The unstoppable march of the machines Michael Gross  Current Biology  Volume 25, Issue 7, Pages R255-R258 (March 2015) DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.03.012 Copyright © 2015 Terms and Conditions

Machine learning: Robots are rapidly acquiring new skills Machine learning: Robots are rapidly acquiring new skills. This one helps primary school pupils to improve their writing in a ‘protégé’ situation where the children teach the robot to write. (Photo: © EPFL.) Current Biology 2015 25, R255-R258DOI: (10.1016/j.cub.2015.03.012) Copyright © 2015 Terms and Conditions

Self drive: Autonomous cars are already being road tested and could be introduced in five to ten years. They rely on a combination of big data, advanced sensing, and machine learning. This research vehicle was presented by Mercedes Benz at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January. (Photo: © Copyright Mercedes-Benz.) Current Biology 2015 25, R255-R258DOI: (10.1016/j.cub.2015.03.012) Copyright © 2015 Terms and Conditions

Free flight: Drones are becoming increasingly popular both as tools, e Free flight: Drones are becoming increasingly popular both as tools, e.g. in photography and surveying, and as a leisure pursuit. Safe operation of a large number of them would require an additional air traffic control system building on advanced technology. (Photo: Don McCullough.) Current Biology 2015 25, R255-R258DOI: (10.1016/j.cub.2015.03.012) Copyright © 2015 Terms and Conditions

Lost trade: Ultrafast trading algorithms can cause trouble on the stock markets faster than any human trader can react. (Photo: Rafael Matsunaga.) Current Biology 2015 25, R255-R258DOI: (10.1016/j.cub.2015.03.012) Copyright © 2015 Terms and Conditions