Dr Simon Coghlan

Senior Lecturer in Digital Ethics, Centre for AI and Digital Ethics, and School of Computing & Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Melbourne

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Five Spam tins with arms and eyes in front of small keyboards

Sciences & Technology

The spambots are coming for your job, Aldous Huxley

Robotic ‘Spam’ tins recreating dystopian fiction ask us to consider the role of AI, art and animals in society – and how they intersect

AI apocalypse or overblown hype? thumbnail image

Politics & Society

AI apocalypse or overblown hype?

Based on the speed at which artificial intelligence (AI) is developing, it’s imperative we understand, and act on, the potential risks it poses

What’ll be big in 2023? AI, that’s what thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

What’ll be big in 2023? AI, that’s what

In 2022, artificial intelligence chatbots and image generators seemed to take over the internet, but what can we expect from AI in 2023?

Can robots really be companions for older adults? thumbnail image

Health & Medicine

Can robots really be companions for older adults?

Social isolation is a problem for many older adults, but are social robots an answer – and what do our elderly people think?

Is sentience really the debate to have? thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

Is sentience really the debate to have?

While debate over the alleged sentience of the LaMDA chatbot continues, there are bigger questions about AI’s overall lack of transparency

How data can help prevent overdiagnosis thumbnail image

Health & Medicine

How data can help prevent overdiagnosis

The increasing use of digital technologies in medical screening may lead to a rise in overdiagnosis that could be prevented by a new focus on patient data

Surveillance: What is it good for? thumbnail image

Politics & Society

Surveillance: What is it good for?

Online monitoring raises serious questions about privacy and rights, but where justified it can be used for good if organisations consider wider issues like transparency and fairness

Are robots the answer for aged care during pandemics? thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

Are robots the answer for aged care during pandemics?

Care robots may be a safer option in aged care during pandemics like COVID-19, but how far can robotic care go and how far do we want it to go?

Trump, nipples and the hypocrisy of the social media giants thumbnail image

Politics & Society

Trump, nipples and the hypocrisy of the social media giants

It took a mob to attack the US Capitol before then President Trump’s incitement was banned by the social media companies, but these same companies routinely censor the marginalised

You wouldn’t hit a dog, so why would you kill one in Minecraft? thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

You wouldn’t hit a dog, so why would you kill one in Minecraft?

Violence against humans in video games has long been controversial – but what about violence against animals in the virtual world?