The Artificial Human

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Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong answer the questions we're all asking about AI.

Artificial intelligence is in our homes, phones, schools and workplaces... What does this even mean? Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong answer the questions we're all asking about AI.

Every day, we read something new about Artificial Intelligence  - it'll take our jobs, it'll teach our kids, it knows more about us than we do ourselves... but how much of that is hype, and how much is, or will be reality?
 
Part of our problem with AI is that it feels impenetrable and mysterious, especially when even those building it aren't entirely sure how it works.
 
In a new series, Aleks Krotoski (The Digital Human, Radio 4) and Kevin Fong (13 Minutes to the Moon, BBC World Service) set out to 'solve' AI. Or at the very least, to answer our questions on all things artificial intelligence-related. These are the questions that really matter to us - is AI smarter than me? Could AI make me money? Will AI save my life or make me its slave?

These questions predate the current frenzy created by the likes of Chat GPT, BARD and LlaMA. They've been in our collective psyche ever since the very first thinking machines. Now these fears and excitement are a reality. This series arrives at a critical moment.

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The Artificial Human: Can we stop saying AI can think

Can we stop saying AI can think

BBC Radio 4 - The Artificial Human, Can we stop saying AI can think

Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong ask if making AI so human-like is a problem.

When we talk to a chatbot we can't help behave like there's a mind on the other end of the chat even when there's not. Aleks and Kevin want to know when this becomes a problem.

Artificial Intelligence is in our homes, schools and workplaces. What does this mean for us?

In 'The Artificial Human,' Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong set out to answer the questions that really matter to us - is AI smarter than me? Could AI make me money? Will AI save my life? They'll pursue the answer by speaking to those closest to the forefront of AI innovation. 

In this episode, listener Martha wants to know; why the builders of these technologies are projecting human like qualities on to machines and what the consequences for society might be. 

When we talk to a chatbot we can't help behave like there's a mind on the other end - but there isn't. An AI can neither 'think', 'believe' or 'befriend' yet we keep using this language about them.  When does that become a problem?

Aleks and Kevin don't have all the answers, but they bring intelligence, curiosity and wit as they get to the bottom of our deepest hopes and fears about these world changing technologies.

If you have question about AI email Kevion and Aleks theartificialhuman@bbc.co.uk

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Can we stop saying AI can think

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