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Robotaxis And The Future Of Transportation

Reading Time: 4 minutes
June 8, 2023, Waymo autonomous vehicles parked in a staging area in San Francisco.(Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

Society is increasingly shifting away from traditional ownership, making it less central to our lives. In much of the Western world, renting has become the norm, with homeownership now seen as a luxury rather than a standard milestone. Similarly, we no longer purchase movies or music but instead rely on streaming services for access. If this trend continues, even car ownership may soon be replaced by subscription based or shared mobility solutions. In this context, robotaxis autonomous, app based ride services, are emerging as a natural next step in transportation. 

What are they?  

Let’s answer that question on the example of Waymo. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google’s parent company), is one of the front runners in autonomous vehicle technology. Founded in 2009 the Google Self Driving Car Project has evolved into a pioneer of the robotaxiindustry. Its mission is to make transportation safer, more efficient, and accessible to everyone through self driving technology.

Waymo operates a line of vehicles equipped with technologies such as advanced sensors, e.g., LiDAR (also used in fields like archeology, and land management), cameras, and radar, combined with AI powered software. These vehicles can navigate roads, avoid obstacles, and interact with traffic without any human intervention.

Advantages

Safety – The idea behind said technology is to reduce accidents caused by human error, which accounts for over 90% of traffic collisions. Its vehicles are constantly scanning their surroundings, in order to insure safety on the roads.

Affordability – By bypassing the services provided by  human drivers, prices of rides will curtail, making transportation more accessible and appealing to a wider range of potential customers.

Convenience – Essentially functioning as any other transportation service, such as Uber, it provides quick and convenient access to a ride.

Sustainability – Their focus on electric vehicles helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supporting cleaner and greener cities.

Current situation

Robotaxis are already in operation in select locations, signaling their potential to become mainstream. Waymo, for instance, have launched driverless taxi services in cities like Phoenix, Arizona, while Cruise is expanding operations in San Francisco and Austin. In China, Baidu’s Apollo Go operates a growing network of robotaxi services in highly populated urban areas.

With that in mind, it’s worthwhile to look at some of the challenges self driving cars face. One of the primary challenges is safety and trust. Public confidence in autonomous vehicles is vital for their successful integration into society. While robotaxis are designed to lower the risk of accidents caused by human error, there have been incidents involving self driving cars that underscore the necessity for extensive testing and improved safety measures.

Another significant obstacle is the regulatory hurdles that governments must navigate. Clear regulations are needed to address critical issues related to autonomous vehicles, such as establishing liability in the event of accidents and ensuring the protection of data privacy for users.

What can they do for the future of transportation?

Due to their affordability and ease of use, robotaxis may discourage people from purchasing personal vehicles, except for those who see an opportunity to invest in self driving cars and deploy them as autonomous ride hailing services while they are at work. The reduction in privately owned cars in urban areas will likely lead to an expansion of public transportation networks and significantly safer roads. However, personal vehicles will continue to play a vital role in rural areas, where robotaxi services may be slower to reach. This shift could pave the way for more efficient, sustainable, and pedestrian-friendly cities

Decline of Private Car Ownership – Robotaxis make owning a personal vehicle less necessary, especially in urban areas. With on-demand, affordable rides available at the tap of a screen, people may prioritize convenience over the expense and hassle of owning, maintaining, and parking a car. This could lead to reduced traffic congestion as fewer cars are on the roads, and also a shift in priorities for car manufacturers, who may transition from selling cars to providing mobility services.

Integration with Public Transportation – Robotaxis could complement existing public transit systems by filling gaps in service, such as connecting commuters to subway stations or serving less densely populated areas. This integration could make transportation more seamless, efficient, and universally accessible.

City planning Transformation – With fewer personal vehicles on the road, cities could repurpose space currently used for parking lots and traffic lanes into parks, bike paths, or private business areas.

Job Impacts – The rise of robotaxis will disrupt industries reliant on human driven vehicles, such as taxis, delivery services, and trucking. While this could lead to job displacement, it also opens opportunities for new roles in technology development, fleet management, and maintenance.

Recap

Robotaxis represent a shift in the future of transportation, perhaps moving us toward a situation where robotaxis become the primary mean of transport in urban areas. While challenges like regulation, public trust, and job displacement must be addressed, the potential benefits are worth consideration. By reducing reliance on private vehicles, improving safety, and promoting greener cities, robotaxis could transform transportation as we know it.

References:

AI engine used: DeepAI

Can Earbuds Replace Hearing Aids?

Reading Time: 3 minutes
Hearing loss is a major global issue. Around 5% of the world population, 430 million, have disabling hearing loss. With ageing populations, this burden will only increase.” – Michael A. Stone, University of Manchester

The main issue with modern hearing aids is their availability and convenience. Drawing from personal experience with hearing impaired family members, I can safely say that hearing aids are often times expensive and difficult to get set up properly, creating an environment where the ones in need face a whole heap of trouble getting the help they desire. This lack of accessibility has sparked a conversation about the use of  Bluetooth earbuds as a potential alternative solution.

High-end earbuds, such as Apple’s AirPods Pro and other models from companies like Bose, Sennheiser, Samsung and Sony, now include features such as noise cancellation, transparency mode, and amplification of ambient sounds. These features, while primarily aimed at enhancing the audio experience for the general public, also cater to those with mild to moderate hearing loss. By amplifying sounds and reducing background noise, these earbuds provide users with an experience akin to that of entry-level hearing aids.

Benefits

I’ll preface this by saying that, although some of these benefits might seem quite promising, this is no medical advice, and for the time being I wouldn’t advise anyone to choose earbuds over proper hearing aids. Nevertheless, I believe that, with time and further innovation, earbuds could become a strong second option for individuals with hearing impairments due to factors like these:

  • Price Average hearing aids are anywhere in between $2,000 and $7,000, which is quite steep. The aforementioned headphones are in the $200-$1,000 range.
  • Discreetness Earbuds are generally small and discreet, making them less noticeable than traditional hearing aids, which can sometimes be bulkier or more conspicuous, and from the social acceptance point of view, some individuals may feel more comfortable wearing earbuds, especially in social situations, as they are more socially accepted than hearing aids.
  • Portability and Convenience Using earbuds as hearing aids is typically as simple as pairing them with your phone or turning them on, without the need for medical prescriptions or specialized fitting

Downsides

Earbuds are usually designed to produce a flat frequency response, meaning they aim to reproduce sound as accurately as possible, preserving the artist’s original intent, and while this works for music, earbuds are not tailored for hearing loss. Hearing aids, on the other hand, are specifically tuned to the unique frequency range where a person experiences hearing loss, based on their audiogram. Simply amplifying all frequencies with earbuds doesn’t account for this personalized need, and in fact, it can potentially harm hearing further by over-amplifying sounds that the person can already hear well enough.

Consensus

Personally, I don’t believe we’re at a point where earbuds can truly replace hearing aids. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand the desire to save money, but in the long run, cutting corners on something as important as hearing health just isn’t worth it. Hearing aids are specifically designed to address individual hearing loss patterns, while earbuds simply aren’t built with that in mind. Opting for the wrong solution could end up causing more harm than good. So, before you gift your grandma a pair of AirPods for Christmas, it’s important to consider if they’re truly the best choice for her.

Reference links:

AI engine used: Microsoft Copilot

AI in Hiring and Recruitment

Reading Time: 3 minutes

There’s no denying that AI tremendously impacted the workforce, for better or worse. As the technology evolves and its applications expand each year, it raises concerns among employees who fear losing their jobs to more efficient systems. Adding to this unease, now we’ll also be under the scrutiny of AI while applying for jobs.

According to a DemandSage article published in 2024, around 87% of companies use AI in their recruitment process. Additionally, over 65% of recruiters report having used AI to hire candidates, and 24% of companies rely on AI specifically to identify top talent.

How AI Is Used in Hiring

The following are some of the ways in which AI is utilized in the recruitment process:

  • Resume Screening
    Traditional resume screening is time-consuming and prone to human error. AI algorithms can rapidly analyze thousands of resumes, identifying candidates who meet predefined criteria based on skills, experience, and qualifications. Tools like ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) streamline this process by ranking and filtering applications.
  • Skill and Personality Assessments
    AI can evaluate candidates through online tests and games designed to measure technical skills, cognitive abilities, and even personality traits. Some platforms use natural language processing (NLP) to analyze written responses or video interviews, assessing qualities like communication skills and emotional intelligence.
  • Predictive Analytics
    By analyzing historical hiring data, AI systems can predict which candidates are likely to excel in a given role. These predictions often rely on correlations between past hires’ performance and certain qualifications or characteristics.
  • Chatbots for Candidate Engagement
    AI-powered chatbots provide 24/7 communication, answering candidates’ questions, scheduling interviews, and ensuring that no applicant feels ignored.
  • Reducing Bias
    AI is often touted as a solution to reduce unconscious bias in hiring by focusing solely on objective qualifications. However, this claim is controversial and warrants closer examination, especially as many new stories describing biases in AI models surface regularly, for example – AI overwhelmingly prefers white and male job candidates in new test of resume-screening bias, AI hiring bias? Men with Anglo-Saxon names score lower in tech interviews.

Problems 

t’s safe to say that AI has become a benchmark in modern recruitment processes. However, it’s far from perfect, especially from the perspective of job seekers. Algorithms might disadvantage individuals based on factors like their names not aligning with those typically associated with a position. In some cases, as with Anthea Mairoudhiou, AI even evaluates body language, which can add an additional layer of complexity.

From the recruiter’s perspective, there is a significant risk that the quality of resumes they receive may decline, as candidates might embellish their credentials to secure an interview. When algorithms select the top 10 candidates from thousands of applicants, only the most qualified individuals are given a chance. However, if the algorithm lacks features to detect obvious falsehoods, such as an 18-year-old claiming extensive work experience and advanced degrees, it could lead to wasted time for employers. Conversely, overly stringent systems might unfairly dismiss candidates with unconventional but genuine achievements.

Positives

For thriving enterprises, adopting AI in recruitment is a clear advantage. It saves HR personnel time by automating tedious tasks like resume screening and initial communication, enabling recruiters to focus on strategic decision-making. It also allow an enormous amount of applications to be processed much more efficiently then before, limiting biases and focusing on data rather then intuition. The most important things in the business world are time money and by implementing these AI features they can save on both. 

Consensus

In conclusion, whether we like it or not, AI is becoming an integral part of recruitment due to its many benefits. While some young job seekers may find it dehumanizing to be denied by an algorithm or interact with chatbots, this appears to be the direction hiring practices are headed.. With that in mind I think it’s very important to remember that these tools should serve to enhance the hiring process, not dehumanize it, And it’s the responsibility of organizations to build trust and ensure that technology supports, not replaces, the human touch in recruitment.

Reference links:

AI engine used: Claude AI

Pegasus And The Public Trust in Technology

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The emergence of the Pegasus spyware, developed in 2011 by the Israeli firm NSO Group, has had a tremendous impact on the public consensus regarding their trust in digital technology. Initially hailed as a sophisticated tool for governments to combat problems such as terrorism and organized crime, by conducting espionage on electronic devices to steal data such as pictures, audio recordings, passwords, emails and plenty more sensetive information, Pegasus has gained a negative notoriety for its use against journalists, human rights activists, political figures, and dissidents. This widespread deployment has revealed serious vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure, prompting many to question the reliability of the systems they trust with their personal and professional information.

Political Spyware

Last Thursday WhatsApp won a legal victory when a U.S. federal judge ruled to publicly release three court documents that include new information about the inner workings of Pegasus. In those documents it was uncovered that 10 government customers have been disconnected from using the spyware, on account of them abusing the service. Of course, this isn’t anything new to us, for a tool of such calibre is bound to be exploited and used to its fullest capabilities with disregard to the people that will be targeted. People in government positions benefit tremendously from using such software, because they are the ones who choose the persons of interest. Granted, these targets should, emphasize on should, be criminals or terrorists, but that’s not always the case, as many of the affected people are journalists and rival politicians.

In 2022 the Mexican digital rights organization R3D identified Pegasus infections against 2 journalists, a human rights defender and also opposition politician Agustín Basave Alanís, even though the former president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, assured the public that they were no longer using the malware. This revelation, understandably, sparked widespread outrage and raised significant concerns about the state’s continued surveillance practices, despite López Obrador’s claims of transparency and reform. Many argued that the use of Pegasus represented a breach of fundamental rights to privacy and freedom of expression, which is quite reasonable especially in a country where journalists and human rights defenders are already at a high risk of violence and intimidation. The discovery also undermined the government’s stated commitment to ending abuses tied to the use of such spyware, highlighting the lack of accountability within state institutions. In response various groups, including R3D, called for an independent investigation into the use of Pegasus, demanding greater oversight and stronger legal safeguards to prevent the misuse of surveillance technology. As more of these cases come to light, our relationship with new technologies is becoming more and more strained and it might overshadow other major positive technological advancements.

Erosion of Trust in Tech Companies

The fallout from the Pegasus spyware scandals has led to increasing distrust of tech companies, especially giants like Apple and Google, that advertise their products as secure. The revelation that Pegasus can circumvent even their most advanced security measures raises serious concerns about these companies’ ability, and also willingness, to protect their users privacy. If state actors with significant resources can deploy such invasive tools, it leaves ordinary citizens wondering what protection they truly have against more subtle and insidious threats.

Rebuilding Trust

To rebuild public trust in technology, governments, tech companies, and international bodies etc. must take a proactive approach in ensuring digital security. This includes not only strengthening the protections against spyware and malware but also implementing transparent oversight to ensure that surveillance technologies are used responsibly and ethically. Greater transparency from tech giants and government officials regarding the security of their devices, along with the establishment of independent watchdogs, could also go a long way in regaining public confidence.

In addition, people must also take responsibility for their own digital security. This could mean adopting stronger security practices, such as using encrypted messaging services, and keeping software up-to-date to patch vulnerabilities. Of course, that doesn’t solve the bigger issue, because of factors like zero-click exploits, but it’s essential to buck the trend when it comes to digital safety.

Reference links:

AI engine used: Perplexity AI

The Rise Of AI In Scams

Reading Time: 2 minutes

AI is a tool that has accelerated significantly over the last couple of years, finding applications in nearly every sector of life—from mundane tasks to groundbreaking technological advancements. Given this widespread integration, it was only a matter of time before the usage of AI infiltrated one of the most basic human endeavors, i.e. scamming.

Understanding the AI Scamming Landscape.

Scammers throughout history have always adapted to the latest technologies, and AI is no exception. By leveraging machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics, fraudsters can craft more convincing scams that target individuals and organizations alike.

A research conducted by F. Heiding, B. Schneier, A. Vishwanath, J. Bernstein and P. S. Park established that more than half of the participants fell victim to AI-automated phishing. The success rate was more or less equivalent to that of expert produced ones, and with the use of LLMs the quantity and quality of phishing attempts have drastically improved. That goes to show that the threat of being taken advantage of by criminals is only going to rise with technological advancements and breakthroughs.

Phishing, of course, is not the only way that AI can be used to take advantage of people, perpetrators might use deepfakes, voice cloning, fake customer service chatbots to extract information out of you, or ask you to perform certain tasks, like wiring money to some foreign account, so you should always be on the lookout for potential impersonations of your family, friends or your workplace staff.

For example, earlier this year a finance worker at a multinational firm in Hong Kong was tricked by scamers using deepfake technology into transferring $25 million. The scammers posed as the company’s chief financial officer during a video conference, with all participants being deepfake recreations.

But what can we do to protect ourselves from these scams, you may ask? Well, there are plenty of options to consider. Granted, some of them are better than others, but nevertheless, I shall try to give you some perspective so that you can choose what works best for you.

Combatting AI-Driven Scams

  • Code/Safe words. The concept behind this idea is that when an AI-infused phone call or message asks you for a favor, like sending money or providing certain information, you should ask for a passcode that you previously set up with that person to verify their identity. I find this solution to be quite dubious due to the lengths you would have to go through to set up a passcode with everyone you know. Moreover, to avoid this whole ordeal, you could simply ask a very specific question that only you and that person know the answer to, like the name of the bar you two always go to.
  • Be Cautious with Links and Attachments. Hover over links to see where they lead before clicking. Avoid opening attachments from unknown or suspicious sources.
  • Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Add Layers of Security: Enable MFA on your accounts to add an extra layer of protection. This makes it harder for scammers to gain access even if they have your password.
  • Limit Personal Information Online. Be cautious with sharing. Reduce the amount of personal information you share on social media. Scammers often use this information to craft convincing messages.

References:

  1. AI Will Increase the Quantity — and Quality — of Phishing Scams – HBR
  2. Finance worker pays out $25 million after video call with deepfake ‘chief financial officer’ – CNN
  3. Defend Yourself against AI Impostor Scams with a Safe Word – Scientific American
  4. AI-powered scams and what you can do about them – TechCrunch
  5. Tips on Artificial Intelligence Scams – DCWP

AI engine used: Chat GPT-4o