Programme 24-25

BrIAS selected the topic of “Sustainable Robotics, AI and Automation” for its 2023-2025 edition. As AI, robotics and automated devices become an integral part of our lives, it has become crucial to understand if they can be truly durable and how they could optimally contribute to sustainability as a whole.

In 2015, 93 countries agreed on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for society. They address the global challenges, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, peace and justice.

Within ULB and VUB, researchers have been actively working on understanding how robotics, AI and automation could contribute to these SDGs. Many hopes have arisen: social robots are under investigation since they could support social inclusion of individuals, in particular children with autism. Drones and automatic solutions are being developed for precision agriculture to reduce hunger and achieve more sustainable agriculture. To lessen the burden on construction workers, new construction robots are developed. Similar hopes arise from AI and automation.

However, doubts and concerns were also raised. The sustainable production of robots is a major challenge, due to the need for rare-earth elements. Their disposal leads to the creation of challenging e-waste at the end of the life cycle.

Robotics, AI and automation will have a great impact on our society, economy, and environment and bring with them complex challenges. They have the potential to speed up progress towards these developmental goals or be an inhibitor for them. Some believe robots, AI and automation are showing us the way towards a utopia, whilst others predict doom-laden scenarios. Moreover, there are tensions and contradictions between the SDGs, which reflect in their applications. The enablers or inhibitors are also connected to hopes and fears. But it is we, humans, who invent and create technology, and we should have the power and responsibility to shape our own future.

BrIAS allowed world renowned experts from a large spectrum of research fields, universities, industries, national and international organisations, to brainstorm and network on robotics, AI, control and automation.