It’s often been said that we are on the brink of the fourth industrial revolution—powered not by steam, factories or telecommunications but by robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). In truth, robots are already in our midst, humming along the corridors of our hospitals, homes and hotels (Hello, World!).
In the near future, robots could help disaster relief efforts (HUBO To The Rescue) or even care for our elderly (Caring Cyborgs). But beyond what robots can do, what is perhaps more interesting is what they can tell us about ourselves.
Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro (What Humanoids Can Teach Us About Being Human) builds robots in human likeness—including his own—to see how far something as ephemeral as a human presence can be replicated by machines, while Microsoft’s Dr. Hon Hsiao-Wuen (The AI Spring Is Coming) tells us how AI has already challenged the meaning of human intelligence.
Last but not least, check out the Asian Scientist 100, our annual list of Asia’s top movers and shakers in science and technology. This year, we’ve added a new category, renewable energy and sustainability, to recognize the outstanding work in this field being done in Asia that could have an impact across the globe.
Rebecca Tan
Managing Editor
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