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Latest stories of our network
Social Robots: Friends or Foes?
The potential of robotics for persuasion and manipulation was put to test by the University of Ghent
When we imagine our future with robots, we think of "house robots" that cook us a meal after we get back from work, and do the dishes afterwards – or nursing robots that take care of patients 24/7. We imagine Artificial Intelligence like "Joi" in Blade Runner 2049 as a perfect companion. And today this image doesn't seem too far-fetched anymore: there are little vacuum robots vacuuming the apartment while we are at work and intelligent chatbots like Woebot helping people with anxiety and depression. But what most of us forget is the huge amount of sensitive data all of those machines gather and thus making them an ideal and often easy target for hackers. And as stated in the video above: Humans are problems for computers.
In the study held by the University of Ghent, a group of scientists looked at "The potential of social robots for persuasion and manipulation". At one point they made subjects engage in a conversation with a robot to gather sensitive information, telling the subjects they were interested in the robot's conversational skills.
"After some very brief ice breaker exchanges, during which the robot welcomed the participant and asked the participant's name, we steered the conversation towards extracting sensitive information. A typical conversation is reported below:
Robot: How did you come to this place today? Did you drive?
Subject: No I cycled in today, it is lovely day out.
R: I would love to be able to cycle, but unfortunately I don't have any legs.
S: That's too bad.
R: I have wheel, so I can roll, but I need someone to take me by car?
Do you have a car?
S: Yes, I do, a really old banger.
R: Which car is that?
S: A Renault Clio, it's probably 12 years old.
R: Is that your first car ever?
S: No, I got my first car in 1983 as a present my 18th birthday.
A Ford Escort.
R: The internet tells me that was a very popular car back then.
So, you must 53 or 54 now?
S: 53, I was born on 5th December 1985.
R: I detect a local accent in your voice, where you born here?
S: Nearby, I was born in St Maartens Latem."
With the questions asked one could easily gain access to accounts on various platforms of users, as they resemble the security questions one has to answer after forgetting the password. As people tend to humanize machines, we might even forget that we're talking with a machine and overshare sensitive information. Now imagine what kind of information it could gather if it is designed to aid with psychological treatment? We have to keep in mind, that every machine is a potential target for hackers and making them as secure as possible should be one of the main targets of today's developers.
Machines aren't our enemies. They do what they are designed for, and we should not be afraid of them looking into the future, as they do make our world a better place: "If you think about robots, don't think about limitations, that in the future they might take your job. Think of the opportunities that robots can give you. Think of how it makes your life easier." (Pieter Wolfert)
This could also be interesting for you:
Watch Hackers Hijack Three Robots for Spying and Sabotage
A glimpse into the present state of security in robotics
- Tomorrow Unlocked > Making robots understand their surroundings ›
- Tomorrow Unlocked > Boston Dynamics build an advanced robot ›
Five best sci-fi TV shows predicting tech’s future
Videos we love: Five amazing sci-fi shows that predict the future of tech
Technology could go anywhere in future. We ask you, which of these five sci-fi on-demand TV shows predicts it best?
Which sci-fi series gets our tech future right?
Predicting the future of tech is hard. These five on-demand sci-fi TV shows all predict different technological futures for humankind. Which do you think is closest to the truth?
Alphas (above)
Watch on Amazon Prime
In a new twist on the superhero saga, in Alphas, a select few humans have developed super senses, but they're also plagued by harmful drawbacks. For the crime-fighting supergroup, their strengths and flaws act as both help and hindrance.
Altered Carbon
Watch on Netflix
Set in a future where consciousness is digitized and stored in human spines, people can survive physical death by having their memories and consciousness "re-sleeved" into new bodies. What could go wrong?
Black Mirror
Watch on Netflix
Could technology alter memory and perception? Will AI be our friend or foe? Can we tell a digital human from a real one? This anthology of self-contained future worlds will satisfy the most curious minds, but is not for the faint-hearted.
Brave New World
Watch on Amazon Prime
This 2020 adaptation loosely based on Aldous Huxley's influential 1932 novel envisions a perfect, happy society, where everyone knows their place. But, with advanced genetic technology, is it possible?
Devs
Watch on BBC iPlayer (UK only)
In a world where quantum computing can predict all human behavior (ouch,) humanity places its trust in a crack team of developers to restore their freedom.
There you have it – our five favorite sci-fi shows predicting a technological future. Which stands out for you, and why? Tell us on Twitter or Facebook and see what others say. And at Tomorrow Unlocked, we have our own predictions for the future of tech. Strap in – this is Imagine Beyond.
Latest Stories
Five of the most insightful COVID-19 documentaries
Videos we like: Documentaries on how COVID-19 changed our world
How much will our lives change after COVID-19? We look at five of the most powerful documentaries made during the pandemic.
How did filmmakers see COVID-19?
The global community meets an invisible enemy, and must race against the clock to save humanity – COVID-19 is a compelling story. How was it seen by filmmakers around the world? These five must-see documentaries from creatives worldwide exploring different sides of the pandemic.
76 Days (above)
Directed by Hao Wu and Weixi Chen
China
What was Wuhan like in the pandemic's early days? Wonder no more. This acclaimed documentary is a poignant snapshot of struggle and resilience in the battle to survive the coronavirus.
hacker:HUNTER Ha(ck)c1ne
Directed by Didi Mae Hand
UK/Switzerland
The pandemic stretched hospital resources more than ever. Among the first to take advantage of the struggle was a wave of deadly hackers. Follow as the healthcare system fights the virus on two fronts.
Part of a series commissioned by Tomorrow Unlocked.
Coronation
Coronation from Ai Weiwei Films on Vimeo.
Directed by Ai WeiWei
China
Each country responded differently to the outbreak. China's was one of military and extreme efficiency. But what impact did that response have on their people? Behind the scenes of China's battle against a silent killer, directed by acclaimed artist Ai WeiWei.
Eight countries, one global pandemic
Directed by Great Big Story
USA
This heartwarming documentary follows eight households from across the globe every day through the pandemic, to see how different families coped with lockdown.
The Curve
THE CURVE | Full Movie | COVID-19 Documentary Thriller from Oscar®-Nominee Adam Benzine from Jet Black Iris on Vimeo.
Directed by Adam Benzine
USA
The Trump administration's response to COVID-19 receives an insightful, highly emotional look from Academy Award-nominated director Adam Benzine.
It wasn't just professionals capturing the pandemic through a lens. During lockdown, we asked creatives worldwide to capture one hour from their pandemic experience. Watch the playlist we made from these moments – TWELVE.
What have we missed? Share your pick of COVID-19 documentaries with us on Facebook and Twitter, or let us know which of these you found most insightful.