British Science Week - Future Debate on Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Future Debates are a series of events organised by the British Science Association. Red Banana filmed and edited this full-length Future Debate: A robot stole my job: Will automated technologies destroy British culture? as part of British Science Week 2016.

These events are working to make science a fundamental part of British society and culture, and to empower many more people – not just scientists – to constructively engage in debates over the applications and implications of science in their lives, their local economy and the UK’s future.

Recent advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine vision and physical movement technologies have meant robotic and autonomous systems are developing at an ever-increasing rate.

This advancement is taking these technologies into new fields and applications, bringing with them a vast number of new challenges, opportunities and questions for society. How should we prepare for a new era in employment? What role should we give these systems in healthcare and education? What effect will they have on our social relations?

This event brought together thought leaders to attempt to answer these questions and discuss the immense impact of robotic and autonomous systems on British culture.