Protagonists

Joseph Weizenbaum
Born in Berlin, 1923. Escaped Nazi Germany in 1936, studied mathematics at Wayne State University, Detroit (USA). Involved in the construction of computers since 1949. Worked for General Electric and Bendix Aviation. Took a position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1963, became a professor of computer science there in 1970, retired in 1988. Wrote a speech recognition programm called ELIZA in 1966, which was considered a milestone in the development of artificial intelligence. Started to deal with philosophical implications of his work in the early 1970ies. Published his book "Computer Power and Human Reason - From Judgment to Calculation" in 1975, a harsh critique of the limitless faith in the redemptive powers of science. Returned to live in Berlin in 1996. Board member of the "Forum of Computer Scientists for Peace and Social Responsibility", honorary doctor of the Universities of Bremen and Hamburg, bearer of the Federal Cross of Merit, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at the Institute of Electronic Business, honorary member of the Gesellschaft fuer Informatik. Died in 2008.

Raymond Kurzweil
Studied computer science and literature at MIT. An inventor and entrepreneur with great achievements, a prominent futurist and a strong advocate of the idea of artificial intelligence. Co-founder of the "Singularity University" in Silicon Valley, where answers to the big questions concerning the future of humankind are to be found by means of emerging technologies. Serves as an advisor to the US-Government in matters of national defense. Was awarded the National Medal of Technology by president Bill Clinton. Author of bestselling books, e.g. "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and "The Singularity Is Near". Was refered to as "Thomas Edison's rightful heir" by the magazine "Inc."

Hiroshi Ishiguro
Professor at the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory of Osaka University. Conducts experiments with robots also at the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute (ATR) in Kyoto. The robot's physical appearance and their behavior are to equal that of biological humans in order to increase their acceptance in society's everyday life. The robots shall carry out tasks in hospitals and nursing homes, serve as nannies or do the housework. "Geminoid", Ishiguro's life-sized android alter ego, was the main attraction at the Ars Electronica 2009. CNN named him one of "eight trailblazing scientists who are about to change your life."

Minoru Asada
Professor at Osaka University. Co-founder of RoboCup, an annual world championship of robot soccer. The RoboCup Federation wants to have a team of fully autonomous robots by 2050 that can compete and win against the team of the current FIFA world champion of human players. Asada also directs the Robotcity project in Osaka. The infrastructure on 24 hectares of ground in the city center of Osaka is to be optimized for the co-existance of humans and robots by 2011. Service robots for the use in domestic areas will be tested there and receive a safety certificate prior to their commercial launch.

Giorgio Metta
PProfessor at Genoa University. Director of the "iCub" project at the Italian Institute of Technology. The "iCub" consortium consists of scientists of seven European universities who attempt to create an adaptive humanoid robot at the size of a three year old child. His scientific work is inspired by science fiction literature. Characteristic of his approach to develop artificial intelligent agents is the interdisciplinary collaboration with neuro scientists, developmental psychologists and scientists from various other fields.

Neil Gershenfeld
Professor at MIT, director of the "Center for Bits and Atoms" at the well-known MediaLab. Conducts interdisciplinary research involving physics, chemistry, computer science, quantum information science, and nano technologies. Engages himself in the idea of "personal fabrication"; by using new materials in combination with 3-D printers it shall be possible in the future to fabricate literally anything in a decentralized way. Author of the books "When Things Start to Think" and "Fab: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop - from Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication."

Hans-Joachim Wünsche
Professor at the University of the Bundeswehr, directs the Institute of Autonomous Systems Technology, where the development of autonomous vehicles startet in 1982. In collaboration with the University of Karlsruhe his team participated successfully at the DARPA Urban Challenge, an anual competition for robotic vehicles organized by the US Department of Defense. Served in leading positions at EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) and Pentair Inc. before starting his academic career.

Joel Moses
Israeli-american computer scientist, institute professor at MIT. Conducted the development of the Macsyma program and has been involved in research on speech recognition and artificial intelligence since the 1960ies. Served as provost and in several other administrative positions at MIT. One of his Ph.D. advisors was Joseph Weizenbaum. Their relation cooled down in the early 1970ies, when Weizenbaum became concerned about the ethical implications of his work and developed a critical attitude towards the limitless faith in science.