AI and Robots Are a Minefield of Cognitive Biases
Humans anthropomorphize our technology, sometimes to our own distraction and detriment This is a guest post. The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not represent positions of IEEE Spectrum or the IEEE. Most pe.....»»
"The Creator" review: A stunning reminder we need more original sci-fi
While its themes and story beats don't always land, "The Creator" is a masterful, beautifully realized work of science fiction. Cyberpunk cityscapes. Rolling fields tilled by robots. Towering space stations. These are just a sample of the marve.....»»
Study: “Smarter” dogs think more like humans to overcome their biases
Both the shape of a dog's head and cognitive ability determine degree of spatial bias. Enlarge / Look at this very good boy taking a test to determine the origin of his spatial bias for a study on how dogs think. (credit: Eniko K.....»»
Trust or distrust? There is an alternative mindset for confronting disinformation, argues researcher
In the face of rampant disinformation, Professor Ruth Mayo from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem delivers a fresh perspective on the cognitive mindsets influencing our susceptibility to false information. Her comprehensive review challenges the pre.....»»
Parents underestimate the importance of guided play in education, finds study
Child psychologists have long known that play is essential for children's cognitive development because it boosts their social, physical, and emotional skills. But beginning in the 21st century, specialists repeatedly sounded the alarm that 'play is.....»»
iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ review: a tale of two robots
The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ uses an innovative swinging mop arm to keep carpets dry, but it stumbles on basic features you'd expect from a robot this expensive......»»
Jurors recommend death penalty based on certain looks, but new training can correct the bias
Certain facial features—like downturned lips and a heavy brow—are known to make someone appear untrustworthy to others, even though these do not indicate a person's actual character. Such facial biases influence our everyday social interactions a.....»»
Study shows how Black college athletes alter self-presentation to avoid biases
On Sept. 16, the University of Colorado's football team was 3-0 and had secured the No. 19 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 College Football Poll. Under Head Coach Deion Sanders, the Buffaloes were enjoying one of their best starts in recent me.....»»
Q&A: Understanding coordination mechanisms in decentralized systems
Did you know that when a group of robots or bacteria moves in a space where there are several free objects, they deflect these objects so they can pass? An international research team managed to show that the trail left by this movement contributes t.....»»
Biases behind transgender athlete bans are deeply rooted
In 2023, 24 states had laws or regulations in place prohibiting transgender students from participating on public school athletic teams consistent with their gender identity. These bans mean that a person whose sex assigned at birth was male but who.....»»
Social robots leave students wanting, education researchers find
Social robots, artificial intelligence (AI) systems designed to interact with humans, are marketed as capable of fulfilling certain human roles. Elementary and middle school students who interacted with one of these robots in the classroom for 10 wee.....»»
Study reveals genes that set humans apart from other primates in cognitive ability
An international team led by researchers at the University of Toronto has uncovered over 100 genes that are common to primate brains but have undergone evolutionary divergence only in humans—and which could be a source of our unique cognitive abili.....»»
AI tool could increase the number of people exiting homelessness, reduce racial bias in services: Report
USC researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool they recommend as one of several measures that would help homeless service agencies control for potential biases and ensure that applicants have a fair chance at getting housing......»»
Higher levels of financial optimism associated with lower levels of cognitive ability
A behavioral economist at the University of Bath in the U.K. has found evidence linking higher levels of unwarranted financial optimism with lower levels of cognitive ability. In his study, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology B.....»»
Higher cognitive ability linked to higher chance of having voted against Brexit
A new analysis suggests that a person with higher cognitive ability may have been more likely to vote "Remain" in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and that a spouse's cognitive skills may also be linked to Brexit voting decisions. Chris Dawson and Paul Ba.....»»
Small-batch EVs and plenty of robots—Hyundai’s new innovation center
The Korean automaker's latest facility is a test bed for new ideas. Enlarge / Hyundai's latest factory eschews the production line for cells. (credit: Hyundai) Hyundai provided flights and accommodation from San Francisc.....»»
Scientists 3D print a robotic hand with human-like bones and tendons
As a layer is printed, an optical scan IDs flaws and corrects them in the next layer. Enlarge / The 3D-printed hand made via the new method. (credit: ETH Zurich/Thomas Buchner) Have you ever wondered why robots are unabl.....»»
Undergraduate"s writing program demonstrates the power of storytelling in STEM
Elea Abisamra published her first book in fifth grade. Before she became a Virginia Tech College of Science student majoring in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, Abisamra's grade school years were focused on her love of writing......»»
With mapping robots and blast gel, Israel wages war on Hamas tunnels
With mapping robots and blast gel, Israel wages war on Hamas tunnels.....»»
NASA stops speaking to its Mars robots, but they haven’t fallen out
A celestial event happening right now could corrupt commands sent from Earth to NASA's Mars rovers so the team is taking a break until the situation normalizes......»»
Study finds link between school desegregation and midlife cognitive function
Exposure to state-level school desegregation during primary school was associated with higher midlife cognitive function among Black Americans who grew up in the U.S. South from the 1950s to 1970s, according to new findings by a University of Marylan.....»»