theory of mind - Like other alpha males in chimpanzee troops, Pimu, in Tanzania, has to be vigilant to keep his position.

Can a Robot Guess What You’re Thinking?

Scientists are trying to create artificial intelligence that can think about others’ thoughts. What might this reveal about perspective-taking in AI, humans, and animals?
This elaborately carved canoe prow-board from the Trobriand Islands is meant to dazzle and intimidate viewers.

Is Artificial Intelligence Magic?

What does the anthropology of magic reveal about how people create and use AI?
Cyborgs of the popular imagination have taken a variety of forms.

Your Body as Part Machine

Humans can operate prosthetic limbs with their minds. What will happen if we become increasingly knitted with technology in the future?
New technologies bring a sense of touch to paralysis patients through the use of a mind-controlled robotic arm.

Your Body as a Map

Adornments such as tattoos, piercings, and lip plates help to define our social identities. But what those modifications mean is in constant flux.
Artificial intelligence culture - Individual chimpanzee communities are known to have unique behaviors shaped by social learning.

The Age of Cultured Machines

Researchers have built a robot that can transfer its skills to other robots. Could this advance pave the way for a robot form of culture?
machine learning anthropology - In March 2016, professional Go player Lee Se-dol only won one match out of five against Google’s AlphaGo program in the ancient Chinese game Go.

What If Machines Could Learn the Way Children Do?

Modern-day machines, such as Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, lack intelligence and empathy. Insights from hunter-gatherer communities could pave the way toward more sophisticated gadgets.
game theory anthropology - Jeopardy! champions Ken Jennings, left, and Brad Rutter, right, look on as the IBM computer Watson beats them to the buzzer to answer a question during a practice round of the quiz show in Yorktown Heights, New York.

Learning to Trust Machines That Learn

What can studies of human relationships tell us about whether or not we should trust artificial intelligence?