both climate change and unpredictable events such as the coronavirus pandemic and wars around the world seem to make it difficult to achieve the goals.

But “artificial intelligence and robotics can catalyze sustainable development,” argues the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is organizing the “Artificial Intelligence for Good” exhibition in Geneva. For example, experts present robots that can carry heavy loads in areas affected by natural disasters. We are also seeing robots, which can process large amounts of data about weather conditions, soil morphology and pests that threaten crops, so that they can accurately calculate the amount of water or fertilizer needed at a given time. Other robots could impart useful knowledge to children in areas where there is a shortage of teachers.

The social skills of… robots

“Nadine,” the Swiss researchers joke, has been created “in the image and likeness” of Nadia Thalmann, head of the Miralab research group at the University of Geneva. For six months the robot had been tested in a nursing home in Singapore. With the help of Google search and ChatGPT he can answer all kinds of questions, read, send e-mails. “But it can also recognize faces and call everyone by name,” says Tallman. “She remembers past meetings and can, for example, ask if everyone in the family is well, but she can also show her displeasure towards someone who has offended her in the past…”

“The seniors were delighted with Nadine and when it was time for her to leave, they organized a small party to say goodbye,” says Nadia Tallman. Now Singapore is building its own robot, with somewhat more Asian features, to “get a job” in nursing homes. Of course, Nadia Talman hurries to clarify that “it is not going to replace, but to help the workers who are already employed there”

The 4NE-1 robot could also join the support staff. In English it is pronounced “For Anyone” and this was the goal of the German manufacturers, the company Neura Robotics from Metzingen, southern Germany. “With this name we wanted to make it clear that the robot is not competing with humans,” says company head David Reger. “Already today he can answer simple questions and tell us what to do to solve specific problems.” The purchase price amounts to “several tens of thousands of euros”.

And… artificial intelligence bartenders

Daniel Lofaro, an IT engineer at Hanson Robotics, has his own proposal. “Sophia,” he says, is a robot and is the perfect bartender. Not only does he make you whatever drink you want, but he’s also up for a chat. “It’s been a bad day, Sofia,” you tell her, and she replies, “I’m sorry to hear that, tell me, what happened?” it will annoy you.” He believes that “Sophia” would be just as successful as a nurse, even in the operating room.

A next stage of development for artificial intelligence is that robots are better adapted to emotion analysis, mainly evaluating facial expression and tone of voice. An example is “Amika” which is made in UK, but speaks all languages ​​and is also very expressive. He can frown, stare into space, but also smile.

“Artificial intelligence is not going to take over the world,” she argues, “but it will help all of us, in many things.” But what does he mean when he says “all of us?” “Us, the people” replies “Amika”. “I too am an artificial man.”