AI Robots: When Will They Be in Our Homes?

AI Robots: When Will They Be in Our Homes?

Posted by By IEEE Spectrum 3 months Ago 4 Min Read

Here’s how we could finally build humanoid robots that do all our domestic chores

By Erico Guizzo & Randi Klett

Published 11/11/2024

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A new generation of advanced AI-powered humanoid robots that includes Neo from 1X Technologies, Apollo from Apptronik, Figure 02 from Figure AI, Phoenix from Sanctuary AI, Optimus from Tesla, and Atlas from Boston Dynamics is bringing us closer to the home robot helpers of our sci-fi dreams. What breakthroughs in AI and robot hardware could finally turn an autonomous robot assistant that do all our domestic chores, like Rosie from The Jetsons, into reality?IEEE Spectrum

We Were Promised Rosie

Robots are getting more and more advanced.

The robot baby iCub learns to crawl on the floor.ICUB (ITALIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY)

From crawling baby bots to agile humanoids.

Humanoid robot Atlas HD can run and jump over obstacles.ATLAS HD (BOSTON DYNAMICS)

Some people worry robots could maybe get a little too advanced…

The latest version of Atlas can do push-ups; another humanoid, Nadia, practices its boxing skills under teleoperation; the robot G1 cracks a walnut with its fist; and two Atlas HD robots perform two backflips in a row.ATLAS/ATLAS HD (BOSTON DYNAMICS); NADIA (IHMC); G1 (UNITREE ROBOTICS)

…and try to take over like in sci-fi movies.

T-800 from The Terminator movie looking at camera with other robots in the background.
T-800 from The Terminator movie.“THE TERMINATOR” (1984)

The reality is robots still need a lot of improvement.

Before they can rise up, robots need to stop falling down.

Three robots collapse during the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals; Atlas HD humanoids stumble and fall down on an obstacle course at Boston Dynamics.FLORIAN (TEAM VIGIR); HERCULES (TRAC LABS); JOHNNY 05 (TEAM HECTOR); ATLAS HD (BOSTON DYNAMICS)

So forget the evil robots.

Let’s talk about the helper robots we’ve always dreamed of.

A digital illustration of a humanoid robot carrying a tray with coffee and cookies in a modern looking home.
Household humanoids could do tasks like preparing and serving meals.

Robots to help us with chores around the house.

Cleaning. Cooking. Organizing.

A digital illustration of a humanoid robot holding a spray bottle and a duster and cleaning a kitchen counter in a modern looking home.
Household humanoids could also do cleaning tasks like dusting surfaces.

Even keeping us company.

Robin Williams as Andrew the android in the movie Bicentennial Man uses a paintbrush along with a child with long brown hair who also holds a paintbrush.
Robin Williams plays the android Andrew in the movie “Bicentennial Man.”“BICENTENNIAL MAN” (1999)

These robots would give us something of immense value: more free time.

A white robot with a large face watches TV next to a woman sitting on a couch in a modern looking home.
Rashida Jones plays an American woman living in Japan with a domestic robot called Sunny in the Apple TV+ show “Sunny.”“SUNNY” (2024)

They could also help aging individuals remain independent.

A white humanoid robot arm wrestles a man with white hair on a kitchen table.
Frank Langella stars in…

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The post “AI Robots: When Will They Be in Our Homes?” by Randi Klett was published on 11/11/2024 by spectrum.ieee.org

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