A demonstration of an artificial intelligence-powered suitcase, designed to assist visually impaired individuals as a robotic alternative to guide dogs, will be conducted at the Osaka Expo, set to open on Sunday. The latest model incorporates generative AI technology, enabling it to describe the surrounding environment through voice feedback. Equipped with a built-in camera and sensors, the suitcase can analyze its surroundings and provide real-time guidance to users. In late January, an AI suitcase was demonstrated at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, known as Miraikan, in Tokyo. Resembling a regular suitcase, the device activated when Chieko Asakawa, the museum's chief executive director and a key member of the development team, grasped its handle at hip level.

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation has made "aging" a centerpiece of its new permanent exhibitions that opened to the public on Wednesday. The museum in Tokyo's Odaiba district, popularly known as Miraikan, has completed work on four new permanent exhibitions, all of which are in line with its vision to help visitors confront various social issues and find ideas on how to overcome them, Miraikan CEO Chieko Asakawa told reporters Tuesday. In addition to the exhibition devoted to "aging," there are two new exhibitions that let people experience life with "robots," and one that showcases "planetary crisis," brought on by climate change and other global issues. "Aging is a rare topic to be handled by a science museum, but we have worked hard on creating an exhibit on this theme, thinking it's important for Japan," said Asakawa, a former IBM engineer and accessibility technology expert who assumed the current role at the museum in April 2021. "We want to convey the message that Japan's superaging society can lead the world by making the best of technologies and social systems to deal with aging."

A group of five companies including the Japanese unit of IBM Corp. are currently developing an artificial intelligence suitcase to help visually impaired people travel independently. A pilot test of a prototype was conducted at an airport in Japan on Monday. The small navigation robot, which is able to plan an optimal route to a destination based on the user's location and map data, uses multiple sensors to assess its surroundings and AI functionality to avoid bumping into obstacles, according to the companies. During the pilot experiment held Monday, the AI suitcase was able to successfully navigate itself to an All Nippon Airways departure counter after receiving a command from Chieko Asakawa, a visually impaired IBM fellow overseeing the product's development. As soon as she gave the command via her smartphone, motors connected to the suitcase came to life, with the AI system providing voice guidance as it automatically stopped for doors and swerved to avoid people. The suitcase, which is small enough to be brought onboard flights as carry-on luggage, is also able to indicate the direction of travel through haptic feedback via its handle.

A consortium of five companies including IBM Japan Ltd. said Thursday that they will develop a navigation suitcase equipped with artificial intelligence to help guide people with vision disabilities, reports Jiji Press. A demonstration using a prototype, currently under development, is scheduled for June 2020. Companies plan to make the suitcase available to the public by 2022, with hopes that it could replace guide dogs and canes. The carryon-sized devices are equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), cameras and sensors and can be taken onboard aircraft. Users grab the handle, and say where they want to go out loud.

LONDON - Dr. Chieko Asakawa's life motto: Make the impossible possible -- by never giving up. Blind since the age of 14, Asakawa has dedicated the past three decades to researching and developing new technologies to help transform the lives of the visually impaired. Asakawa's inventions have impacted millions worldwide and now one of them will receive one of the ultimate in industry accolades. The Osaka-born computer scientist, who lives in the United States, is among 19 innovators who will be inducted into the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame in Washington in May. "It is a great honor to be recognized, one that is unexpected and a wonderful surprise," said Asakawa, an IBM distinguished service professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotic Institute in Pittsburgh.

From emotion AI that can detect real-time changes in mood to self-driving cars, the world is drastically remoulded by digital and technological transformation. AI is even now capable of acting like a curious 3-year-old toddler who will knock the glass off the table "just to see what happens." Perhaps, one day dating apps can finally make better recommendations than the last guy you went out with. Tall, dark and handsome – doesn't the algorithm get it? The algorithm does get it and all too well, inadvertently displacing humans from blue and white-collar jobs at such an alarming rate that policy makers, economists and technocrats are sitting up. AI pundits, however, are optimistic and exhort us to focus on how we can collaborate with machines.