School of Information Dean Martha E. Pollack, in her capacity as the new president of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, has hit the airwaves and the print media to comment on some stories that robots could soon be — well, exterminators. Next time you see one of those little robotic vacuum cleaners or a robotic lawn mower, don’t call the police. The dean and other researchers who see the potential for computer-aided devices to improve the lives of those who need assistance, such as the elderly or persons recovering from illness or injury, say there is vast potential in the field of robotics. She reiterates that the public doesn’t need to be concerned that a robotic device will run amok on its own. Dean Pollack was interviewed on the Fox News Channel, on Southern California Public Radio, and in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
