NSC Closing Keynote: Embracing AI in Safety with the Right Mindset

Dr. Kate Darling' emphasized the importance of a not applying human characteristics to AI when using it in workplace safety.

Given that AI applications are proliferating in the world of workplace safety and health, it’s important that safety professionals approach AI with the right mindset, according to last week’s closing NSC Safety Congress keynote speaker Dr. Kate Darling, an MIT Media Lab research scientist and leading expert in social robotics.

Speaking on Wednesday, Sept. 18, Darling said that the rapid integration of AI and robotics into the workplace demands a thoughtful and ethical approach. Her keynote, titled The Future of Human-Robot Interaction, highlighted the profound changes that robotics and AI are bringing to various industries and workplaces, including transportation, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Darling explored critical questions about the future of human-robot interaction, such as: What happens when robots begin interacting with humans in everyday settings? Will they supplement human abilities or replace them? How do we ensure that the use of robots aligns with societal values and legal frameworks?

Bearing that in mind, Darling explored the implications of anthropomorphizing AI in the workplace. She argued that the true potential of AI and robotics lies not in replicating human abilities but in enhancing them through partnership.

“Why would we want to recreate human intelligence when we can do something different?” she asked. “… The potential of these modern technologies—AI and robotics—is not to recreate something we already have.”

Darling concluded by encouraging safety professionals to stay informed and engaged with the ongoing developments in AI and robotics.

About the Author

David Kopf is the publisher and executive editor of Occupational Health & Safety magazine.

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