Smart Pants Help Stroke Patient Walk Again with AI
Julie Lloyd, a stroke survivor, is trying out special “NeuroSkin” pants in the UK that use AI and electricity to help her walk better after her stroke. These pants have wires and sensors that stimulate her leg and guide her movements. In a trial, she felt her leg being guided after a tingling sensation, and she walked without assistance for the first time in six months. The pants are like a second skin that listens to her brain and helps her weak leg move better, thanks to AI. While they’re not for everyday use and cost around £5,000 a month, they offer hope for stroke survivors. Experts see this as an exciting development, but it might take time before it’s widely available.
AI Creates Better Materials for a Greener World
Orbital Materials is using AI to develop advanced materials for important tasks like capturing carbon. CEO Jonathan Godwin, a former Google AI engineer, founded the company to make useful and sustainable materials. They’re currently working on carbon capture, eco-friendly aviation fuel, and removing harmful chemicals.
The AI works smartly, taking instructions to craft 3D structures. It’s like a talking computer program, but for materials. They use real science and physics to ensure the materials are practical. They aim to revolutionize fields like architecture and design by making eco-friendly products.
While they focus on fast-tracking carbon capture products, they believe AI-designed materials can transform industries. However, Godwin emphasizes the need for careful planning to ensure AI’s benefits are shared by all, as the technology’s impact could be transformative but challenging to manage.
AI’s Struggle to Understand Emotions Raises Concerns
Imagine if AI could tell how you’re feeling by looking at your face or listening to your voice. That’s what emotion recognition tech tries to do. But many are worried about its accuracy and how it’s used.
This tech uses AI to guess emotions from things like facial expressions and voice tone. Privacy groups want to ban it, saying it’s not very scientific. The European Union has rules against using it in places like police, borders, workplaces, and schools. US lawmakers are also concerned and want rules.
Companies are selling this tech for various uses, like checking if people are tired or telling the truth. But places like China use it to watch people all the time, which worries people.
Experts say AI struggles to understand feelings, and its accuracy varies. While it could help some, it also raises concerns about privacy and control.