Lex Fridman Podcast #81 – Anca Dragan: Human-Robot Interaction and Reward Engineering
Mar 19, 2020
Anca Dragan is a professor at UC Berkeley specializing in human-robot interaction. She discusses the complexities of designing robots that can effectively coordinate with humans, stressing the importance of aligning robotic behavior with human preferences. Anca dives into the challenges of autonomous driving, the intricacies of reward functions in AI, and the emotional connections people have with robots. The conversation touches on how robots can understand human intentions and the philosophical implications of AI in our lives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Path to Robotics
- Anca Dragan's interest in robotics developed gradually, starting with programming as a child and evolving through math and computer science.
- Her decision to pursue robotics was solidified at Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute, where she saw it as a way to apply her skills in optimization.
Self-Driving Car Inspiration
- Anca Dragan's most memorable robot encounter was with Google's self-driving car in 2014.
- The car's consistent correct decisions impressed her, showcasing the potential of robots beyond object manipulation.
WALL-E Appreciation
- Anca Dragan's favorite fictional robot is WALL-E, appreciating its expressive movements and animations.
- Her husband even proposed using a self-built, actuated WALL-E, adding a personal connection.
