AI and us – iHuman explores what artificial intelligence and machine learning might mean for our lives, societies and futures. Featuring some of the pioneers of AI, this film looks at the most powerful and far-reaching technological development, both positively and with some concern. Computer scientists, data analysts, human rights lawyers, philosophers and psychologists deliver an overview of the last few years of AI but also a glimpse of the future. Surveillance across society, autonomous weapons, bias in algorithms, big data mining, AI-influenced online echo chambers – AI is already everywhere. It has already influenced politics – but will intelligent robots ever turn on us humans?

An examination of the implications for society of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence systems, combining a humanities perspective with technical analysis; includes exercises and discussion questions. AI and Humanity provides an analytical framing and a common language for understanding the effects of technological advances in artificial intelligence on society. Coauthored by a computer scientist and a scholar of literature and cultural studies, it is unique in combining a humanities perspective with technical analysis, using the tools of literary explication to examine the societal impact of AI systems. It explores the historical development of these technologies, moving from the apparently benign Roomba to the considerably more sinister semi-autonomous weapon system Harpy. The book is driven by an exploration of the cultural and etymological roots of a series of keywords relevant to both AI and society. Works examined range from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, given a close reading for its themes of literacy and agency, to Simon Head's critique of the effects of surveillance and automation on the Amazon labor force in Mindless.

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad is launching a full-fledged BTech Program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) from the coming Academic Year (2019-2020). It has become the first Indian Educational Institution to offer such a full-fledged BTech program in AI and likely the third institute globally - after Carnegie Mellon University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both of which are in the US. The Course will have an intake of around 20 students who can take the program through the JEE-Advanced. The mission of the Department of Artificial Intelligence, IIT Hyderabad, is to produce students with a sound understanding of the fundamentals of theory and practice of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. It also aims to enable students to become leaders in the industry and academia nationally and internationally and meet the pressing demands of the nation in the areas of AI and Machine Learning.

In 1818, the first copy of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus was published. Two hundred years later, it's still our go-to monster story, even if the cultural images we associate with it owe more to Boris Karloff's portrayal of the monster than Mary Shelley's original novel. Only a handful of books maintain relevance beyond a decade, let alone 200 years – yet Frankenstein endures to this day and still offers instant shorthand for cultural touchstones. Even the name Frankenstein conjures up images of a frightening hotchpotch concoction that isn't natural and shouldn't exist: Frankenfoods, Frankenbabies, and even Frankenalgorithms. That latter of these is important. Artificial intelligence algorithms are silently changing lives, but not in the dramatic (and abrupt) way a serial-killing monster might.

In recent years there has been much discussion about the impact of artificial intelligence upon society. Is it a force for good or will it undermine the social fabric and challenge the core of what makes us human? Proponents of artificial intelligence contend that AI can aid society in performing functions that human intelligence cannot undertake as well, such as advanced problem solving as well as offering superior reasoning, planning, and perception. There are, however, negatives around artificial intelligence. Occupying the middle ground is philosopher Alix Rubsaam, who assesses that whatever he outcome, artificial intelligence will change our society in a long-lasting and profound way.

One of the most celebrated physicists of our time, Stephen Hawking, died at the age of 76. The British scientist was known for his pioneering work on black holes and relativity, and has authored several popular books. In 2017, Cambridge University made Hawking's PhD thesis, which he completed in 1966, available to the public. "By making my PhD thesis Open Access, I hope to inspire people around the world to look up at the stars and not down at their feet; to wonder about our place in the universe and to try and make sense of the cosmos," Hawking said in a statement at that time. "Anyone, anywhere in the world should have free, unhindered access to not just my research, but to the research of every great and enquiring mind across the spectrum of human understanding."

Artificial intelligence (AI) is in the early stages of the technology adoption life-cycle. Like a toddler learning to walk, there will be stumbles in the growth of AI. With any innovative technology, there exists the potential for both good and harm. For example, Microsoft's AI chatbot, Tay, was taken offline after only hours on Twitter after it produced racist and sexist comments. How could this have been prevented?