This year our Coffee Challenges produced great discussions on some of the hottest topics in emerging technology. As the year comes to a close, we wanted to highlight some of the recent winners.
September Challenge:
Tesla and SpaceX mogul Elon Musk called artificial intelligence a fundamental existential risk to human civilization and called on governors to regulate it. How big a risk do you think it is, and what, if anything, should be done about it?
- Winner: Tathagata Chakraborti
October Challenge:
Following his conviction for murder and subsequent suicide, an autopsy of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez revealed a severe case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). How might a new CTE biomarker allowing for detection in living persons be used in civil and criminal cases?
- Winner: Stacy Skankey
November Challenge:
The government of Saudi Arabia granted citizenship to a robot named Sophia. Do you think artificial intelligence should or will be entitled to rights? What are the implications of recognizing rights in machines?
- Winner: Mickell Summerhays
LSI’s Coffee Challenge will return in January 2018. We can’t wait to read your fascinating thoughts (and hand out more gift cards!) in the new year.