2018 · Time Machine 2018
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Time Machine 2018... a portal into the future!

A Journey into the Future · Chapter 3 of 7

Time Machine 2018

Time Machine 2018... a portal into the future!

Time Machine 2018 investigated several major themes. As Artificial Intelligence adoption was picking up globally, applications in defense, robotics, industrial environment and art were gaining prominence.

AI for National Defense

As countries forged ahead with developing AI for military uses, Time Machine 2018 raised questions about how society should carefully consider the path forward. Top experts in the field tackled topics like machine decision-making in the military, the Third Offset Strategy, and the global AI race. Key speakers who covered this topic included:

Bobby Ray Inman, Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Admiral Inman simultaneously served as the NSA Director and CIA Deputy Director in 1981, working to improve security at U.S. foreign outposts. Since retiring from the military, he has invested in startups as the managing director of Gefinor Ventures and Limestone Capital Advisors. He also holds a tenured chair at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.

General John R. Allen, USMC (Ret.)

A former four-star general, General Allen had a 37-year career in the military and was appointed by President Obama to the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition against ISIL.

Colonel Jennifer Sovada, U.S. Air Force

As the Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance with the U.S. Air Force, Colonel Sovada conducts outreach to non-traditional private sector organizations such as think tanks or universities to build and share ideas and technology.

The Future of Industries

Artificial Intelligence adoption was changing business across industries. Time Machine 2018 investigated how it could be used to benefit agriculture by growing more produce, reducing our carbon footprint and our energy bills and reduce the environmental impact in Oil and Gas. Leading speakers covered these topic, including:

Tim Mueller-Sim, CEO of Bloomfield Robotics

Tim Mueller-Sim brings Artificial Intelligence into an agricultural setting. His company, Bloomfield Robotics, has devised a handheld device that analyzes optimal harvest of each plant, allowing for a more consistent haul and improving crop revenue.

Darryl Willis, Vice President of Oil, Gas, and Energy at Google Cloud

As the Vice President of Google Cloud’s energy sector, Darryl Willis hopes to help all people gain access to affordable heat, light, and mobility.

Tom Jackson, Co-Founder and CEO of Locus Insights

Tom Jackson’s Locus Insights utilizes AI to track users’ eye movements in apps and mobile websites, granting developers key information to design better UX.

Connecting Art and Technology

We’ve always believed that AI isn’t just a tool for business. It can also be used to fuel a creative renaissance and give rise to entirely new forms in music, visual art, and gaming. With Time Machine 2018, we looked deeper into how this would become possible.

Anna Chaney, Data Scientist at IBM Watson Applied Research

While working with IBM Watson, Anna Chaney helped develop Watson Beat, an open-source music maker powered by AI. With it, entire compositions can be created from simple input melodies.

João Beira, Founder and Creative Director of Datagrama

In his hybrid visual art and research, João Beira emphasizes immersive and augmented experiences that merge digital and physical spaces. He is also Creative Director of Datagrama, an international collective of artist-coders.

Richard Garriott de Cayeux, Co-Founder and CEO of Portalarium

As a famed video game developer, Richard Garriott de Cayeux holds decades of experience creating audience-immersive environments. He is also the sixth-ever private astronaut with Space Adventures and first ever second-generation astronaut.

Photographs

Admiral Bobby R. Inman with David Ignatius of the Washington Post.
01/07Admiral Bobby R. Inman with David Ignatius of the Washington Post.
Time Machine 2017 featured our Alexander prototype, and in 2018 we showcased Austin-based AppTronik’s humanoid robot. “Embodiment”, or the instantiation of AI in robots is a long-term goal for AI researchers. One that seems nearer with the advent of Generative AI circa 2022.
02/07Time Machine 2017 featured our Alexander prototype, and in 2018 we showcased Austin-based AppTronik’s humanoid robot. “Embodiment”, or the instantiation of AI in robots is a long-term goal for AI researchers. One that seems nearer with the advent of Generative AI circa 2022.
The portal behind the speakers was a mixed-media art piece combining a physical “star gate” like design with high-definition multi-media projections that adapted the view based on the discussion on-stage. The concept was based on being able to see into the future...
03/07The portal behind the speakers was a mixed-media art piece combining a physical “star gate” like design with high-definition multi-media projections that adapted the view based on the discussion on-stage. The concept was based on being able to see into the future...
A live exhibition area showcased SparkCognition products and capabilities, alongside partner offerings. We’ve always focused on practicality and actually making use of technology in the here-and-now, so interactive exhibits have always been a major feature at Time Machine conferences.
04/07A live exhibition area showcased SparkCognition products and capabilities, alongside partner offerings. We’ve always focused on practicality and actually making use of technology in the here-and-now, so interactive exhibits have always been a major feature at Time Machine conferences.
Lainey Corliss of The University of Texas at Austin interacting with participants during the networking sessions on the sidelines of Time Machine 2018.
05/07Lainey Corliss of The University of Texas at Austin interacting with participants during the networking sessions on the sidelines of Time Machine 2018.
TM2018 wasn’t all serious discussions and work! “Powerpoint Comedian” Don McMillan entertained the audience with his extremely funny take on corporate presentations and the Art of Powerpoint.
06/07TM2018 wasn’t all serious discussions and work! “Powerpoint Comedian” Don McMillan entertained the audience with his extremely funny take on corporate presentations and the Art of Powerpoint.
MakerArm robot arms collaborating to demonstrate Industry 4.0 “factory on a desktop” concepts. Each robot arm can be equipped with one of more than a dozen toolheads to fabricate, engrave, cut, pick-and-place or 3D print objects.
07/07MakerArm robot arms collaborating to demonstrate Industry 4.0 “factory on a desktop” concepts. Each robot arm can be equipped with one of more than a dozen toolheads to fabricate, engrave, cut, pick-and-place or 3D print objects.