Robots in group chats are making awkward comments, bringing up the question of how to teach a bot the art of discretion. Although developers are working on the issue, the shortcomings of AI in social situations resonate with a wider public scepticism of non-human service.

Futurologists – those allegedly able to predict the future – are in high demand from newspapers and major companies keen to see into the coming years. Yet the vast majority of predictions are wrong. What's the appeal of future-gazing? And what might mobilise our visions into the present?

We’re now constantly connected – the average person checks their phone 150 times a day – but it’s an unwanted burden for many. Canvas8 spoke with cyborg anthropologist Amber Case, author of Calm Technology, to understand the importance of designing tech that respects people’s limited attention.

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition against Aristotle, an AI voice assistant for kids, prompting Mattel to drop the product before its release. The furore speaks to people’s discomfort with technology that threatens to replace traditionally human roles.