Alberto Di Mauro interviews Professor Paolo Fiorini, a leading expert in robotics and innovative medicine. Professor Fiorini explores how robotics is swiftly reshaping our everyday lives and highlights groundbreaking research conducted in prominent centers across Italy and the U.S. He delves into changes in funding priorities, the integration of robotics with healthcare, and emphasizes the crucial role of ethical considerations in technological advancement.

In recent years, robotics has emerged as a rapidly advancing field in both science and economics, with its diverse applications increasingly becoming integral to our daily lives. Professor Paolo Fiorini, as one of the most esteemed experts on the international stage, you are uniquely positioned to provide us with an overview of the leading centers of excellence flourishing in both Italy and the United States. Who better than you to guide us through this exciting landscape?

Excellence in robotics and AI is no longer confined to isolated centers; these technologies are now integral to most universities in Italy, Europe, and the U.S. Instead of focusing on specific institutions, it's more effective to seek out researchers specializing in your area of interest. While historic robotics hubs like MIT, Stanford, and POLIMI remain influential, many niche areas have evolved, requiring specialized knowledge.

In recent years, networks like IEEE's Robotics and Automation Society and Italy's I-RIM have emerged to connect researchers. However, robotics is being overshadowed by AI in funding, similar to the 1980s neural network boom that sidelined robotics research. Current funding trends reflect this shift, with fewer opportunities specifically for robotics.

The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the limitations of current robotics; while labs are full of prototypes, few are robust enough for real-world application. Efforts are underway globally, especially in Europe and Italy, to bridge the gap between researchers, medical communities, and makers.

Regarding academic and industrial exchanges between the U.S. and Italy, opportunities abound, despite challenges like a shortage of qualified robotics professionals. In the U.S., AI-centric graduates are quickly absorbed by top companies, making it hard for universities to retain talent. In Italy, issues like limited academic career paths and insufficient research funding exacerbate the problem. Start-ups present an alternative, offering cutting-edge work, but Italy's ecosystem is underdeveloped compared to Silicon Valley.

The so-called "brain drain" is less relevant today, as global opportunities make it possible to thrive anywhere. However, Italy's conservative industrial sector and risk-averse culture can stifle innovation and discourage young talent from taking bold steps in their careers. Unlike in the U.S., where failure is seen as a learning experience, Italian companies often undervalue advanced degrees and avoid the risks necessary for high-tech growth. This environment can dampen the ambitions of young researchers, although exceptions do exist.

To bridge the gap between Italy and the U.S., a more supportive network is needed to help Italian researchers returning from abroad leverage their experience and find suitable opportunities. Both sides of the Atlantic offer unique advantages, and with careful planning and specialization, it's possible to build a successful career in either context.

Ethics and communication are crucial factors in robotics, and their significance can vary based on cultural context. Although Italy and the USA share a Western cultural sphere, differences in values can influence how human-machine interactions are approached. To conclude this interview, Professor Fiorini, could you provide insights into how these issues are addressed in each country?

The Ethical, Legal, and Social (ELS) aspects of robotics are increasingly central to discussions about the impact of robotics and artificial intelligence on society. Europe has long been at the forefront of these discussions, initiating key workshops on Roboethics in the early 2000s. While discussions at that time did not yet include autonomous vehicles or intelligent machines, the commercial availability of these technologies now necessitates a renewed focus on ELS issues.

Addressing ELS challenges involves navigating diverse interpretations of ethics, bridging gaps between existing legal frameworks and emerging technologies, and understanding the potential societal impacts. For example, ethical considerations might include developing “ethical machines” capable of making autonomous decisions, as explored by MIT’s "Moral Machine" project, which surveyed millions to gauge how different communities expect autonomous vehicles to behave in critical situations.

In Europe, projects like RockEU and RockEU2, funded by the European Commission, have specifically addressed ELS issues by examining the societal impact of intelligent machines, including how they might alter employment and social structures. The EU has also published reports on trustworthy AI and the liability of intelligent machines.

In my research, I grapple with these issues while studying surgical robots equipped with varying degrees of autonomy. Here, the challenge is not replacing the surgeon but effectively communicating the robot’s proposed actions. Communication is a critical ELS issue: how do we inform patients about the robot’s autonomous decisions? How do we engage in public discourse about the benefits and risks of intelligent machines, such as their impact on job preservation or creation?

These discussions are beginning to gain traction in Europe, but similar interest appears lacking in the U.S. Currently, the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic overshadows these debates, but it is crucial that we revisit and advance these conversations once the crisis has abated.