Robots Are Still Pretty Stupid, Says head of Hyundai AI Institute

Summary

The speaker discusses the current state of robotics, emphasizing that while robots have come far, they still require extensive programming to perform tasks, unlike humans who can quickly learn by observing. The goal of the institute is to simplify the process of teaching robots. The conversation also touches on the misconceptions about AI, where people assume advanced robotics equates to sentience, which the speaker refutes. Additionally, the speaker shares positive insights about Hyundai's forward-thinking approach and addresses the importance of considering AI ethics in technology development.

Takeaways

• 🤖 Robots are still relatively limited in intelligence and require significant programming to perform tasks.
• 💡 The goal of the institute is to simplify communication with robots and enable them to learn tasks through observation, which is currently science fiction but achievable with sustained effort.
• 👷 Robots today cannot perform tasks as intuitively or adaptively as humans, even after observing a task.
• 🧠 AI has made progress in some areas, but robots' physical abilities, such as dancing or climbing, do not equate to intellectual capabilities like those of animals or humans.
• 📈 Hyundai's acquisition of Boston Dynamics is part of its forward-thinking strategy to integrate AI and advanced technologies to stay competitive, not just as a car company.
• 🚗 Hyundai's leadership is focused on future innovation and technology integration beyond traditional automobile manufacturing.
• 🌐 There are ethical concerns around AI development, with criticisms that some companies, like Google, may not be prioritizing ethics as much as they should.
• 💼 The speaker acknowledges the variety of opinions within large tech companies and prefers not to judge Google directly on its approach to AI ethics.
• 🔍 The institute and Boston Dynamics are focusing on addressing ethical considerations in robotics and automation through open discussions and dedicated teams.
• 🗣️ Open discussions about the pros and cons of AI and robotics are seen as essential for responsible development and deployment of these technologies.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the institute mentioned in the interview?

The main goal of the institute is to make it easier for people to instruct robots, potentially allowing robots to observe tasks and learn how to perform them autonomously.

How does the interviewee describe the current state of robots compared to humans?

The interviewee describes robots as still 'pretty stupid' compared to humans. While robots have advanced, they require extensive programming to perform tasks that humans can learn by observation.

What does the interviewee believe could be possible with a sustained effort in robotics?

The interviewee believes that, with a diligent effort and the right team, it could be possible to create robots that can observe humans performing tasks, understand what they're seeing, and learn to perform those tasks autonomously.

What does the interviewee think about the idea of AI being sentient or having feelings?

The interviewee is skeptical about AI being sentient or having feelings, pointing out that just because robots can perform physical tasks like dancing or climbing doesn’t mean they possess the intellectual capabilities of humans or animals.

What example does the interviewee give to explain how far robots are from human learning abilities?

The interviewee explains that if a human were to observe a task in a workshop, they could likely figure out how to perform it within 15 minutes. However, robots are still far from being able to learn tasks this way without sophisticated programming.

How does the interviewee describe the experience of working with Hyundai?

The interviewee describes working with Hyundai as a great experience, noting that Hyundai’s leadership is forward-thinking and excited about integrating AI and computer science to remain competitive in the market.

Why does the interviewee believe Hyundai is investing in AI and robotics?

The interviewee believes Hyundai is investing in AI and robotics because the company wants to stay competitive by adopting new technologies and doesn’t want to be seen as an old-fashioned car company.

What are the interviewee's thoughts on the ethics of AI development at large tech companies like Google?

The interviewee acknowledges that large tech companies, including Google, have diverse perspectives on AI ethics, but he does not directly judge Google's decisions. He believes open discussions about the pros and cons of automation and robotics are important.

Does the interviewee believe that Boston Dynamics and the institute are considering ethical implications in their work?

Yes, the interviewee states that both Boston Dynamics and the institute are paying attention to the ethical implications of AI and robotics, and they plan to have a group working on these issues.

What approach does the interviewee suggest for addressing ethical concerns in AI and robotics?

The interviewee suggests that an open discussion about the pros and cons of automation and robotics is essential, and they plan to foster such discussions at the institute.