In a new perspective article in Science Robotics, UC Berkeley roboticist Goldberg describes how a massive “data gap” will prevent robots from gaining real-world skills as quickly as AI chatbots are gaining language fluency. In the following interview with UC Berkeley News, Goldberg discusses the “humanoid hype,” the emerging paradigm shift in the robotics field and whether AI really is on the cusp of taking everyone’s jobs.

An NYU research team has created ingestible devices called ICOPS (Ingestible Controlled Optogenetic Stimulation) that deliver targeted light stimulation directly to the gut. The technology allows researchers to precisely illuminate specific regions of the intestinal tract, activating specific nerve cells. It could be used to observe how those cells control digestion, for example, and reveal new targets for treating conditions like gastroparesis, where the stomach empties too slowly, or metabolic diseases and eating disorders. 

A nearly $500,000 federal grant was awarded to the University of Cincinnati to establish the Center for Explainable, Ethical, and Trustworthy AI (CEET), a first-of-its-kind hub for humanities-based research and public engagement on the societal dimensions of artificial intelligence.