AI's great promise – is it realistic?

The promises are big and varied and range from conquering diseases to considerably lengthening our lives on the basis of digital technologies. British gerontologist Aubrey de Grey believes a society of 1,000-year-olds is possible – and autonomous modes of transport will be seen on roads and waterways. Realistic predictions? Marvin Kastner of the Institute for Maritime Logistics at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) highlighted, for instance, Norway’s Yara Birkeland at the Disrupt Now! AI for Hamburg Future Summit on November 21. Yara Birkeland is the first, fully autonomous and zero-emission container vessel and could start operating next year, replacing 40,000 truck journeys per year. “There are still regulatory obstacles, with respect to who takes responsibility for a ship without captain or crew,” Kastner said. Yet, the development of autonomous maritime systems has already made considerable progress.