Talking Robots: Dario Floreano - Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

In the inaugural episode of "Talking Robots," host Markus Weibel interviews Dario Floreano, head of the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, about the podcast's purpose and the broader landscape of robotics and artificial intelligence. Floreano explains that the podcast will feature interviews with leading figures in these fields to demystify complex concepts for a wider audience. The discussion covers the history of robotics and AI, distinguishing between early automata and true robots with environmental perception. Floreano addresses the current state of autonomous robots, the psychological and cultural factors affecting their acceptance, and the evolving definitions of AI, including "strong" versus "weak" AI. He highlights hot topics like creating robots for unpredictable environments, the importance of embodied AI, and emerging interest in machine consciousness. The episode concludes with Floreano's predictions for the future of robotics and AI, expressing optimism about assistive robots while cautioning against overhyped claims of human-level intelligence in machines.