The chip mimicks the neurons and synapses of the human brain, and has the ability to learn new tricks.

IBM unveils microchip based on the human brain New Scientist

The key to advancing artificial intelligence may lie not in people enhancing themselves with machines, but machines enhancing themselves with people.  When AIs stumble, they can go online to ask questions to live humans.

The man-machine: Harnessing humans in a hive mind  New Scientist

In what ethics professor Deane-Peter Baker calls a "post-heroic age", unmanned drones are becoming an increasingly important part of the military.  Some are now even shrinking to the size of insects.

War evolves with drones, some tiny as bugs   New Scientists

Based on Global Workspace Theory (GWT) of human cognition, a robot called LIDA can recognize objects in its environment at speeds comparable to humans and - perhaps - in a similar manner.

Bot shows signs of consciousness    New Scientist

It seems part of my future history of robots is already coming true.  The following video discusses the "world's first sex robot."  This is the first I've encountered Peter Nowak; it seems he thought of some of the same ideas as me and has already published a book about it called "Sex, Bombs, and Burgers."  Echoing my semi-serious prediction about ( Read more... )

A number of companies are now making office robots that let you log in from home and move around the office like a mobile teleconferencing unit.  I think they look kinda creepy.

2011 Preview: Enter the robot self   New Scientist

Paro = Personal Robot.

Discovering a Soft Spot for Circuitry  NY Times

I still can't believe I was allowed to graduate based on a comic book script!  I sure had a blast writing this to complete my bachelors degree in English.  After having a look back at it, I thought I'd share it here.

Andromeda's Choice combines Greek mythology, gender identity, feminist angst, and robots into a coming-of-age comedy of stellar ( Read more... )

Cyborg crickets could chirp at the smell of survivors   New Scientist

Really?  Yes, really.

These robots are powered by luring in and digesting flies and even mice in microbial fuel cells.

Domestic robots with a taste for flesh   New Scientist