How Realistic Are Today’s Robots?

Summary

In 2034, humanoid robots like Apollo and Digit are envisioned to assist in warehouses and factories, alleviating physical labor. The video explores the current state of robotics, showcasing advanced, lifelike models from X Robots and practical, general-purpose robots like Phoenix and Unitri G1. It delves into the rapid advancements in AI, computer vision, and battery technology, which have made robots more dynamic and capable. The market is predicted to grow significantly, with applications in personal assistance, entertainment, and healthcare. However, the true impact and reliability of humanoid robots in various sectors remain to be seen, as the technology is still in its nascent stages.

Takeaways

• 🕶️ The video is sponsored by Brilliant and set in a futuristic 2034 scenario where humanoid robots are common.
• 🤖 The video discusses the evolution of humanoid robots, which have become more refined and flexible in their movements compared to a few years ago.
• 💰 It highlights the affordability of robots with a $40,000 price tag and a lease option, reflecting the impact of inflation on everyday items like a $50 cheeseburger.
• 🛠️ The script introduces 'Apollo', a robot designed to work alongside humans in factories to reduce physical strain.
• 🚀 NASA is developing advanced robotics for deep space exploration, indicating the importance of robotics in future space missions.
• 🏆 Companies like X Robots are creating lifelike robots for various purposes, including research and service in restaurants.
• 🔧 The Canadian robotics company Sanctuary AI launched 'Phoenix', a robot capable of physical tasks like sorting and handling objects.
• 🤹‍♂️ Unitri's G1 model is a versatile, lightweight robot designed for home use, capable of performing tasks like cooking and soldering.
• 🌟 Astrobot, unveiled by Stardust, is capable of performing rapid and dextrous tasks without human operation, powered by neural networks.
• 🔥 The Tesla Optimus bot is undergoing development, with recent videos showing it performing basic tasks in a factory setting.
• 🧩 The video also covers a variety of consumer robots, from lawn mowers to restaurant servers, indicating the diverse applications of robotics in everyday life.

Q & A

What is the estimated cost of a humanoid robot in 2034 according to the script?

The script mentions a humanoid robot priced at $40,000, with a 4-year lease option for $320 a month.

What is the role of Apollo, the robot mentioned in the script?

Apollo is designed to work alongside humans in a factory, helping to alleviate taxing and physical labor.

What is the significance of the year 2023 in the context of the script?

In 2023, the Chinese firm X robots went viral after their appearance at the World Robot Conference, showcasing their humanoid, lifelike robots.

What is the main purpose of the Phoenix robot launched by Sanctuary AI in 2023?

The Phoenix robot is a general-purpose robot designed to do physical work, such as sorting items and performing tasks similar to a human worker.

What collaboration did Sanctuary AI announce with Microsoft in May 2024?

Sanctuary AI announced a collaboration with Microsoft for the development of AI models for general-purpose humanoid robots.

What is the starting price of the Unitri G1 robot, and what are its capabilities?

The Unitri G1 robot starts at $116,000 and features advanced mobility, stability, and AI capabilities. It is designed for home use and is known for its flexibility and lightweight design.

What unique claim does Astrobot's maker make about its demonstrations?

Astrobot's maker claims that the robot is not being operated by a human during demos; its intelligence comes from neural networks.

What is the current status of Tesla's Optimus bot as of the script's information?

As of the script, Tesla has released a new video of the Optimus bot performing basic tasks in a factory, and it is stated to be making progress in completing tasks and walking without falling over.

What is the role of the mbot AI-driven robot?

The mbot AI-driven robot provides personal guidance, tutoring, and career advice, and is being developed as a 'personalized AI robot you can mentor.'

What are some of the consumer applications of humanoid robots mentioned in the script?

The script mentions applications such as lawn mowing robots, restaurant service robots, and even a flame-throwing robot available for consumers.

What is the potential market size for humanoid robotics by 2035 according to different estimates?

Estimates for the humanoid robotics market size by 2035 range from $38 billion (Goldman Sachs) to as high as $214 billion (Global Newswire) and even 4.8 trillion by 2035 (Global X ETFs).

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Humanoid Robots in Everyday Life

The script introduces the concept of humanoid robots becoming a part of everyday life in 2034. It narrates a personal encounter with a friend who has purchased a new humanoid robot, and the narrator's subsequent surprise at seeing the same model in a Walmart store. The robot, Apollo, is designed to work alongside humans, particularly in warehouses, to reduce physical strain. The video script discusses the rapid advancements in robotics, the emergence of new companies, and the improved capabilities and flexibility of modern humanoid robots. It raises questions about the practicality and future of humanoid robots, setting the stage for an exploration of current robotic technology.

05:01

🏭 Advancements in Industrial and Consumer Robotics

This paragraph delves into various examples of advanced robots in both industrial and consumer markets. It mentions X robots, a Chinese firm specializing in lifelike humanoid robots, and Sanctuary AI's Phoenix, a general-purpose robot capable of physical tasks. The script also covers Unitri's G1 model, a flexible and lightweight robot designed for home use, and astrobot, which can perform rapid dextrous tasks. The Tesla Optimus bot and mbot, an AI-driven personal guidance robot, are also highlighted. The paragraph discusses the capabilities and potential of these robots, as well as controversies surrounding demo authenticity and the rapid adoption of restaurant robots and lawn-mowing robots in consumer spaces.

10:01

🏗️ Robotics in Construction and the Evolution of Technology

The script shifts focus to the application of robotics in construction, highlighting how robots are being used to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks like bricklaying. It discusses the progress in AI, improved computer vision, and advancements in battery technology that have made robots more dynamic and capable of adjusting to their environment. The paragraph also touches on the reduction in component costs and the potential impact of these technological advancements on the future of robotics, including predictions of market growth and the sectors that may drive demand for humanoid robots.

15:01

🤔 The Future of Humanoid Robots and the Role of AI

In the final paragraph, the script contemplates the future of humanoid robots, considering the potential for them to become commonplace in homes and workplaces. It acknowledges the possibility that current advancements may be premature and that true humanoid capabilities might be further away than anticipated. The paragraph also discusses the influence of wage inflation and aging populations on the adoption of robots as a form of labor. The script concludes by reflecting on the rapid pace of change in the field of robotics and the potential for AI to supercharge its development, ending with a promotional note about learning more about neural networks and AI on brilliant.org.

Keywords

💡Humanoid Robots

Humanoid Robots are machines designed to mimic the appearance and movements of humans. They are central to the video's theme, which discusses the current state and future potential of these robots in society. The script mentions several examples, such as the robots by X Robots and Unitri, which showcase advanced movements and functionalities.

💡Inflation

Inflation refers to the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and subsequently, the purchasing power of currency is falling. In the script, it's humorously noted that a cheeseburger costs $50 due to inflation, setting the stage for discussing the $40,000 price tag of a humanoid robot, highlighting the economic context of the video.

💡Lease Option

A lease option is a contract that allows a lessee to pay a certain amount periodically for the use of an asset, with the option to purchase it at a later date. The script mentions a 4-year lease option for a robot, which is $320 a month, illustrating an alternative to outright purchase for consumers interested in humanoid robots.

💡Robot Coworker

The term 'Robot Coworker' is used in the script to describe robots like Apollo, which are designed to work alongside humans in factories, performing tasks that are physically demanding. This concept is integral to the video's exploration of how robots are being integrated into the workforce.

💡NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. The script mentions NASA's development of advanced robotic capabilities for space exploration, indicating the role of robotics in advancing scientific discovery.

💡Neural Networks

Neural networks are a set of algorithms, modeled loosely after the human brain, designed to recognize patterns. They are crucial for the functioning of modern robots, as mentioned in the script, enabling them to perform tasks and navigate environments without being explicitly programmed for every possible scenario.

💡AI Models

AI models refer to the algorithms and mathematical frameworks that artificial intelligence systems use to perform tasks. In the context of the video, Sanctuary AI's collaboration with Microsoft to develop AI models for general-purpose humanoid robots exemplifies the integration of AI into robotics to enhance their capabilities.

💡Computer Vision

Computer vision is a field of AI that enables computers to interpret and understand the visual world. The script discusses how advancements in computer vision have allowed robots to navigate complex environments and manipulate objects, which is a significant theme in the development of modern robotics.

💡Battery Technology

Battery technology pertains to the development and improvement of power sources for various applications. The video script notes that progress in battery technology, driven by the electric vehicle industry, has made it feasible for robots to have more power-dense batteries, although there's still room for improvement in terms of operating times.

💡Cost of Components

The cost of components refers to the expenses associated with the parts used in manufacturing a product. The script indicates that the reduction in the cost of components has made building humanoid robots more affordable, contributing to the growth of the robotics industry.

💡DARPA Robotics Challenge

The DARPA Robotics Challenge was an event organized by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to promote development in robot autonomy and speed. The script refers to this challenge to illustrate the historical context and rapid progress in robotics, noting the significant improvements in robot performance over the years.

Highlights

In 2034, humanoid robots are becoming a common sight, with one friend even owning a new model.

A $40,000 humanoid robot is spotted at Walmart with an option to lease for $320 a month.

Humanoid robots are designed to work alongside humans in factories, like Apollo, to reduce physical labor.

The field of Robotics is rapidly advancing, with companies producing robots with refined movements and flexibility.

X Robots, a Chinese firm, specializes in creating lifelike humanoid robots for various purposes, including research and service.

Sanctuary AI's Phoenix robot is capable of physical tasks such as sorting objects and making a turkey sandwich.

Unitri's G1 model robot features advanced mobility and can perform tasks like back flips and basic soldering.

Astrobot, unveiled by Astrobot Inc., can perform dexterous tasks autonomously using neural networks.

Tesla's Optimus bot has shown progress in performing basic tasks with the help of neural networks.

Mbot is an AI-driven robot designed for personal guidance, tutoring, and career advice.

Menty's robot focuses on domestic applications, showcasing the potential for household chore assistance.

EMO robot is an AI companion that responds to language, navigates surroundings, and develops a personality.

Robotic lawn mowers are becoming popular for their ability to navigate and protect the yard.

Restaurant robots are now common, serving food and showcasing the rapid adoption of service robots.

Advancements in AI, computer vision, and battery technology are driving the development of modern robots.

The cost of components for humanoid robots has significantly decreased, making them more feasible.

DARPA's robotics challenge in 2013 laid the groundwork for the progress seen in today's robots.

Market predictions for humanoid robotics vary widely, with estimates ranging from $38 billion to $4.8 trillion by 2035.

Growth in humanoid robotics is expected in sectors like personal assistance, entertainment, education, and healthcare.

Companies like BMW, Mercedes, and Amazon are considering deploying humanoid robots in warehouses and manufacturing.

The future of robotics may include domestic home robots that are capable of various tasks, moving beyond science fiction.

Neural networks have revolutionized robotics, and understanding their function is crucial for future development.

Transcripts

this video is brought to you by

brilliant the year is 2034 you're

catching up with an old friend and he

tells you that it's just got one of

those new humanoid robots he's always

been a bit of a weird guy so you don't

think much of it and quickly forget the

next week you're walking through Walmart

and suddenly there it is standing at a

stall in the electronic section it's

smaller than you thought it would be but

$40,000 sure with inflation these days

it looks expensive but you do think to

yourself well a cheeseburger is $50

these days I remember back in the days

when it was just $5 he stopped

daydreaming and noticed the smaller

print on the price tag awesome there's a

4-year lease option for $320 a month ah

what the heck I'm sure I could make that

you think to yourself he signed the

lease bring the little guy home and boot

him up and with a Chim he greets you in

the friendliest of ways you thought a

little robot in your house would be

creepy but seeing it in person well it's

actually kind of cool at this point you

realize that the Future Has

Arrived but this is digit a robot it's

maker say is ready to do what human

warehouse workers do meet Apollo your

new robot coworker he's designed to work

alongside humans in a factory and help

alleviate taxing and physical labor

these missions possible NASA is

developing Advanced robotic capabilities

to survey deep space and planetary

surfaces and to map the way for future

human exploration in case you haven't

noticed in recent years the field of

Robotics is having a bit of a moment

even just a few years ago the majority

of humanoid robots were clunky and

awkward today robotics companies are

popping up left and right with products

that have refined movements and much

greater flexibility in their abilities

so we have to ask what's changed between

then and now and are humanoid robots

another tech fed and a cash grab or will

humanoid robots beon place 10 years in

the future so let's answer those

questions and also Dive Right In and

take a look at some of the best robots

available

today you are watching cold fusion

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TV one joh of robots if you want to call

it that tends to go down the realism

route as interesting as it is I think

the more realistic a robot is the more

it's going to freak people out but

regardless the Chinese firm X robots is

giving it a good go

X robots went viral after their

appearance at the 2023 world robot

conference founded in the early 2010s

the company specializes in humanoid

lifelike robots for research development

manufacture sales and service this is an

example of one of their more advanced

robots working in a restaurant and as

you can see the movement still needs

some work work but it's functional

possesses amazing computer vision plus

the realism is better than anything else

I've ever seen actually I'm just kidding

that's actually a human pretending to be

a

robot but if you did think that was real

for a second after seeing X robots then

maybe the lines between human and

humanoid are starting to blur even at

this extremely primitive stage in the

Technology's development but in summary

these robots are not particularly

practical but they do look cool these

can be classed just as entertainment

robots but this this next one is way

more than

that in 2023 the Canadian robotics

company Sanctuary AI launched Phoenix a

general purpose robot the emphasis for

the robot is doing physical work just

like a person would at the moment it's

smart enough to distinguish different

groups of Cups and dextrous enough to

sort them by type it can slowly put

balls into a

jar and also put colored balls into a

Ziploc

bag it can even make a turkey sandwich

and also sort simple Automotive Parts in

May of 2024 they announced a

collaboration with Microsoft and this

was for the development of AI models for

the general purpose humanoid

robots the unitri G1 unitri another

Chinese company has the G1 model as

their Flagship robot it features

Advanced Mobility stability and AI

capabilities its aim is to be used in

the home and it starts at

$116,000 as you can see it's pretty

flexible and weighs only 35 kilos making

it one of the lightest robots out there

it can do back flips and set the record

for the fastest humanoid robot all right

so who cares you might be thinking what

does this thing actually do well it can

apparently use

hammers open

bottles do basic

soldering extremely basic cooking or at

least cos play as

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such who knows if it's going to be as

good as advertised but it's very

interesting

nonetheless astrobot surprised the

industry when it was unveiled in May of

2024 if the demos are in fact as it

seems this could be one of the most

impressive robots out there it can

perform rapid dextrous tasks like cup

stacking cleaning up a simple but messy

table

peeling

vegetables using a

hammer watering a plant with a spray

bottle pouring

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wine opening a lided

bottle and

more interestingly Stardust the makers

of astrobot specifically state that in

these demos it's not being operated by a

human the robot's intelligence is from

neural networks there's a the funny

twist here though the makers of astrobot

claim that it's Tesla who's faking their

demos they say that Tesla is secretly

using a human to operate their robots

during demos and the human is just out

of the camera's view speaking of the

Tesla Optimus bot let's take a look at

what's been going on with it since its

announcement in 2021 we've seen some

clips of the Tesla bot carrying out

various tasks and just this month a new

video was released it was the robot in

the factory doing some basic tasks such

as sorting batteries Tesla and engineer

Milan kovak states that they've used

neural networks to train the robot to do

useful things only using vision from its

cameras he states that the robot is

still very slow but more successful at

completing tasks and can now walk

without falling over if all of this is

true that's some pretty Swift progress

but the jury is still out on if the

previous demo was

faked next we have

mbot it's an AI driven robot that

provides personal guidance tutoring and

career advice earlier this year mbot

offers interactive the parent company

unveiled their prototype robot it's hum

sized and is being dubbed as the quote

personalized AI robot you can mentor end

quote judging by the demos it seems a

little less baked than some of the other

entries in this episode demos of menty

showcase a different approach to most

humanoid robots out there they focus on

presumably domestic cases the robot

weighs 70 kilos and can balance itself

while carrying objects pretty well a

prototype will be unveiled in 2025 the

company behind mot funnily enough called

ment robotics says this is just the

starting point for general purpose

bipedal robots in the future they're

working towards a robot that has the

brain to do all sorts of household

chores and learn from us so it can do

things it wasn't specifically trained to

do next we move into the world of

Cheaper consumer robots first we have

the emo robot the way I'd sum it up is

it's like a '90s electronic toy for

adults of course it runs on neural

networks but also has neural Hardware

and it can respond to a wide array of

language navigate its surroundings

recognize your voice understand commands

and it develops a little bit of an

attitude and personality for many having

a camera and microphone in your personal

space would cause some paes but some

people just find it too cute and besides

and some would argue that smartphones

have the same drawbacks anyway emo is

truly an incredible advancement in AI

companion robots he has a neural network

processor that allows him to recognize

faces objects and voices in real time

when I pet his head he makes happy

little sounds watch when I shake

him what about a robot that can mow your

lawn one neat feature some of these have

is a skid plate on the bottom this helps

protect the mower as well as anything it

might happen to run over for example if

there's a bunch of sticks in the yard it

can just run over them and not Chop them

all to pieces like a conventional mower

I I can see why people want to cut their

own Lawns as a form of relaxation but

I'd rather do other things with my free

time and let the lawn cut

itself if you've gone to a restaurant

recently you've probably seen these

restaurant robots they assist in dishing

out orders and they're kind of a

commonplace thing nowadays I just think

the rapid rate of adoption of these was

pretty fascinating I remember them

popping up a few years ago and it was a

bit of a spectacle but now as these

little guys trundle around carrying food

no one bets an eyelid

anymore and this next one is probably

the craziest consumer robot of all it's

an irresponsible flame-throwing robot

and it's available for anyone to just

buy not sure how this is legal but it's

out

there Disney is also getting involved

they've got some new robotics entries

and they're using their typical

expertise in animation and putting it to

good use for the robot's

motion you've probably all heard of and

seen Sophia this robot is pretty old but

seems to have stolen the headlines over

the years technically doesn't do much so

I'm not really sure why that is it's a

bit of a nothing Burger in my opinion

but this video wouldn't be complete

without mentioning it there's also been

developments in robot Builders the

quality of the construction remains to

be seen but it's still an interesting

development

nonetheless this may seem like an

ordinary house in a normal looking

neighborhood but it's not because it was

built by a great big

robot automating those repetitive and

timec consuming tasks like brick laying

using robot

several firms have now figured out how

to do this with their own unique Tech

but this bit of Kit from Australia is

truly something else it built the walls

of a three-bedroom home in under 4 days

and real people have bought it with real

money and are about to move

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in okay so I've taken a look at the

latest robots out there but why is this

all coming at once well as you might

have guessed it's to do with AI improved

computer vision has made it possible for

robots to navigate ever more complex

environments travel across uneven

surfaces and even manipulate objects

with the old ways of hard coding these

were actions that were next to

impossible to do in a general way if

something in the environment changed the

robot would just become confused this

still does happen but far less often

today modern robots can dynamically

adjust for example if a misstep occurs

the robot can steady itself well at

least most of the time and next are the

break throughs in Battery Technology a

lot of people think batteries haven't

moved an inch but that's not exactly

true thanks to the engineering

advancements due to electric vehicle

demand and the adoption rate over the

past decade batteries have gotten just

power dense enough to become feasible in

robotic applications but still Robot

Operating times are measured in hours so

there's still a long way to go before we

have all day robots and finally we have

the cost of components coming down in

2022 a basic humanoid robot would cost

around $50,000 to build last year the

number dropped to $30,000 but of course

there's higher end models that can cost

upwards of $150,000 to commission but in

all of this we still don't really know

how reliable these machines will be when

they're put into a work environment or a

home will there be another wave of

disappointment as they don't do nearly

as much as promised only time will

tell a few of you may remember the

infamous DARPA robotics challenge back

in 2013 the pentagon's defense Advanced

research projects agency wanted to see

the best robots the world had to offer

over 30 teams from countries such as

Germany Japan the US and Hong Kong

traveled to Florida to give their best

the goal was to create robots that could

perform tasks routinely done by humans

that is using power tools opening doors

driving golf carts that kind of thing

but what ended up happening was pretty

much viral videos of robots falling over

in spectacular fashion I remember when I

was doing my engineering degree at

University

we did a similar but much simpler

challenge with a goal was to build a

contraption that could transfer a bag of

rice between two uneven platforms within

a set of rules and even that was hard so

I couldn't imagine how taxing this must

have been out of the Dara challenge came

the seeds of the success we see today

players like Boston Dynamics the CTO of

figure Ai and the co-founder of agility

robotics were all participants in the

challenge Jerry Pratt whose team came

second in the Dara challenge is now the

CTO of figure a i and he states that if

they were to run the same course today

what took 50 minutes would now take 12.5

minutes so of course comparing now and

then is like night and day but how much

further will we go experts disagree

according to Global newswire the

humanoid robotics Market will go from

$1.6 billion in 2022 to a staggering 214

billion by 2032 Global X ETFs estimates

4.8 trillion by 2035 Goldman Sachs is a

lot less bullish but still predict a $

38 billion Market by 2035 I'd say 38

billion sounds way more grounded in

reality than 4.8 trillion but hey nobody

can tell how it's really going to go in

these early stages according to Wed the

main sources of growth will come from

demand in sectors such as personal

assistance entertainment education and

Healthcare I'd add warehouse work and

Manufacturing to the list as we've seen

companies such as BMW Mercedes and

Amazon take a serious look at deploying

humanoid robots now the future

predictions on robotics vary wildly but

we can say for sure that they will find

their place in society to what degree

remains to be seen Trends such as

advancements in computer reasoning

computer vision and off-the-shelf

humanoid robot software systems by

companies such as envidia and open AI

would only increase the likelihood of

adoption a think invidious trick of

training robots in a virtual space and

in a way broadcasting that knowledge to

all the other robots in their system is

a clever and efficient way to go further

to this we have wage inflation and aging

populations worldwide love it or

probably hate it when Advanced enough

corporations will skimp out on paying

workers and will be looking towards

robots as the newest form of cheap labor

Figure 1 Apollo and digit are all

companies that are eyeing Warehouse

applications with BMW Mercedes and

Amazon respectively but maybe just maybe

everyone is jumping the gun here and

when these robots are launched into the

workforce and don't perform nearly as

well as advertised and it turns out that

true humanoid experience is more like 50

years away it could just mean that all

this messing around is just for us to

realize that humanoid robots aren't the

best for most industrial

applications but there is a slight

possibility that in 10 years domestic

home robots are no longer the stuff of

Science Fiction maybe robots would

entertain us mow our Lawns and build our

houses at that point seeing a robot in

your local department store like at the

beginning of this episode wouldn't seem

so weird after all who knows what the

future will bring but what do you guys

think it's fascinating to think about

how fast things are

moving we've seen that neural networks

have really supercharged the world of

Robotics but have you ever wondered how

they really work well fortunately

there's a fun and easy way to learn

about it with brilliant.org brilliant is

where you can learn by doing with

thousands of interactive lessons in

maths data analytics programming and of

course AI the course on neural networks

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each lesson on brilliant allows you to

play with Concepts a method proven to be

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learn at your own pace to brush up on a

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coldfusion or click on the link in the

description to get started you'll also

get 20% off an annual premium

subscription thanks okay now back to the

episode so that is where we are today

and that's the latest in the field of

Robotics so I hope you like that if you

did feel free to subscribe to Cold

Fusion there's plenty of other

interesting stuff on here on science

technology and business all right so my

name is toogo and you've been watching

cold fusion and I'll catch you again

soon for the next episode cheers guys

have a good

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[Applause]

one cold fusion it's new thinking

n

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