# Episode 57: The ethics of new technology - Kate Devlin

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2023-10-13
- Length: 31m
- Episode: 57
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-13-episode-57-the-ethics-of-new-technology-kate-devlin
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-fifty-seven-kate-devlin

## Summary

Kate Devlin, a Reader in AI and Society at King's College London, discusses the social and ethical implications of robotics and AI, including job displacement, privacy erosion, and inequality. She highlights concerns regarding surveillance technologies like Ring doorbells and police drones, noting how they exacerbate power imbalances and lack public consent. In the second half, Devlin explores technology and intimacy, arguing that AI companionship can be a positive force for loneliness, while cautioning against the technological and financial impracticality of humanoid robots compared to non-humanoid social robots like Paro.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-13-episode-57-the-ethics-of-new-technology-kate-devlin#t=8) Introduction: Kate Devlin and King's College London
- [2:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-13-episode-57-the-ethics-of-new-technology-kate-devlin#t=171) Kate Devlin's career path from archaeology to AI
- [5:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-13-episode-57-the-ethics-of-new-technology-kate-devlin#t=312) Historical context of job losses and industrial revolutions
- [9:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-13-episode-57-the-ethics-of-new-technology-kate-devlin#t=574) Privacy concerns: Ring doorbells, data collection, and inequality
- [15:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-13-episode-57-the-ethics-of-new-technology-kate-devlin#t=923) Surveillance: Police drones, Boston Dynamics Spot, and public reaction
- [19:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-13-episode-57-the-ethics-of-new-technology-kate-devlin#t=1140) Defining trust: Safety verification vs. psychological trust
- [22:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-13-episode-57-the-ethics-of-new-technology-kate-devlin#t=1360) Technology and intimacy: AI companionship and the Eliza effect
- [28:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-13-episode-57-the-ethics-of-new-technology-kate-devlin#t=1692) The failure of humanoid robots vs. success of non-humanoid social robots

## Topics

- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- King's College London (company)
- Ring (product)
- Boston Dynamics Spot (product)
- Paro (product)
- G-Bo (product)
- UKRI (company)
- ICRA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Kate Darling on the Future of Robotics and AI Ethics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-24-kate-darling-on-the-future-of-robotics-and-ai-ethics) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [525: Some Sort of Metal](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-14-525-some-sort-of-metal) (Embedded.fm)
- [375: Hiding in Your Roomba](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-06-03-375-hiding-in-your-roomba) (Embedded.fm)
- [077 - The Beatbox Diversion](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2026-01-09-077-the-beatbox-diversion) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [060 - The Brie List](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2022-08-13-060-the-brie-list) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

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