Self-driving cars are often presented as the future of transportation ; we're making them safer, smarter... and fully autonomous. But how close are we really to achieving a reality where we can turn our brains off and let our vehicles take us to everywhere we want to go? Is the artificial intelligence used in these vehicles truly advanced enough that they can replicate brain functions like perception, attention and adaptive decision-making, so we don't have to use our own cognition towards these tasks? In this episode, we explore the many challenges facing autonomous vehicles, from navigating unpredictable environments to imitating the human brain to make split-second decisions under uncertainty. This conversation dives into the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and artificial intelligence to better understand what it will take for autonomous technology to become fully reliable.

This episode is sponsored by the Connected Minds program. Connected Minds, funded by the Canadian First Research Excellence Fund, is a 7-year collaborative program between York University and Queen’s University that focuses on interdisciplinary, ethical, and socially responsible research and technology development. The program offers funding for trainees, researchers, and artists. To learn more and get involved, visit the Connected Minds website.

Website: https://www.yorku.ca/research/connected-minds/a

Authors: Zara Sheikh, Eve Racette

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Disclaimer: Think Twice is a podcast for general information and entertainment purposes only. The content discussed in the episodes does not reflect the views of the podcast committee members or any institution they are affiliated with. The use of the information presented in this podcast is at the user’s own risk and is not intended to replace professional healthcare services.