Wunderlich, Silberstein explore robotics, A.I. ethics at Elizabethtown College

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (04/02/2014)(readMedia)-- Dr. Michael Silberstein, philosophy, and Dr. Joseph Wunderlich, engineering, discuss the latest technological advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence such as drones, and the ethical implications of these technologies at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Elizabethtown College's Leffler Chapel and Performance Center.

"Sticks and Drones: Evolving Ethics to Master Technology" is presented by Wunderlich, who focuses on robotics and artificial intelligence and Silberstein, who specializes in the foundations of cognitive science and neuroscience, as well a science and values.

"As we have seen in the media lately, the use of robots and drones (flying robots) in warfare raises a host of ethical, legal and social issues," said Silberstein, who teaches a Science and Values course each year at Elizabethtown. "However, in the very near future robots and drones, both in the military and civil arena, will be much smarter and much more autonomous, raising even more pressing and unique moral concerns."

Silberstein said that Wunderlich guest lectures in his courses, and his students and their robots provide many interesting demonstrations. This interdisciplinary exchange gave Wunderlich the idea of turning this discussion of ethics and technology into a yearly event.

"The questions that must be answered include: Who should control, possess and regulate such technology? What sort of ethical, legal and technological constraints should be placed on such technology? How smart and how autonomous should such technology be allowed to get? These are some of the questions we will address in this symposium," said Silberstein.

Wunderlich is associate professor of engineering, associate chair of Engineering and Physics, Computer Engineering Program coordinator, Architectural Studies Minor coordinator and director of the College's Robotics and Machine Intelligence Lab. His expertise is in robotics and artificial intelligence. He is an author, speaker, manuscript referee and session chair for international high-tech and architectural conferences and publications.

Elizabethtown College, located in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Learn more: http://www.etown.edu/about/

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