For this 7th episode of Synapse AI, Mathieu Barreau invites us to meet Hiba Asri, who develops HIYAM, a humanoid robot. Perceived as the very symbol of artificial intelligence in the popular imagination, humanoids have always fascinated. For some roboticists, they represent the Holy Grail to reach.
But what about the desire to create robots in the image of humans? Should we be happy or worried? What does it say about our society? If the search for human properties can be frightening, it also has the objective advantage of allowing the creation of robots natively adapted to an environment designed for humans, thus requiring no adaptation. Moreover, their human appearance and the adoption of the codes we use in our daily lives can facilitate communication and acceptance by the general public, in particular in order not to leave behind the people who are furthest from technology.
However, two main risks are present: the risk of misleading the user on the nature and the limits of the object in front of him, and the risk of a malaise due to the valley of the strange. But faced with the diversity of practical, playful and useful applications to society, how can we want to give up?
Whether or not one shares the enthusiasm around these robots, the subject cannot leave one indifferent and we are sure that this discovery of the backstage of the HIYAM project will arouse your curiosity.
And you, what do you think about it ?
Hiba Asri is an associate professor at the Department of Computer Science of the National School of Applied Sciences (Ibn Zohr University, Morocco). She holds a PhD in Computer Science for her work on Big Data, Predictive/Preventive Analysis, Machine Learning and Reality Mining applied to the health domain. She graduated with an engineering degree in Computer Networks and Information Systems in 2014. Her main research interests include Big Data, Machine Learning, IoT, Robotic, Data Mining algorithms, Human-Computer Interaction and Next Generation Internet technologies; on various application fields such as healthcare, education and e-learning.
In addition to her academic experience, she has chaired the program committee of many international conferences. She was also Keynote Speaker / Session Chair in various international conferences and workshops. She is a co-investigator in several international projects such as: Challenge AI-BioDiv Project and Climate Change Project. Hiba Asri is the creator of a smart bracelet for real-time prediction of miscarriage which will be submitted for patent. She is also the chair of the HIYAM project, A Moroccan Artificial Intelligence Humanoid Robot.
Translated from Podcast Synapse AI 7 : Les robots humanoïdes
