Instead of armed robot dogs and software creating deepfake images, we saw the upside of artificial intelligence at an international event.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) held its Global Summit on AI for Good in Switzerland, with the theme of the beneficial and positive use of AI. The Society is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations and its mission is to supervise the construction and operation of communications infrastructure and communications networks and play an effective role in ensuring that technological achievements related to this field reach all parts of the world, connect people, and lay the foundations for international cooperation in the field of communications through.
In the Artificial Intelligence for Good event, in addition to information and communications technology, the main role was artificial intelligence, in which participants focused on its aspect that helps humanity, so that everyone can identify areas of use that can bring about positive change in the field of health care or climate protection. Or even sustainability. Although some of the presentations were about illustrating potential downside scenarios and risks in a cautionary way, Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI who developed ChatGPT, also admitted in an interview at the event that the operation of the AI system he created in reality is not fully understood, as well as Of the countless robots on display at the event, a type emerged that people specifically call idiots – that is, there are plenty of examples of the less utopian side of AI, but in context and in a press presentation, some companies also demonstrated the truly useful side of intelligence. Artificial and robotics.
All devices displayed in the exhibition are devices based on brain-computer interface, and are designed for people who suffer from physical problems or diseases, and their mission is to improve the quality of people’s lives and enable the user to have a greater degree of movement, communication with people and independent living, all of this using technology. As smoothly and simply as possible.
Undercraft
the Undercraft It was presented by the production company in a stunning way at the summit: Paralympic tennis player Charlotte Fairbank, who was completely paralyzed from the waist down, entered with the help of the device and walked across the room on two legs – according to It was the first time in 16 years that she had been able to Standing up from a wheelchair and doing so thanks to the device that can do it.
The Wandercraft is a self-stabilizing exoskeleton that moves on its own and keeps the wearer in a completely upright position.
While it allows you to use your hands and arms as freely as possible, it brings back the walking experience for people who have lost their ability to move. The device can be operated using a joystick and detects the wearer's movements using sensors, thus adapting to the user. The company has already produced its own robotic exoskeleton that can be used for hospital rehabilitation, but the latest version, the Personal Exoskeleton, is intended for daily use, so that sufferers can walk freely again in daily life.
Artificial intelligence bag
Special bag Chieko Asakawa, was introduced by an IBM employee who became blind at the age of fourteen, but this did not prevent him from building a career in the field of computer technology development. During Asakawa's research, he mainly focused on how artificial intelligence can improve the lives of people with disabilities, and with this in mind, he created the AI suitcase, whose mission is to help the visually impaired move freely during trips, so that they can move independently in crowded cities, in Airports and train stations.
The device actually works two ways in one: it replaces the white cane and transports packages, so wearing shoes does not cause any problems for the user.
Thanks to its navigation system, the bag automatically moves to the specified destination and in the process guides the person holding the handle and provides information about events in the environment with various signals. The bag has previously undergone numerous tests, and according to the experience, it can be easily used to maintain a normal walking speed of 4 km/h even on a street full of people. The prototype does not yet have enough space for clothing, but the future final version will function as a regular suitcase, offering a third type of alternative for the visually impaired in addition to canes and guide dogs.
.Cavitation glasses
As Cornel Amariye, A .Cavitation Its CEO said in the presentation that the development of the bore glasses was driven by personal reasons, as he was born into a family where everyone except him had some kind of physical or psychological problem, so he knows exactly how complicated the situation for people with disabilities can be. That's why .lumen was created – its purpose, just like the smart case, is to guide visually impaired people who don't have the classic accessories, who can move more freely with the device and no longer need to use hand-held devices. Cavity glasses are glasses in name only, in reality they do not restore vision to the wearer, but rather process visual information and transmit it in the form of tactile signals and sounds. Through vibrations and other signals issued by the device, the user knows where he is going, where obstacles are, and when it is necessary to stop or avoid something on the road, all while relying entirely on the algorithms and navigation system that powers the glasses. . During the presentation, the device's capabilities were also displayed and it was able to guide the applicant between the rows of seats without any problems. .lumen will be available to a wider audience at the end of this year.
A robotic hand controlled by thoughts
The University of Texas professor presented a robotic hand, or rather an exoskeleton of the hand, that can be controlled by thoughts, and mainly serves rehabilitation purposes. the Artist, band leader At first glance, it is clear that they are not designed for everyday use, because they are not as mature or refined as traditional robotic hands, but they can already be operated with the help of a brain-computer interface and open the way for the user to rebuild those neural pathways that have been damaged and due to this damage you cannot use your limbs properly. correct.
The robotic hand connects to the fingers from the outside, receives the necessary pulse, and raises them, bends them, or makes them move in other ways.
It is enough for the wearer to imagine, for example, that he is pressing his hands together and the device actually perceives the movement. According to the designers, the ability to use the exoskeleton can be learned very quickly and can greatly assist in rehabilitation.
Holistic minds
We spend our days adapting to machines, when it should be the other way around
– said Dr. Olivier Houllier Holistic minds The co-founder, who brought the Prometheus BCI to the event and conducted an interesting experiment with it on the spot. The device can help people with disabilities communicate and interact with the world by processing neurophysiological data and linking it to digital devices. The system works in a multimodal manner, meaning it interprets multiple signals, including brain waves, eye movements, facial expressions and other factors. They had previously written a post on social media with the BCI and with its help sent another message at the AI for Good event, this time addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron, thanking him for his previous congratulations.
Thank you, Mr. President
🦾 Fiers d'avoir represents the responsible l'IA #made in France the African Union #AIforGood castle #United nations And the amplifier according to the thinking #PrometheusPCIMultimodal cognitive IA (brain, facial expressions, movement) 100% 🇫🇷@oullier @PBarbaste https://t.co/45uJkxG2o0
— Inclusive Brains (@inclusivebrains) May 31, 2024
Similar brain-computer interfaces are being developed by several companies, including Neuralink and Synchron, and they have also successfully crafted X inputs through thoughts, but the big difference in the technology is that the Inclusive Brain device works without implanting an implant in the brain. .
(Image: ITU, Undercraft, University of Texas Austin, Gorodenkov/Getty Images)
