The Artificial Human

You don’t need to be a diehard gamer to realise video games have long been used as a yard stick to measure how far technology has come. From Pong and Space Invaders, right the way to Minecraft and Fallout, as the technology has advanced, so have the games. Pushing new boundaries and creating previously unimaginable worlds and experiences. But how will AI revolutionise the world of gaming itself, both for those who develop games and those who play them? Are we on the cusp of a huge leap forward? Or are the changes on the horizon more evolutionary than revolutionary?Aleks and Kevin chat to one man who has been using AI to develop his own game from scratch, and hear from an industry insider about what the big companies are doing, and why advances in gaming may not be as dramatic as you might expect. Presenters: Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong Producer: Emily Esson and Elizabeth Ann Duffy Mixed by: Sean Mullervy

Can you imagine how quickly Poirot could have solved a crime, if only he’d had access to AI software? Following a fictional murder case provided by real life police officer, Aleks and Kevin try to unravel how AI is already used in crime fighting, and what the cutting edge uses might be. Ruth Morgan, Professor of Crime and Forensic Sciences, explains how the ability of AI to crunch huge volumes of data could lead to new forms of evidence being used in criminal trials. Aleks and Kevin also chat to Rudi Fortson KC about the legal ramifications of AI sourced evidence. Will it stand up in court? Is the UK judiciary ready for the influx of AI evidence? Or has it been used for years, without our knowledge? Presenters: Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong Producer: Emily Esson Researcher: Juliet Conway Mixed by: Tim Heffer and Sean Mullervy

Dave Cliffe, a pioneering computer science professor, and Joe Saluzzi, an equity trader and author, delve into the future of trading shaped by AI. They discuss how algorithmic trading has revolutionized the market, potentially replacing human traders. Cliffe shares his early experiences with AI in finance, while Saluzzi emphasizes the vital role of human intuition in assessing market dynamics. Both highlight the risks of automated systems, including market volatility, and the necessity for regulation to safeguard against potential financial crises.

In this intriguing discussion, Tobin South, a MIT Media Lab researcher known for his expertise in CAPTCHA technology, and Henry Ida, a visiting researcher at Cambridge focused on deepfakes, tackle the escalating challenge of distinguishing humans from bots online. They dive into the manipulative capabilities of AI, the evolution of CAPTCHA systems, and the urgent need for new verification methods. The conversation also addresses the critical role of digital identity and trust in an increasingly AI-driven world, leaving listeners questioning the future of online interaction.

Conspiracy theories—once confined to fringe communities—have entered the mainstream.Social media has supercharged outlandish narratives, giving them an air of legitimacy through viral sharing. With generative AI now capable of producing hyper-realistic images, videos, and audio, the boundaries between fact and fiction are more blurred than ever. It feels almost inevitable that AI will further amplify conspiracy theories in public and online discourse.But perhaps the future isn’t quite so bleak. Aleks and Kevin explore how AI could actually help debunk conspiracy theories and combat the flood of misinformation online.They speak with the team behind 'Debunk-bot', an AI chatbot that has shown remarkable success in shifting people’s beliefs around conspiracy theories. They also talk to Mick West, who has spent decades debunking falsehoods, about how AI might help reduce the impact of dangerous conspiracies—and what role humans must play in guiding those who find their way out of conspiracy rabbit holes with the help of a bot.Join Aleks and Kevin as they investigate how AI can help us separate fact from fiction. And if you have a question about AI, email us at theartificialhuman@bbc.co.uk.

Darian Bold, Head of Elective Care at NHS England, discusses innovative approaches to patient journeys, focusing on AI's transformative potential. Jess Morley, a data ethicist from Yale, emphasizes the need for responsible AI usage in healthcare. They dive into how AI can alleviate NHS challenges, especially in stroke diagnosis and treatment. The conversation highlights the importance of human oversight in tech integration and the ethical considerations that must guide AI development to improve patient outcomes. Can AI truly revolutionize healthcare?

Ever wondered what others are feeling but can’t quite read their emotions? Chris, a listener, emailed us with this exact dilemma. Partly due to being neurodivergent, he struggles to interpret the emotions of those around him—and even his own emotional reactions. So, he asked us: Could AI translate emotions for him?In this episode, Aleks and Kevin dive into the fascinating and complex world of Emotional AI. They start with Professor Andrew McStay, head of the Emotional AI Lab at Bangor University, who shares the long—and surprising—history of humans trying to decode emotions through technology. He also uncovers the potential risks of trusting an AI system to get inside people’s heads.Then, they meet Dr. Amir-Hossein Karimi, whose team at the University of Waterloo has developed an AI specifically designed to recognise emotions—just like what Chris is looking for. Could this be the solution? Dr. Karimi breaks down how this cutting-edge AI works, how it was created, and how a mix of tech innovation and human expertise could potentially help people better understand the emotions of others.But should this type of AI be used at all? Do the potential benefits outweigh the risks? Aleks and Kevin explore both sides.Got a question about AI? Email us at theartificialhuman@bbc.co.uk.

Sometimes, we get odd questions at the Artificial Human - ‘Why has my gran’s facebook feed been taken over by Shrimp Jesus?’ definitely raised eyebrows.Kevin and Aleks embark on a journey into the weird and wonderful world of ‘AI Slop’ - mass produced, low quality AI images that have spread like wildfire over Social Media platforms - with Shrimp Jesus being one of the most prominent, and bizarre, examples.They’ll speak with Renee Di Resta, about her study that reveals how algorithmic systems, designed to maximize engagement, have allowed AI slop to take over social media feeds - not because it's valuable, but because it's engineered to be highly clickable and shareable, gaming the algorithms for more impressions, likes, and comments. And it turns out, those impressions can lead to money - BIG money... for a very select few. Aleks and Kevin talk with investigative journalist Jason Koebler about the hidden cottage industry producing the Slop - a community primarily from the Global South, trying to make money from social media reward programmes. With the help of various apps, online tutorials and hacker-like methods of avoiding spam filters, people are flocking to social media hoping to strike gold with viral images, like Shrimp Jesus.But, will this AI Slop gold rush be the death of Social Media as we know it? And what happens to us when we just assume that anything we see online is simply not real.And remember, if you have a question about AI that you’d like us to answer for you, get in touch with theartificialhuman@bbc.co.ukPresenters: Aleks Krotosksi and Kevin Fong Producer: Elizabeth Ann Duffy Researcher: Emily Esson Engineer: Barry Jackson

Explore how AI is transforming the job market and reshaping traditional application methods. Discover innovative strategies for job seekers navigating this new landscape, including resume enhancements and emotional dynamics during interviews. Delve into the ethical implications of using AI in recruitment and the historical biases in algorithms. The discussion highlights both the opportunities and challenges AI presents for job hunters, emphasizing the need to adapt in an increasingly automated hiring process.

Artificial Intelligence is in our homes, schools and workplaces. What does this mean for us?In 'The Artificial Human,' Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong set out to 'solve' AI. Or at the very least, to answer our questions about it. These are the questions that really matter to us - is AI smarter than me? Could AI make me money? Will AI save my life? They'll pursue the answer by speaking to those closest to the forefront of AI-related innovation. By the end of each programme, the subject will be a little clearer - for us, and for themselves.In this episode, Lucy wants to know; could AI make my Glastonbury better?Lucy is attending the Glastonbury festival this year for the fifth time. She loves it and always has a really memorable experience, but it could be improved without the queues for the bars and the toilets, and maybe with a better idea of how to get from stage to stage in the shortest possible time. Could AI help? Aleks and Kevin don't have all the answers, but they bring intelligence, curiosity and wit to the journey, seeking out the facts for us and speaking to those who are currently shaping our AI futures. This is very much a shared journey to get to the bottom of our deepest hopes and fears about these world changing technologies.