Robotics Standards: from Innovation to Regulation
Organisers: Sarah Fletcher, Cranfield University – s.fletcher@cranfield.ac.uk
Description:
Advances in technology almost always outpace the development of the standards that govern them. Research and development teams can typically design, test, and implement new innovations far more quickly than standards committees can evaluate all of the complex safety and performance considerations and draft robust consensus-based specifications, guidelines, and requirements. To keep up with rapid advances and broadening applications in robotics, international standards committees have been working at pace and forming new committees to address emerging challenges. This session explores the current landscape of robotics standardisation through a set of short presentations on key topics including new standards programmes, consensus development processes, application, usability of documents, etc.
Confirmed Contribution
- TBA
Agentic AI as Organizational Infrastructure: Ethics, Tipping Points, and Governance in Collapsed Software Stacks
Organisers: Matthew Hall Kilbane, Athena’s Zephyr LLC – matthew.h.kilbane@outlook.com
Description:
Agentic AI is rapidly transforming how organisations develop, manage, and govern software-intensive systems. As autonomous and semi-autonomous AI agents increasingly participate in software engineering, decision-making, and organisational processes, traditional approaches to workforce management, governance, and accountability are being redefined. This special session explores the emergence of agentic AI as organisational infrastructure, examining how AI-enabled software development influences human roles, safety, ethics, standards, and regulatory frameworks. Through a series of presentations and discussion, the session will consider quantitative models of human–AI collaboration, governance mechanisms, labour transformation, certification approaches, and strategies for ensuring trustworthy AI deployment in increasingly autonomous socio-technical systems.
Confirmed Contribution
- TBA
E³LSI Considerations for Cybernetic Avatars, AI Agents, and Physical AI: Safety, Ethics, and Governance
Organisers: Fumio Shimpo and Kyoko Yoshinaga, Keio University – kyokoy@sfc.keio.ac.jp
Description:
Artificial intelligence is evolving beyond analytical tools towards autonomous, embodied systems capable of interacting directly with people and their environments. Developments in cybernetic avatars, AI agents, and physical AI present significant opportunities across healthcare, industry, education, and public services, while simultaneously introducing complex ethical, legal, economic, environmental, and societal challenges. This special session examines these emerging issues through the E³LSI (Ethical, Economic, Environmental, Legal, and Social Issues) framework developed within Japan’s Moonshot Goal 1 programme. Bringing together researchers from engineering, computer science, law, psychology, philosophy, social sciences, and public policy, the session will explore topics including safety, accountability, human autonomy, governance, regulation, trust, and responsible innovation. The session aims to foster interdisciplinary discussion and identify future directions for the safe and socially beneficial development of next-generation AI and cybernetic avatar technologies.
Confirmed Contribution
- TBA
Artificial Intelligence, Cybernetic Avatars and Their Impact on Our Economy and Society
Organisers: Tatsuma Wada, Keio University – twada@keio.jp
Description:
Artificial intelligence is already transforming the way organisations operate, while future developments in cybernetic avatars have the potential to reshape labour markets, economic productivity, and human interaction on an even larger scale. Understanding these wider societal and economic implications is essential for ensuring that AI technologies remain trustworthy, beneficial, and aligned with human values. This special session explores the expected impact of AI and cybernetic avatars on economic systems, employment, public trust, and policy development. Presentations will examine topics including AI trust and risk perception, sector-wide economic modelling, labour productivity, and the governance and regulatory frameworks needed to support responsible adoption. The session will provide an opportunity to discuss how emerging AI technologies can contribute to economic growth while safeguarding workers, organisations, and society.
Confirmed Contribution
- Task Delegation to Generative AI: Trust, Risk Perception, and Implications for Trustworthy AI – Hidetaka Oshima (International University of Japan)
- What Happens to the Japanese Economy When Cybernetic Avatars Arrive? The Economic Impact of Cybernetic Avatars on Japan’s 16 Sectors – Tatsuma Wada (Keio University)