The 6th Furhat Conference on Social Robotics

Robots for All

Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 4:00 PM CEST

Welcome to the 6th Furhat Conference


Themed "Robots for All" the conference took place on Thursday, January 25th (2024) at 4:00-5:30 PM CEST (10:00-11:30 AM EST).‍Robotics is having the attention of the whole world with the hope that the time for humanoids has come. With the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, design, language and reasoning skills such as LLMs, there is a strong belief that this technology will have an immense impact on society.–Representing the social side of humanoid robotics, the 6th Furhat Conference is dedicated to bringing thought leaders and practitioners to highlight the most recent discussions and advancements in the field.–Join us at this very exciting moment in history and discover the future of socially intelligent humanoid robots.

Speakers

Be inspired by the leading experts within the quickly evolving world of AI and Social Robotics

Moderator - Sofia Thunberg

PHD Student and Consultant within Robotics

Christoph Bartneck

Associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at the University of Canterbury
Dr. Christoph Bartneck rekindled his passion for LEGO while working at the LEGO Group in the 90s. He has since pursued research and design roles in the USA, Netherlands, Japan, and New Zealand.

David J. Gunkel

Professor in the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University

David J. Gunkel, PhD, is a professor at Northern Illinois University specializing in the ethics of emerging technology. An award-winning educator and scholar, he has authored 12 books, over 80 academic works, and co-founded the International Journal of Žižek Studies. Gunkel’s teaching and research bridge high-tech innovation with critical analysis, earning accolades like NIU’s Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award.

Håkan Lidbo

Musician, producer and sound artist

Håkan Lidbo is a Swedish musician and producer known for his innovative approach to music across genres like techno, house, and experimental forms. He integrates technology and unconventional sound sources, including robots and automation, to create unique musical experiences.

Ross Mead

CEO and Founder of Semio

Ross Mead is the founder and CEO of Semio, a robotics company specializing in social communication technologies for robots and smart devices. With expertise in human-robot interaction, Mead focuses on making robots more relatable and capable of communicating in human-like ways.

Jessica Banks

Host of 'Hack My Home' on Netflix, Inventor, Designer, Engineer and Roboticist

Jessica Banks is an inventor, designer, and roboticist with degrees in Engineering (MIT) and Physics (UofM). She founded RockPaperRobot (RPR), a company transforming static furniture into interactive, kinetic designs. RPR’s products blend versatility with innovation, inspired by icons like Charles Eames and Judy Jetson.
16:00
Samer Al Moubayed

Opening remarks

16:05
Keynote: Frederic Vacher

d’Assault Sytemes

16:25
David J. Gunkel

Person, Thing, Robot

16:45
Christoph Bartneck

Social Robots: The End of the Beginning of the Beginning of the End

17:05

Break

17:20

Interviews and panel discussion with:

Amanda Stenberg, Kulturhuset
Gabriel Skantze, Furhat Robotics
Håkan Lidbo, Creative Technologist
Ross Mead, CEO & Founder Semio
17:40

Sarah Rose Siskind interviews Jessica Banks

17:45

New Research/Publications highlights 2023

17:50

Closing Remarks

Previous conferences

Explore past Furhat Conferences and discover previous speakers, presentations, and highlights

View Conference Series