COVID-19: Where are the robots, will video conferencing save us instead?
In the past few years, there has been a resurgence in predictions from the AI community about the arrival of the singularity and intelligent robots increasingly replacing human functions and becoming superhuman. Increased AI intelligence has been predicted to lead to unemployment and drastic changes in society. Enigmatic and well-known thought leaders such as Ray Kurzweil and Elon Musk have been making these claims for sometime anticipating mass unemployment, doom or robot dictators, and many other far-reaching consequences.
However, if ever we could benefit from robots taking over human functions, it is now, when human contact is the means by which the COVID-19 virus spreads. The spread between humans has led to over 885, 301 cases worldwide, and a global death toll of 44, 212 (as of 01st of April, 2020). Furthermore, the doom now experienced globally is not due to AI but traces back to the virus and the need for social isolation (affecting businesses) and medical care (increasing the load on health systems).
Perhaps AI could help us with the COVID-19 outbreak? Could robots deliver packages safely to vulnerable people? Could Google maps provide data on which of your local supermarkets has toilet paper? Could AI remind citizens when it is the allocated food shopping time for key workers, when is the time for elderly people, and when are the times for everyone else? Could AI bring together and refine competing for mathematical models of the predicted death toll from the virus? Could an app monitor how you are coping with social isolation? Yes, probably, to all of the above.
The effects of COVID-19 on the economy have been undeniably disastrous. In addition to responding coherently and nimbly to the pandemic, governments will have to contend with unemployment, business failure, bereavement, social isolation, loneliness, rising domestic violence, and mental health issues on a large scale once the virus itself is under control. The young will grow up in a world very different from generations before them, in addition to other challenges that defined their generation, such as climate change, reduced funds for the university and fewer jobs.
What I find even more surprising in light of the bold claims made by AI futurists, is that far from being ahead of the curve technologically, we are strangely somewhat behind it and now need for particular types of technology is imperative.
The conference industry generates 1.5 trillion dollars for the global economy. However, it doesn't take Greta Thunberg to remind us that this amount of air travel is unsustainable for climate change. Until recently large organizations and companies have opted for in-person meetings, even tech companies such as Facebook and Google. In-person meetings can motivate employees, provide opportunists for learning, well as forge new collaborations and networks, stakeholders can influence decision-makers and everyone can grow from the sharing of lived experience (in the mental health field). In-person conferences can be transformational at the systemic, team, and personal levels. I’ve been fortunate to work in the facilitation and organization of conferences for over 15 years and some of the events I’ve been part of have been the highlights of my professional career. With the current risk of COVID-19, the majority of conferences must now move online.
Paradoxically, online conference technology is desperately in need of innovation. Most of the technology for online conferencing involves tech that is not drastically ahead of that which was implemented by Skype since 2003, 17 years ago. Our beloved Zoom makes online calling more fun and slick. But breakout rooms are only recently being more utilized and another tech for other functions, such as voting and polling requires additional apps such as Slido and Mentimeter. Since COVID -19, companies and organizations of all sizes are increasingly moving meetings online and platforms are going further to emulate real-life experiences. One answer to this is Virtual Reality (VR).
VR has already been used to great effect by a range of architecture and building companies. VR has been applied to facilitate watching movies together in an online environment, through companies such as Big Screen. However, creating virtual environments are not cheap to produce. There are some incredible VR platforms provided by companies such as Alt Space VR. This strategy is not cheap for organizations though, as each participant requires a VR headset, a high powered computer, and other accessories that are no small investment. The benefits of VR need to be worthwhile.
In terms of video conferencing, nascent online platforms such as Remo and Run the World, are managing to capture some of the magic of in-person meetings online through a “physical” conference experience, or, fireside chats. Remo for example has tables, whiteboards, and being able to move through online spaces, allows users to build real-world relationships. But these are small companies and these new products are still ironing out some technical glitches (based on some testing of the product). Surprisingly, the bigger companies such as Go To Meeting and Microsoft Teams whilst highly functional, reliable, and user-friendly, are yet to create online environments akin to a real-life experience.
In sum, there is clearly an opportunity for more and better video conferencing platforms that enable some of the magic and value of in-person contact. These include the exploration of online spaces, moving from one-to-ones to a group conversation to watching a plenary, being able to have tough conversations, the capture and curation of outputs, smiling, laughing, and the generation of organizational camaraderie and insight. Being able to do these things with others online is in its relative infancy right now. If this technology accelerates, as it must do, then it will be possible to reduce carbon emissions and reduce business operating costs as well as bring enhanced motivation and collaboration online without traveling around the globe.
In this unprecedented context, the world needs creative, smart, and fun video conference technology. It is likely that we have the tech already to do this, we just need to apply it! Further, returning to the robot overlords, perhaps robots can help us in ways that it is currently difficult to imagine. On a practical level, perhaps robots can set up microphones, test the audio, and take care of the technical dimensions of enabling human interaction online? The scope for robots to enable online collaboration is unclear to me just now. In the context of the corona, there have been some instances of robots being used to treat patients in ICU. However, I’m excited to see how both robots and AI can help us. This innovation is needed at scale to reduce the spread of corona, reduce carbon emissions, and help make virtual or online meetings optimal and energizing, or, at best, life-changing and impactful. The opportunity is there and the need for this technology is ripe.
