Future robotic systems, such as autonomous vehicles and caregiving robots, promise to revolutionize our homes, cities, and roads. However, a critical question remains—how can we trust that these technologies will be safe? Additionally, how can society understand what type of assurances it should expect and demand from these systems?
Consider a scenario where a cyclist suddenly falls in the path of an autonomous car. Must the car always avoid a collision? If it fails to do so, is it merely an unfortunate edge case or an unacceptable safety failure that warrants a fleet-wide recall? These are the types of pressing ethical and technical dilemmas that must be addressed to ensure public confidence in autonomous systems.
This workshop aims to shed light on the assurances we can make—and demand—regarding the deployment of autonomous technologies. By informing the public conversation while these systems are still in the early stages of development, we can help shape their future with safety and accountability in mind.
For robots, autonomous vehicles, and AI systems to become an integral part of our daily lives, their safety must be as well understood as that of bridges, power plants, and elevators. To catalyze progress toward this goal, the workshop will bring together technical and regulatory experts for a focused, day-long discussion. The objective is to generate new insights on what it would take to establish rigorous foundations for public trust in autonomous systems.
