A new US State Department-funded study calls for a temporary ban on the creation of advanced AI passed a certain threshold of computational power. The tech, its authors claim, poses an'extinction-level threat to the human species.' The study, commissioned as part of a 250,000 federal contract, also calls for'defining emergency powers' for the American government's executive branch'to respond to dangerous and fast-moving AI-related incidents' -- like'swarm robotics.' Treating high-end computer chips as international contraband, and even monitoring how hardware is used, are just some of the drastic measures the new study calls for. The report joins of a chorus of industry, governmental and academic voices calling for aggressive regulatory attention on the hotly pursued and game-changing, but socially disruptive, potential of artificial intelligence.

Naomi Klein's article about the dangers of generative AI makes many valid points about the economic and social consequences of the new technology (AI machines aren't'hallucinating'. But their makers are, 8 May). But her choice of language about how to describe the mistakes that the new AI makes seems to suggest she is committed mainly to providing an ideological interpretation of the new technology. Saying that mistakes are the results of glitches in the code rather than the tech hallucinating suggests the simulation is a simple one, involving a kind of power of the false rather than a more complex one that allows the possibility of some form of fabulation. This is important because it means that the technology can't be seen simply as a control technology, like nuclear fusion or self-driving cars, but instead indicates a switch to an adaptive form of technology, ie, ones that are based on adapting what is already out there rather than trying to reinvent what exists, as in some form of innovation.

According to experts, the mobility of the future will be characterized by artificial intelligence (AI) and digitization. Autonomous driving will make traffic more efficient, safer and environmentally friendly, as well as more cost-effective. But for people to accept this new mobility, it must be extensively tested and demonstrated in real test environments. As part of the new "BeIntelli" research project, an interdisciplinary team of scientists from the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) and partners in the field want to develop and field-test the possibilities of AI for the mobility of the future based on platform economics. They also want to create a "showcase" that allows AI applications in mobility to be experienced.

Kia is preparing for a future with autonomous cars and at CES it will be showing off its Real-time Emotion Adaptive Driving System, or R.E.A.D. The company says its AI-based system can adapt vehicle interiors to a passenger's emotional state by using sensors to monitor their facial expressions, heart rate and electrodermal activity. Based on its readings, the R.E.A.D. System personalizes the cabin interior, taking into account all five senses. Part of the system also includes music-response vibration seats, which match seat vibrations to the frequencies of whatever music is being played in the cabin. The seats can also provide massages and haptic alerts connected to the vehicle's driver-assist system. Additionally, Kia will be revealing V-Touch -- gesture control technology that uses a 3D camera to track eye and finger motions and allows riders to manage in-car features like lighting, air-conditioning and entertainment systems without the use of physical buttons or touchscreens.

Omron offered an incredible demonstration of its massive'Forpheus' robot, which uses artificial intelligence to help improve your pong skills and setup the perfect volley. Atari also showed off a new coffee table-style Bluetooth version of its classic Pong game, which can be played 1-on-1 or against an AI. Omron offered an incredible demonstration of its massive'Forpheus'robot, which uses artificial intelligence to help improve your pong skills and setup the perfect volley. 'Omron's sensors collect data about the player's facial expressions and physical movements. 'Net advance control technology enables the robotic arms to accurately return the volley.'

Each player, dressed in a white jersey and matching protective gear, slides a puck in the direction of a heavily padded goaltender. The little discs swish across the floor in a black blur before smashing against the peripheral walls in loud thuds that echo throughout the Swiss Arena. The arena is home to the Kloten Flyers, Switzerland's leading hockey team, who regularly play to a packed house. But in less than a month, the icy floor inside the country's largest indoor venue will transform into a race course for a different kind of sporting event. On Oct. 8th, the stadium will open its doors to the world's first Cybathlon, a multidiscipline competition for people with disabilities who use bionic technologies to augment their bodies.