Artificial humanoid robots are progressively striving to equal the intelligence of sophisticated AI systems.
In the historic setting of Ancient Olympia, located in southern Greece, the International Humanoid Olympiad took place, organised by Minas Liarokapis, a Greek academic and startup founder. Liarokapis believes that humanoids will venture into space before houses, signalling a significant leap in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) development.
The event was not just a spectacle of advanced technology but also a platform for debate. The question of when robots would be ready to perform household tasks like tidying closets and washing dishes was at the forefront. AI is progressing rapidly, but humanoid robots are approximately 100,000 years behind in learning from data, according to an article in Science Robotics.
One of the highlights of the Olympiad was the performance by Boston Dynamics' dog-like Spot robots. They danced in synchrony to a Queen song on "America's Got Talent", showcasing their agility and coordination. However, one of the robots broke down mid-routine, a testament to the challenges still faced in the development of these physical counterparts of AI. Simon Cowell, a judge on the show, commented that the robot breakdown made the performance more realistic and challenging.
Meanwhile, the race to advance humanoid robot technology is heating up, with Chinese companies showcasing their robots at public events, while U.S. rivals primarily use polished videos. Ken Goldberg, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests combining old-fashioned engineering with real-world training to help humanoid robots catch up.
In the realm of neuroscience and AI, Hon Weng Chong, CEO and founder of Cortical Labs, an Australian biotech company, is developing a biological computer using real brain cells grown on a chip. This groundbreaking technology, called the CL1 bio-computer, is powered by 200,000 human neurons and aims to advance neuroscience research and AI by creating machines that learn in real time with less data. Cortical Labs raised over $10 million to fund this project.
Aadeel Akhtar, CEO and founder of Psyonic, also made headlines for his bionic hand offering sensory feedback. This hand, designed for both humans and robots, aims to close the gap between the two, allowing robots to collect data while performing useful tasks, such as driving taxis and sorting packages.
Liarokapis predicts that it will take more than 10 years for humanoids to execute tasks with dexterity in households. As the world continues to advance in AI and robotics, we can expect to see more exciting developments in the years to come. The International Humanoid Olympiad serves as a reminder that while we are making progress, there is still a long way to go before humanoids can truly mimic human dexterity and adaptability.
