[SGRupdate] News from SGR – November 2018

[Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR)]

************************

News from Scientists for Global Responsibility – November 2018

************************


* Artificial intelligence: how little has to go wrong?
Autonomous weapons, driverless cars and friendly spies in the home

SGR's new report summarises a range of concerns about the current rapid
advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics - in areas such as
lethal autonomous weapons, accidental nuclear war, fake news, online privacy,
driverless cars, AI in the home, economic disruption and mass unemployment.
Central to these issues are concerns that AI and robotics, if not properly
regulated, will entrench the existing unequal power structures in society.

To highlight our concerns, we carried out a survey of concerned scientists and
technologists. Over 80 percent of the respondents believed there was a medium
to high chance of things going badly wrong with AI.

Read the article in New Scientist (subscription only):
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24032044-300-an-ai-apocalypse-isnt-the-problem-technology-driven-inequality-is/

Read the media release:
http://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/scientists-ai-poll-points-dystopian-future-less-control-high-chance-mistakes

Read the full report:
http://www.sgr.org.uk/publications/artificial-intelligence-how-little-has-go-wrong


* The risks of the new EU Defence Fund

Scientists for Global Responsibility is one of 42 European civil society
organisations warning of major risks caused by the creation of a huge new EU
Defence Fund. These risks include accelerating an international arms race and
increasing the likelihood that 'killer robots' will be developed.

For more details/ text of joint statement, see:
http://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/risks-new-eu-defence-fund

See also, Researchers for Peace website:
https://www.researchersforpeace.eu/


* Science4Society Week - 2019 competition

SGR's Science4Society Week 2019 competition theme is 'Globally Responsible
Careers'. This competition is being run in collaboration with the Association
for Science Education. It is open to any age, entries can be from either
groups or individuals, and there are different options for the format of
submission. The closing date is Friday 1st March 2019 - so plenty of time for
science clubs, extended projects, lessons or homework.

The details can be downloaded from:
http://www.s4s.org.uk/competition/

Please share the details with friends, colleagues, teachers, young people,
youth leaders and anyone else you think would be interested in entering.



******************************************************************

SGR - promoting ethical science, design and technology

Website: http://www.sgr.org.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ResponsibleSci
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/responsiblesci
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/scientists-for-global-responsibility-sgr-

To join or donate, go to http://www.sgr.org.uk/join

******************************************************************