The magic of Nao

Nao is so small that when standing, they struggle to reach your kneecap. When you meet them, they might attempt a high-five, speak to you in three languages or, if you’re special, serenade you with Mary had a little lamb.

No, Nao is not a precocious child. They are a robot.

In the rapidly evolving field of AI, humanoid creations like Nao are no longer science fiction but an unavoidable part of our future.

Dr Safiya Okai-Ugbaje is working to understand what this future might look like. Her area of research is cybernetics, a field which dates back to the 1940s and looks at the consequences of technology for people and the planet.

“As Arthur Clarke said, ‘any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’ We should continue to develop these amazing technologies – but do so safely and responsibly,” says Okai-Ugbaje.

“Cybernetics and the practice of purposeful behaviour have had a huge impact on me. I am constantly thinking ahead and asking myself questions such as – how will things turn out? How can we make a potential outcome better?”

The search for answers is not always about being correct. When Okai-Ugbaje and her students work with Nao, it’s moments of failure that are the most illuminating.

One student noticed that Nao used eye movements to keep people amused when their response was not what their interlocutor might have expected. This technique for managing awkward small talk is one some of us can relate to.

“Students learn that even with the best intent and practice, the reality is that sometimes technology and systems fail,” Okai-Ugbaje says.

“Being purposeful, and planning for anticipated failures to be graceful, can improve user experience and allow potential consequences to be better handled. Nao is a fun and engaging way to explain these concepts.”

With technology like Nao on track to advance, Okai-Ugbaje says regulation is needed now to build a positive future.

“We should aim to stretch creativity and human ingenuity as far as the mind can conceive it, but ensure that we do so safely and responsibly, beyond just ticking ethical boxes.

“Sometimes, this entails thinking of the end-of-life of our technologies from inception and building these into each stage of the lifecycle.

“Many of the mishaps we have today are due to rushed implementations and quick releases. Everyone wants to be the pioneer, and the argument ‘if we don’t do it now, someone else will’ seems to be winning over common sense.”