A chilling humanoid robot has stunned the world! The robot war between the two companies has begun.

Recently unveiled is the humanoid robot ‘Figure 01,’ developed through collaboration between OpenAI and the humanoid robot startup, Figure. This robot demonstrated the ability to accurately understand and respond to human questions, as well as to perceive its surroundings and objects. For instance, when asked “What do you see right now?” Figure 01 accurately described the surrounding environment, including a red apple in the center of the table. Furthermore, it performed actions such as handing over the apple upon human request.

(Subtitle translation supported in the above video)

This isn’t a scene from a movie; it’s a real conversation with a robot. The company behind the generative AI ChatGPT has collaborated with a robot startup to create such a lifelike robot. When asked for something to eat, it precisely picked up an apple among various objects and handed it over. By demonstrating the ability to understand the intention behind the request to eat the apple and even explain its past actions, it showcased advanced cognitive abilities. Amid fierce competition in humanoid robot development worldwide, OpenAI’s development was enough to astonish the world.

Figure 01 showcased remarkable abilities in interacting with humans through visual reasoning and language understanding, greatly contributed by OpenAI’s artificial intelligence technology. This robot demonstrated the capability to perform more complex cognitive tasks, such as explaining its past actions.

Figure AI handled the fast and agile movement skills of this robot, emphasizing that the robot understood the given instructions on its own and made decisions for all actions independently. Such technological advancements suggest that robots can fulfill various demands while communicating with humans, marking an important turning point in the future direction of robot technology and artificial intelligence.

Global netizens were greatly impressed by this robot’s capabilities, with some expressing concerns that situations akin to those in movies like ‘Terminator’ could become reality. The development of this robot signifies significant progress in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics, providing intriguing insights into how humans and robots might interact in the future.

Figure is a robot startup founded by engineers from Boston Dynamics and Tesla in 2022, and the Figure 01 showcased in the video released on that day made its debut last March. Prior to this, Figure AI successfully secured a large-scale Series B investment of $675 million from companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Amazon, and Intel.

The potential for such robots to support in labor-shortage areas is immense. Despite current limitations such as the lack of feet or agile hands, humanoid robot Eve from 1X is showing significant progress in the autonomous robot field. These robots are trained using imitation learning and remote operation to perform various tasks, such as picking up objects, opening doors, and even self-charging. Such developments demonstrate the potential for humanoid robots to perform a variety of common tasks, particularly in environments like warehouses and factories.

These advancements suggest a future where humanoid robots assist in tasks that humans either do not want or cannot perform. As these technologies continue to evolve, promising to reshape industries and everyday life, the integration of AI into humanoid robots remains a field full of possibilities and challenges.

Two weeks ago, Elon Musk posted a video of Optimus 2’s robot.

Getting my daily steps in pic.twitter.com/cEE4RBNdfo

— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) February 24, 2024

Since its debut last December, the Optimus 2nd generation has been praised for its increased walking speed and stable posture. This robot can take items from a basket and place them on a table, and it can perform human-like movements such as kneeling or stretching its arms.

On the 24th, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, posted a 1 minute and 18-second video on X (formerly Twitter) titled ‘Optimus strolling through the lab.’ In this video, the company’s humanoid robot, Optimus, walks like a human, subtly showcasing its technological prowess. The video was released perhaps following reports that Amazon, Microsoft (MS), Samsung, and other competing companies had invested in ‘Figure AI’ the day before. The rivalry between these two companies’ robots is truly intriguing.

After announcing plans to develop humanoid robots in 2021, Tesla unveiled the Optimus prototype in 2022. Elon Musk has stated that within 3 to 5 years, this robot could be offered for less than $20,000. This signifies that developing robots capable of replacing human tasks such as household and factory labor is one of his major goals.

As expectations rise that humanoid robots equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) could bring revolutionary changes to various sectors such as production and logistics, big tech companies continue to invest. There’s a growing anticipation that AI robots could bring ‘industrial revolution’ level changes to the economy, leading to sustained interest and investment from big tech companies.

It’s no exaggeration to say that we are truly living in the era of robots.

Let’s explore robots that are loved by companies and people around the world.

I’ll introduce some of the currently popular humanoid robots:

• Sophia (Hanson Robotics): One of the most famous humanoid robots with the ability to interact with humans, Sophia has traveled the world and even delivered speeches at the United Nations.
• NAO (Softbank Robotics): Standing at 2 feet (approximately 61cm) tall, this robot serves as an assistant in various fields ranging from healthcare to education. Capable of conversing in 20 languages, it can interact with people and its environment through object recognition, voice, and touch sensors.
• Ocean One (Stanford Robotics Lab): Developed for underwater exploration, this diving humanoid robot can dive to depths of up to 1,000 meters and is used for exploring shipwrecks and other underwater debris.
• Pepper (Softbank Robotics): Developed by Softbank Robotics like NAO, Pepper is equipped with facial recognition and emotion tracking capabilities, making it particularly useful in education and healthcare environments.
• Ameca (Engineered Arts): One of the most advanced humanoid robots in the world, Ameca is integrated with OpenAI’s GPT-3 to enable natural conversations.
• Walker X (UBTECH Robotics): A pet robot used worldwide, Walker X has complete body flexibility and control for safe human interaction, and it can walk stably on various terrains.
• Digit (Agility Robotics): Equipped with dynamic movement capabilities and multiple sensors, Digit is suitable for exploring complex environments and can be useful in logistics operations and human-designed buildings.
• T-HR3 (Toyota): Using Toyota’s robotics platform, T-HR3 explores technologies to safely manage physical interaction between robots and their surroundings. It can reflect the operator’s movements through a wearable controller.

These robots have been developed to assist in various aspects of human life, including education, healthcare, customer service, underwater exploration, and more. As technology advances, these humanoid robots will be able to perform even more diverse roles.

A brief opinion on humanoid robots:

Robots are the epitome of human creativity and scientific advancement, leading innovative changes in various aspects of our lives. They go beyond mere machines to breathe alongside humans, sometimes serving as companions and assistants in our daily lives and work. The changes brought about by robots are not limited to automating physical tasks but also involve acquiring the ability to understand and respond to human thoughts and emotions through the evolution and integration of artificial intelligence.

For example, in the medical field, robots assist in complex surgeries, shorten patient recovery times, and perform tasks instead of humans in hazardous environments to ensure safety. In education, they help with language learning or serve as tools to stimulate children’s curiosity, while in everyday life, home robots handle household chores like cleaning and cooking, making human life more convenient.

The dazzling advancement of robot technology opens new possibilities for humanity, leading to the creation of new industries and occupations. The future where robots coexist with humans is no longer a story confined to the realm of imagination but is becoming a reality. In the midst of these changes, the evaluation of robots should not only be based on their technical performance but also from the perspective of how they enrich human lives and positively impact our society.

What are your thoughts? Are you ready for a world where intelligent robots are part of our everyday lives?

Wishing you a great day ahead!

• Pinterest
• Facebook
• GitHub
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Threads
• X
• YouTube