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What Questions Should Robots Be Able to Answer? A Dataset of User Questions for Explainable Robotics

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

With the growing use of large language models and conversational interfaces in human-robot interaction, robots' ability to answer user questions is more important than ever. We therefore introduce a dataset of 1,893 user questions for household robots, collected from 100 participants and organized into 12 categories and 70 subcategories. Most work in explainable robotics focuses on why-questions. In contrast, our dataset provides a wide variety of questions, from questions about simple execution details to questions about how the robot would act in hypothetical scenarios -- thus giving roboticists valuable insights into what questions their robot needs to be able to answer. To collect the dataset, we created 15 video stimuli and 7 text stimuli, depicting robots performing varied household tasks. We then asked participants on Prolific what questions they would want to ask the robot in each portrayed situation. In the final dataset, the most frequent categories are questions about task execution details (22.5%), the robot's capabilities (12.7%), and performance assessments (11.3%). Although questions about how robots would handle potentially difficult scenarios and ensure correct behavior are less frequent, users rank them as the most important for robots to be able to answer. Moreover, we find that users who identify as novices in robotics ask different questions than more experienced users. Novices are more likely to inquire about simple facts, such as what the robot did or the current state of the environment. As robots enter environments shared with humans and language becomes central to giving instructions and interaction, this dataset provides a valuable foundation for (i) identifying the information robots need to log and expose to conversational interfaces, (ii) benchmarking question-answering modules, and (iii) designing explanation strategies that align with user expectations.


The Cultural Mapping and Pattern Analysis (CMAP) Visualization Toolkit: Open Source Text Analysis for Qualitative and Computational Social Science

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

The CMAP (Cultural Mapping and Pattern Analysis) visualization toolkit is an open-source suite for analyzing and visualizing text data--from qualitative fieldnotes and in-depth interview transcripts to historical documents and web-scraped data such as message board posts or blogs. The toolkit is designed for scholars integrating pattern analysis, data visualization, and explanation in qualitative and/or computational social science (CSS). Despite the existence of off-the-shelf commercial qualitative data analysis software, there remains a shortage of highly scalable open-source options capable of handling large datasets and supporting advanced statistical and language modeling. The foundation of the toolkit is a pragmatic approach that aligns research tools with social science project goals--empirical explanation, theory-guided measurement, comparative design, or evidence-based recommendations--guided by the principle that research paradigms and questions should determine methods. Consequently, the CMAP visualization toolkit offers a wide range of possibilities through the adjustment of a relatively small number of parameters and allows seamless integration with other Python tools.


Apple Pioneer Bill Atkinson Was a Secret Evangelist of the 'God Molecule'

WIRED

Apple Pioneer Bill Atkinson Was a Secret Evangelist of the'God Molecule' The HyperCard inventor was a huge proponent of taking lower doses of 5-MeO-DMT, which is widely considered the strongest psychedelic in the world. Bill Atkinson was a computing pioneer who, in the 1980s, effectively made Apple computers usable for everyday people by transforming code into windows, menus, and graphics. But few people know that later in life he was a secret advocate of what's widely considered the world's most potent psychedelic: 5-MeO-DMT. The hallucinogen, also called "the God molecule," is a compound found in the venomous secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad named (it's commonly called) and is known to bring about ego death, a total dissolution of the senses, and a euphoric feeling of existential connectedness, all in a roughly 20-minute trip. Atkinson, who died from pancreatic cancer on June 5 at the age of 74, was a member of a close-knit, private online community of 5-MeO-DMT enthusiasts called OneLight, where he went by the alias "Grace Within."


State Your Intention to Steer Your Attention: An AI Assistant for Intentional Digital Living

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

When working on digital devices, people often face distractions that can lead to a decline in productivity and efficiency, as well as negative psychological and emotional impacts. To address this challenge, we introduce a novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant that elicits a user's intention, assesses whether ongoing activities are in line with that intention, and provides gentle nudges when deviations occur. The system leverages a large language model to analyze screenshots, application titles, and URLs, issuing notifications when behavior diverges from the stated goal. Its detection accuracy is refined through initial clarification dialogues and continuous user feedback. In a three-week, within-subjects field deployment with 22 participants, we compared our assistant to both a rule-based intent reminder system and a passive baseline that only logged activity. Results indicate that our AI assistant effectively supports users in maintaining focus and aligning their digital behavior with their intentions. Our source code is publicly available at https://intentassistant.github.io


"Final Boy," by Sam Lipsyte

The New Yorker

Thing is, I've been trying to find a moment to write down what happened to Bennett and me for a while now, but the demands of my audience rarely abate. I've hardly time to jot down a grocery list, let alone compose a personal chronicle. Bennett says I'm practically the Charles (as in Dickens) of scribblers devoted to mining the rich vein of a certain underappreciated sitcom of the nineteen-eighties, but I will leave that for history to judge. Besides, what does Bennett know? Just before he got that way, I was in Amok Mocha, where I like to sip cold brew and do my "C: FB" conjuring, and I struck up a conversation with a young woman who confessed to being a creative-writing student. She told me that in her workshop they talk about the "occasion" of the story. Why is the narrator telling this tale now? What pressures or conditions have coalesced to move a person to speak? I feigned ignorance of the concept, though I'd heard it often in my own writing classes long ago. Instead, I told her that, if the installment I was presently crafting flowed from any occasion, it was this: Charles is anxious about the imminent disintegration of the universe via the ever-increasing tug of dark matter. Moreover, he's ticked off that his best buddy, Buddy, doesn't seem perturbed by the prospect. "How imminent?" the woman said, and sipped her Balkan, a new offering at Amok. When I informed her that he was the titular hero of "Charles in Charge," the most criminally uncelebrated television program of the Reagan era, the woman pursed her lips. "We all write fan fiction," I told her. "Some of us are just more honest about it." The young woman gathered up her belongings, moved to another table. Did she think I was being facetious? Still, if there is an occasion for the story I'm relating now, it's a bit nearer on the space-time continuum. My best buddy, Bennett, is in a vegetative state induced by an anoxic brain injury, and, if he doesn't wake up soon and vouch for me, I could be kicked out of our apartment.


The scientific discoveries that prove God does exist, according to best-selling French book based on insights from 62 Nobel Prize winners

Daily Mail - Science & tech

The watershed moment Trump changed course on Israel after Netanyahu shattered their once-unbreakable bond: 'We felt betrayed' Kim Kardashian stuns onlookers in horrifying MASKED look at one of Hollywood's biggest galas DAPHNE BARAK: How I delivered the final, fatal blow to Andrew's fast-sinking reputation... and why Palace is right to still be deeply concerned Doctors expose the truth about melatonin... as terrifying side effects soar Gavin Newsom melts down as Pentagon plans to fire artillery shells over California highway during'No Kings' protest Olivia Nuzzi's memoir will reveal juicy text messages with RFK Jr. KENNEDY: Here's the truth of weird drug-fueled orgies in Congress that Tucker Carlson is investigating... it makes me sick to my stomach JANA HOCKING: I've uncovered the ultimate new sex secret and had the best night of my life... no wonder more women are trying it Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers dead at 48 as iconic band pays tribute to'once-in-a-lifetime' talent Insiders reveal dark web of power behind earthquake of'No Kings' protests exploding across America Five safe haven investments if the global economy goes into meltdown (and one under the radar fund to buy RIGHT NOW): As more and more experts warn of a devastating fall in share prices... Inside the King's cold phone call that saw Prince Andrew lose his dukedom and have to cancel Sarah Ferguson's 66th birthday party as Epstein scandal exploded '90s icon looks unrecognizable as she teases her most infamous TV scene in bucket hat during rare outing Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith's daughter Stella, 29, weds her childhood sweetheart in dreamy Spanish wedding as actor toasts the newlyweds Stephen A. Smith makes racially-charged double standard accusation against LeBron James amid feud The Duchess of Scandal... who is now plain old Sarah: Fergie's humiliating downfall as King makes moves to'protect' her daughters Green Bay Packers' game in jeopardy with team stranded at airport less than 24 hours before kickoff Selena Gomez makes FIRST red carpet appearance with husband Benny Blanco since wedding as their'perfect' honeymoon is revealed READ MORE: Is there a God? It's a question that has been asked since the beginning of time: does God really exist? Traditionally, science has been the counterargument for the existence of a divine creator. However, French mathematicians Olivier Bonnassies and Michel-Yves Bollore now say that science'has become God's ally'. In a new book, the duo have distilled insights from 62 Nobel Prize winners and more than 100 leading scientists to pinpoint the scientific discoveries that could prove God is real.


Defense lawyer for man charged with igniting deadly Palisades fire calls case thin and labels it scapegoating

Los Angeles Times

Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. Among the evidence collected from the digital devices of Jonathan Rinderknecht of Florida, who was arrested in the Palisades fire, were images he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city, said acting U.S. Atty. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, a one-time L.A. Uber driver and now Florida resident, was arrested by the FBI on Oct. 7 and charged with destruction of property for allegedly starting a Jan. 1 blaze known as the Lachman fire that smoldered for six days until it became the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history.


Sam Fender wins 2025 Mercury Prize for album of the year

BBC News

Sam Fender has won the 2025 Mercury Prize for his third album, People Watching, a steely-eyed dissection of working-class life in the north of England. The singer looked stunned when his name was announced. I didn't think that was going to happen at all, he told the BBC as he came off stage. I've spent the last 10 minutes crying. Fender beat the likes of Pulp and Wolf Alice - both former winners of the £25,000 prize for the best British or Irish album of the year - at a star-studded ceremony in Newcastle's Utilita Arena.


Sharon Osbourne backs naming airport after Ozzy

BBC News

Sharon Osbourne has said it would be amazing if Birmingham Airport was renamed in honour of her late husband, rock legend Ozzy Osbourne. The TV personality has given her support to a campaign to call the airport Ozzy Osbourne International, which was launched by podcaster and comedian Dan Hudson after the Black Sabbath singer died at the age of 76 in July. More than 70,000 people have signed a petition backing the idea, which Hudson said was inspired by airports being named after famous figures such as John Lennon. It would be amazing, Osbourne said of a potential rebrand. It's just a dream right now, but sometimes dreams come true.


Is this why aliens haven't contacted us yet? Extraterrestrials are BORED of trying to find us - and have simply stopped looking, scientist claims

Daily Mail - Science & tech

'Arc de Trump' designed by president unveiled as he reveals controversial past plan for monument site'Vile' American flag spotted in Republican's office sparks Capitol investigation Experts reveal five-day window when'life-threatening' storm is set to smash US as it brews in Atlantic Ocean RICHARD EDEN: The VERY telling video that suggests one of Meghan's closest confidants has been'Markled'. He once leapt to her defence... now like so many others he needs to watch his step She's the dancer caught'going at it' in bed with Britney Spears. Nepo babies dare to bare! Celebrity offspring leave nothing to imagination as they dominate Victoria's Secret show... what would their parents say? Nightmarish moment train door closes on 65-year-old man's coat and drags him to his death MAUREEN CALLAHAN: Trump's depraved critics have committed their foulest act yet... Bella Hadid's health battle takes dark turn: Loved ones reveal hellish new details about model... as ominous texts emerge Why'embarrassed' Keith Urban is'in hiding' amid divorce from wife Nicole Kidman Disney superfan, 31, vanishes from her Midwest home months after announcing pregnancy... then horrific discovery is made at Walt Disney World Selena Gomez admits she was'sobbing' and fearing the worst just WEEKS after marrying music producer Benny Blanco in lavish ceremony Race against time to build a 211-mile gravel track across America's most extreme frontier for new'Manhattan Project'... but it could be too late Victoria's Secret show 2025: Bella Hadid rules the runway after her health woes, Jasmine Tookes opens the show at nine months pregnant and Emily Ratajkowski makes her debut aged 34 as legendary Angels and nepo babies unite after failed woke rebrand Red-eyed female executive, 61, with $1.1m home attacked two Alaska Airlines staff and forced plane to make emergency landing, police say Most shocking moments from female-fronted talk show dubbed'The View for conservatives' Nancy Pelosi explodes at reporter as she's escorted down Capitol Building steps Is this why aliens haven't contacted us yet? READ MORE: Reaching out to aliens could result in'the end of all life on Earth' It's one of the biggest unanswered questions in science: if there's life beyond Earth, why hasn't it contacted us yet?