Should Robots Be Our Slaves?
Robonomics is coming at full force, and those who adapt in time will gain the most from it. Prof. Stanislav Ivanov, a tourism scholar turned researcher of the economics of automation, talks about the exciting future, the big questions it raises, how Bulgarians already hand robots the same rights and duties we associate with slavery, and why an unconditional basic income is inevitable. Let us take a peek into the future together!
02Hello, Cobot!
“A robotic assistant bakes moussaka in the oven while hanging out the laundry from the washing machine…” Doesn’t sound bad at all, does it? While we were still getting used to the idea that a vacuum cleaner could be a cute, round robot… it has been roaming our homes for years, mapping the rooms and saving us from the dust. Might the same thing happen with the next everyday innovations? Very soon, on August 26, software engineer Zhivko Petrov will show us “firsthand” why a robotic assistant may arrive sooner than we expect. He is one of the speakers at the annual DEV.BG All in One event, which brings the IT community together with guests who sketch out the big topics. Zhivko will be there shoulder to shoulder with Mara the robot. Before that, it is time for a few important questions about the future of robotics. For Zhivko, and for the mechanical lady he is bringing along…
03Ai-Da and the Lords: Is a Robot That Passes for Human on Its Way?
Is the time coming when we'll pass robots indistinguishable from ourselves? Is it even possible, what are the biggest obstacles, and are there dangers ahead if we succeed? The news that the innocently smiling Ai-Da dropped in for a chat with the British lords caught everyone's eye, though her colleague Sophia has long been a star of the genre, having even been granted citizenship. How far has technology come in creating the perfect humanoid robot, and is Ai-Da really so different that she can talk as an equal with the members of an almost thousand-year-old institution?
04Optimus for Optimists: What Can Musk's Robot Do?
“Very soon, physical work will be a matter of choice,” Musk insists. The first version of Optimus is expected to be unveiled in September—a robot that, according to its creator, has the potential to become a bigger business than even Tesla. The promise is that within two years it will go mainstream and “free” people from a whole range of chores. What else is worth knowing about Optimus?
05Man and Robot, Intimately
Algorithms are replacing us in more and more tasks. Meanwhile, the internet has changed human relationships forever, love and sex included. Isn't the point where the two meet drawing near? What does the future look like when artificial intelligence and robotics step in between two lovers? 42 percent of people say they would have sex with a robot today. 39 percent would have a romantic relationship with a humanoid. Would you?
06Wait… How Did We Run Out of Chips?
The chip shortage has shaken the whole planet and, to some degree, hit everyone who has anything to do with technology. Cars and many tech products have become dramatically more expensive, new models of all kinds of devices are delayed, and others arrive weaker than expected. We have known microchips for so long, and humanity has been perfecting them for more than half a century, so how did we end up in this crazy situation? And could it turn into an unexpected opportunity for Bulgarian industry?
07A Swarm of Robot Frogs That Could… Stop Aging?
They are futuristic, self-healing, miniature biological units made from frog stem cells. They are called xenobots. They can move in different directions carrying a payload, they learn collective behavior and easily turn into a swarm. Robots…, but not quite. Living creatures…, but not exactly. They are built from living cells, yet designed on the same principles normally used to make robots.
08Robots vs. Silodeys: The Story of Bulgaria's First Science Fiction Writer
In 1930, Georgi Iliev wrote the first Bulgarian science fiction novel. Instead of “robot,” he proposed the poetic word “silodey.” His life story is worthy of a film, though today his name is almost forgotten…
