Many voices warn us that advanced robotic technologies will pose threats to, as well as benefits for, humanity. Better communication has come at the cost of lost privacy. Lower costs for goods and services have come at the cost of lost jobs. Greater convenience has come at the cost of new forms of intellectual, emotional, and physical violence.
Conscious awareness and proactive decision-making are necessary to maximize the “pro’s” and anticipate and minimize the “con’s”
AHiRE’s founders choose to give of our toil and treasure today in the hope that everyone who cares about humankind’s future in our new, technology defined world can work together to guide today’s changes to reap technology’s benefits and away from its dangers. Our goal is to leave behind a bright, safe, and secure world for every future generation. Take a moment to read about our founding members below:
Barney’s broad and deep experience in engineering robot applications (in space, in hazardous environments including nuclear waste cleanup, and in research applications) and life-long learning in history and technology led to deep concerns for humanity’s future in a robot dominated world. The question “if not now, when?” led him to commit himself to working to guide technological development toward creating a bright future for our species.
Bill is a classically trained analytical chemist with over 40 years of hands-on experience conducting and managing research, development, and testing for the federal government, private industry and academia. He has witnessed the shift from manual, wet-chemical testing to automated, black-box procedures. He recognizes the advantages these advances provide but is also aware of their unintended consequences, including a loss of skilled artisans’ knowledge and experience. The “Big Data” era will increase this change’s pace making maintaining the balance between analytical chemistry’s art and science even more difficult.
An award-winning business journalist in a previous life, Rob spent more than 20 years covering technology and automation for a wide range of publications, including on The Washington Post. He subsequently served as a strategic communications consultant to companies at the forefront of automating industry, including Dell, GE and IBM, where he assisted in the launch of a key Watson Health website. Not coincidentally, Rob pivoted from the technology industries a few years ago into a profession—fine wine sales—that remains relatively safe from automation by robots.
Ty Hardaway brings the perspective of a historian, the sensibility of an artist, the awareness of an acute observer of society, the energy of an activist, and the concerns of a parent to addressing the challenges of shaping humanity’s future in a world increasingly affected by technology.
Janis is a seasoned management professional with rich experience leading non-profit, tax-exempt, and professional organizations. Her skills include developing and implementing organizational mission statements; managing workflows, processes, tactics, and budgets; organizing public affairs efforts; and communicating social and technical information. Her work with scientific and technical constituencies has made her aware of the emerging robotic economy’s challenges.