ETH News

Verena Zimmermann is convinced that it is too simplistic to view people solely as a risk factor in cyber security. Rather, the special abilities of users should be utilised in a targeted way in order to increase cyber security.

Dirk Helbing expects future digital technologies to penetrate the human body even more in the future. However, he believes that society is not prepared for the risks involved. He puts forward a new legal framework to protect our most intimate data from misuse.

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way in which art is created and experienced. Are we at the beginning of a new artistic revolution? Or at the end of creativity as we know it? Adrian Christopher Notz puts things in perspective.

As society increasingly expects the responsible use of digital technologies, firms with better practices will have a distinct advantage, says Tomoko Yokoi. Digital responsibility should not only be seen as a duty to comply with regulations but also as an activity that generates value.

How productive are we when we work from home? It’s an increasingly common question. But Gudela Grote believes it’s the wrong question, because it says more about our conceptions of human nature than about effective ways of working.

Ethicist Peter G. Kirchschlaeger highlights how artificial intelligence can be regulated worldwide – and is pleased to have the support of leading international figures.

Artificial intelligence promises to support judges in their decision-making. In fact, it renders their decisions and tasks more complex, argues Ayisha Piotti.

There are concerns that ChatGPT could undermine the educational system, and growing demands for rules governing its use. Gerd Kortemeyer argues that anything but the most common sense regulations could end up being counterproductive.

The turbulence created by speculation in GameStop shares has highlighted the lack of transparency on trading platforms. Roger Wattenhofer thinks it is time for a change, and calls for more open data not just in financial transactions, but in many other areas.

As impressive as they may be, the latest AI systems are still no match for humans. Benjamin Grewe pushes for tomorrow’s intelligent machines to learn the way young children do.

Roger Wattenhofer is convinced that the digital currency CBDC will completely replace cash rather sooner or than later, as the new electronic payment method offers many advantages.

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, how do you define a beautiful landscape? Machine learning algorithms can be helpful here, says Adrienne Grêt-Regamey.

How will technology-delivered instruction affect learning? It’s still too early to reach a conclusion, but the implications for exams are clear, says Elsbeth Stern.

The Internet in its current form is outdated, believes Adrian Perrig. He’s set on creating an Internet where society would regain more control.

For close to two months now, many of us have been working almost entirely from home. And it’s going far better than some people anticipated. What has now become normal will change the working world profoundly, believes Gudela Grote.

Markus Gross is convinced that there are better technologies available than today's video conference systems. The key technology is developing at a rapid pace – but not fast enough.

With many of us thrown into an unusual work situation, now’s a good moment to think about boundaries, says Gudela Grote.

What should society do about the tech giants’ growing monopolies? Let’s democratise them by giving users a say in decisions, suggests Hans Gersbach.

Anna Jobin has investigated together with researchers from the Health Ethics and Policy Lab which ethics guidelines for artificial intelligence already exist, and finds that ethical AI is by no means merely a technical matter.

New technologies are radically transforming not just the world of work, but the relationship between employees, companies and trade unions too, as Gudela Grote shows.

Nowadays there are numerous ways of finding and working with scientific data and information. It’s up to libraries to teach these skills, writes Oliver Renn.

Rather than try to defend or oppose specific technological innovations, Kevin Liggieri believes it is more important to first reflect on how humans and machines actually influence each other.

Now that the first Bitcoin battles have abated, Roger Wattenhofer thinks it a good moment to give serious thought to cryptocurrency – and how we’ll be paying in the future.

The growing politicisation of AI harbours risks. Sophie-Charlotte Fischer and Andreas Wenger propose a hub for AI research in Switzerland committed to the responsible development of the new technologies.

We do need more transparency on the origins of conflict minerals – which are found in every mobile phone – but blockchain will not solve the problem, says Fritz Brugger.

Network effects promote an alarming concentration of power within social media. Standards offer an alternative but require user initiative, blogs Ulrik Brandes.

Pieter Fourie explains how smartphone location data can be analysed without violating the users’ privacy.

State-of-the-art technology means citizens can become more involved in urban development. Gerhard Schmitt speaks of a move from “smart” to “responsive” cities.

Education will be digitised, with data connected in a meaningful way and managed by students to inform their learning. Ernst Hafen envisages how his granddaughter will study at ETH and how schools could work with the Swiss Radio and Television Company SRG.

Concern over the influence of machine learning in architecture is exaggerated, argues Adam Jasper. The challenge is not to oppose quantification, but to take charge of what is quantified.

Autonomous trains are on their way – in fact they’re already here, says Francesco Corman. Yet despite the many advantages of driverless rail transport, there’s very little public discussion about it. 

Although computing power and data are rising exponentially, this doesn’t mean that digitisation will solve the world’s problems in an instant, says Roland Siegwart.

Lothar Thiele believes drastic precautions against hackers will reverse advantages of digital transformation. A better way would be to create a secure internet infrastructure.

Juraj Hromkovic explains what language and programming have in common and what makes a good programming language for computer science education.

How do you fulfil your career aspirations? With the semester about to begin, Andrea Censi tells us how he managed to find an occupation in the field of self-driving cars.

Roger Wattenhofer thinks that programming interfaces are underestimated. They would offer enormous opportunities – if the authorities got involved.

Adam Jasper ponders what digitalisation, especially digital pictures, means for the profession and history of architecture.

Juraj Hromkovic has over 15 years of experience in teaching children computer science. He explains the approach we should take.

We should not adapt work to technology but, conversely, find ways in which technology can benefit everyone. Not least for economic reasons, says Gudela Grote.

Myriam Dunn Cavelty calls for a realistic assessment of what state institutions can do to combat cyberattacks.

ETH computer scientist Bernd Gärtner explains why even youngsters should get to grips with computer science.

A digital democracy would usher in completely new political possibilities that are worth considering, believes Roger Wattenhofer.

Renate Schubert thinks about how to approach students’ digitalised data – and sees a lot of potential, but also some open questions.

The big data hype is in marked contrast to tangible results in the social sciences, says Frank Schweitzer.

Artificial intelligence is continually hyped up, but disappears from view again just as quickly. Roger Wattenhofer explains why that might soon change.  

Swiss companies make less use of new technologies and work more traditionally than is commonly believed, says Gudela Grote.

As the digital revolution transforms society, what is the role of universities as “intelligent” machines begin to ask and answer the questions of the universe?

Cyberattacks must also be understood as a phenomenon of political violence and combated as such, says Myriam Dunn Cavelty.

A balanced and realistic discussion on what digitalisation can and cannot achieve in the years to come will help to dispel fears, says Roland Siegwart.