The age-old debate of man vs. machine has resurfaced in recent years, this time due to a decrease in the number of jobs associated with what is referred to as Industry 4.0.
Even today we can witness a significant movement by many people against the role of machines in specific activities and environments. When these machines, moreover, take on a human appearance, the preventative efforts often turns into actual terror.
Two years ago, during an international conference on artificial intelligence organised by the University of Salamanca, we had the opportunity to admire and interact with a humanoid robot which had caught everybody’s attention. Geminoid H1-4 was created by Japanese scientist Hiroshi Ishiguro, director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory in the Graduate School of Engineering Science at Osaka University. It is an ultra-lifelike robot with the ability to speak and show facial expressions of happiness and concern through facial movements.
Today, the use of this type of humanoid is more focused on distance teaching and companionship, but as new versions are coming to light, their creators are proposing new applications.
From 13-16 September, Salamanca will host the fifth edition of the Spanish Conference on Computer Science, which will include the participation of researchers from all over the country. One of the keynote presentations, scheduled for 13 September, will be Professor Ishiguro.
Article published in El Mundo de Castilla y León
As published in La Gaceta de Salamanca
