Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
We’re living in a world fascinated with the future and what it might bring. But with technology and AI improving all the time, could a “Terminator situation” be on the horizon? Vicky Sayers speaks to Futurologist, Dr Ian Pearson, who says the only way to make sure artificial intelligence doesn’t eventually overtake our own, is for humans to become more like the machines we’re creating. But how realistic is a bionic future for Britain, and the world at large? Replay from 29 September 2019
Guests: Dr Ian Pearson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin's love for Perplexity deepens. OpenAI's rival to Google is almost ready but ChatGPT apparently makes up URLs. BA's hilarious new safety video has been watched on YouTube half a milion times. Fruit – but not veg – reduces age-related depression. There's a new supermarket delivery robot, while a Japanese supermarket uses AI to standardise smiles and Simon warns about Sainsbury's illusory online offers. There are a couple of devices to help stop snoring, but one uses AI and the other electrocutes your tongue! And the Royal Mail app can now detect counterfeit stamps.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Tech buff Steve Caplin explains the global IT outage caused by a Crowdstrike software update and Microsoft's extraordinary advice. There's an Italian litter-picking robot dog. Small aerial drones can learn to navigate by studying ants. Other drones can mimic geckos to cling to things. Spray-on trainers for athletes are now a reality, while athletes can also run faster if shielded from wind resistance. There's a crowd-funded Dymo-type printer. And Disney are retiring an animatronic attraction – for fear it will offend alcoholics.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin delves into the world of tech, where Tokyo scientists have made the world's smallest chariot, pulled by algae. Carmarker Stellantis have patented an "improvement" to the steering wheel. VR gamers will soon have a way to walk in the games they play. There's an inflatable tent, though you may not be able to stand up in it. A PhD student has produced a way of monitoring the old and infirm without being too intrusive. Imperial College claims they've found a way to prevent cancer and increase lifespan by 25% – at least in mice. And King's College London believe they can help you lose weight with transcranial direct current stimulation.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin explains how Elon Musk will be destroying the International Space Station. There's a flying car that's a cross between a go-kart and a helicopter, while another helicopter gives tours without a pilot. Renault cars will soon score your driving performance while Bill Gates is investing in a company that will make butter from air. Chinese scientists have grown human brain cells that can control robots. Text to speech can now bring to audio life stars from the past with uncanny reality. There's a new way of trying to prevent rhino poaching by making horns radioactive. And there are some impressive crowdfunded smart binoculars.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Replay from 28/12/17 — Big data. It’s one of those terms that’s far more widely used than it is understood. What is it? And just as importantly – who benefits from it? To get the full picture on big data, we are joined this week by a special guest – Will Davies, Director of the Political Economy Research Centre and a Senior Lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London. Will Brett, NEF’s Director of News and Media, steps into the role of host. They talk about the impact of big data on how we understand society, and on how we experience the world of work. Also joining the discussion are NEF’s Stefan Baskerville, Director of Unions and Business and Alice Martin, Subject Lead for Housing and Work.
Guests: Will Brett,Will Davies,Stefan Baskerville,Alice Martin
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin says executive oneupmanship comes with Sirius Aviation's CEO eVTOL jet powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Ferrari has produced its first electric car, while Volkswagen is to sell solar panels to reduce charging costs. Swedish scientists have invented a weightless carbon fibre battery that can be built into cars or planes. The Pillbot is a dirigible pill to help with gastrointestinal problems. A Tokyo university has been experimenting with making robots smile, using artifical human skin. And there are advances with bike saddles to make them more comfortable.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin discusses the importance of cheese, red wine and chocolate for living longer. Artificial leather just got better by using pineapples. The $400,000 Genesis III helmet can make the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning jet invisible – while you're piloting it. There's a deflatable bike helmet which is safer than the hard type. And instead of autonomous vehicles, the University of Tokyo has developed a robot taxi driver which fits into any car. All this plus the downside of McDonalds using AI in their drive-throughs.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin explains to Simon Rose what Apple Intelligence will do on its newest phones. He has been quizzing the AI candidate standing in the General Election and discusses what he would ask the older version of himself, as being developed at MIT. He points out that Elon Musk's Starship is the biggest rocket in history, with the entrepreneur building a Starfactory to turn out one rocket every single day. An AI pin turns out to be rather dangerous. There's a DIY compass for "mindful wandering" and a film which enables you to see at night. Even more fascinating still is the explanation of the relation between two oxen's bottoms and the width of the Saturn V rockets.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin explains why Tesco is tattooing avocados. Japanese scientists believe people will soon be able to grow new teeth. There's a robot seed-planter taking its inspiration from wild oats. A 9-seater electric plane can take off and land on a football pitch. A new Chinese hybrid car has a massive range and a minimal price, in China at least. Cambridge scientists have been studying how people make use of a third thumb. There's a crowd-funded pet monitoring camera which can tell if the animal is poorly. Bringing the internet to a remote Amazon tribe has caused problems. And in Dubai, there's a proposal to build skyscrapers 1km high.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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