Journalist Annalee Newitz has been reporting on robots for a long time. Newitz takes a particular interest in the way humans talk about robots, and the often surprising gaps between what we fear they might be used for and what they’re actually capable of.
In addition to covering the latest robotic innovations for places like Wired, Popular Science, the New Yorker and the Atlantic, Newitz writes fiction.
Newitz’s books explore the psychological relationship between humans and tech more deeply, and that curiosity is on full display in Newitz’s latest novella, “Automatic Noodle.” It tells the story of a group of robots in California who open a noodle shop.
Newitz recently spoke with The Show about the backdrop of the story, which starts with our inherent cultural fears about what the future holds.
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Sixty-million tons of produce is destined for the landfill every year. The U.S. Agriculture Department says food waste accounts for up to 40% of the total food supply. -
Some consumers have been facing a dilemma, where the digital products they thought they owned, have disappeared or were altered. The Arizona House passed a bill with bipartisan support to help consumers know what they’re actually buying. -
Arizona drivers have been sharing the road with Waymo robotaxis for nearly a decade. Through our Q&AZ reporting project, KJZZ received a question asking if autonomous vehicles get pulled over and receive tickets. -
If AI can help students write essays and home cooks come up with recipes, what’s to stop lawmakers from using it to write bills, for example? -
A project funded by NASA could help bring emergency medical care to rural Arizona. ASU researchers are developing augmented reality glasses that can help walk users through some procedures in real time — without needing to be online.
