The Provocateurs: Good Predictions, Good Decisions? / Human-Robot Uncanny Collision

Good predictions don’t necessarily mean good decisions. Dr Lars Schewe (The University of Edinburgh) shows how mathematics is not just about making predictions, but can help to make decisions under uncertainty and what this means for future energy system planning. The Uncanny Valley describes the unease we feel toward almost-human robots. But as cosmetic surgery makes human faces more artificial, are people entering the valley themselves. Dr Carl Strathearn (Edinburgh Napier University) asks could this shift help robots eventually escape it?