A roboticist recounts a debate with a colleague over whether a dishwasher qualifies as a robot, arguing it does not meet technical definitions of manipulation since its spray arms and soap dispensers are mechanisms rather than object-handling tools. She contends the more fundamental issue is that 'robot' was coined by science fiction writer Karel Čapek in his 1920 play and has always been a culturally defined term rather than a strictly technical one.
robotgirlgang.com
· 2026-10-11
President Trump convened executives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Google, Nvidia and other firms at the White House, where they agreed to voluntary AI safety standards including independent audits and safeguards against AI systems hacking other technical systems. Trump also endorsed continued rapid expansion of AI data centers despite concerns about electricity demand and costs to local communities, floated a 10-member oversight board, and directed agencies to use the term 'super intelligence' instead of 'artificial intelligence.'
politics.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-30
A review of recent AI industry announcements about hacking incidents, mathematical breakthroughs, and self-improving systems finds that expert scrutiny often reveals a much less dramatic reality than initial company statements suggested. The pattern shows companies generating significant press attention through bold claims, which later prove overstated once independent analysis occurs. Separately, 22 nations have called for a new global body to set AI safety standards, though the US and China are notably absent from this declaration.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-09-22
OpenAI has asked Washington to take the lead in establishing global standards for AI safety, positioning the U.S. as the guiding force in international regulation. President Trump responded by saying he would avoid stifling industry growth, while noting the Justice Department could step in to “rein in things” if problems arose.
wsj.com
· 2026-09-21
In a new opinion piece, Cohere co-founder Aidan Gomez argues that a small group of dominant Silicon Valley AI companies should not be allowed to single-handedly write the safety standards and competition rules governing artificial intelligence worldwide. He acknowledges AI carries real risks, citing Cohere's own work deploying systems in banks, telecoms and defense ministries, but insists the real debate is about who gets a seat at the table in shaping oversight, not whether oversight is needed.
cohere.com
· 2026-09-14
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