Humanoid robots are robots that resemble and mimic human beings, not only in appearance, but also in behavior, cognition, and interaction. Humanoid robots have been a long-standing fascination and aspiration for science fiction, engineering, and artificial intelligence (AI). However, creating humanoid robots that can perform complex and diverse tasks, such as walking, grasping, talking, and learning, in natural and dynamic environments, is a formidable challenge that requires the integration of multiple disciplines and technologies.
OpenAI and Figure are two leading organizations that are pushing the boundaries of humanoid robotics and AI, by developing and deploying cutting-edge research and solutions in the field. OpenAI is a research lab that aims to create and ensure the safe and beneficial use of general and super-intelligent AI, while Figure is a company that builds and sells advanced humanoid robots for various applications and industries.
OpenAI and Figure have recently announced some of their remarkable achievements and projects in humanoid robotics and AI, such as:
Dactyl: Dactyl is a system that uses reinforcement learning to train a humanoid robot hand to manipulate objects with high dexterity and precision. Dactyl uses a Shadow Dexterous Hand, a robot hand that has 24 degrees of freedom and resembles a human hand, and trains it in a simulated environment using a technique called domain randomization, which introduces variations and perturbations in the physical properties and dynamics of the objects and the hand. Dactyl can then transfer its learned skills to the real world, and handle objects of different shapes, sizes, weights, and orientations, such as a block, a pen, and a dice.
GPT-3: GPT-3 is a deep neural network that uses natural language processing to generate coherent and diverse text based on a given prompt or context. GPT-3 is one of the largest and most powerful language models ever created, with 175 billion parameters and trained on a massive corpus of text from the internet. GPT-3 can perform a wide range of natural language tasks, such as answering questions, writing essays, composing emails, creating chatbots, and generating code, with minimal or no fine-tuning. GPT-3 can also interact with humanoid robots, such as Figure’s Atlas, and provide them with natural language instructions, feedback, and dialogue.
Atlas: Atlas is a bipedal humanoid robot that can walk, run, jump, and perform acrobatic maneuvers, such as backflips, cartwheels, and somersaults. Atlas is designed to operate in both indoor and outdoor environments, and to adapt to uneven terrain, obstacles, and disturbances. Atlas uses a combination of sensors, actuators, and controllers, as well as computer vision and machine learning, to balance, coordinate, and execute its movements. Atlas is also equipped with a microphone and a speaker, and can communicate with humans and other robots using natural language, powered by GPT-3.
Codex: Codex is a system that uses natural language processing and programming to generate and execute code based on natural language descriptions or examples. Codex is based on GPT-3, and can produce code in various programming languages, such as Python, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, as well as domain-specific languages, such as SQL and LaTeX. Codex can also interface with humanoid robots, such as Figure’s Digit, and program them to perform tasks, such as picking and placing objects, opening doors, and navigating spaces, using natural language commands, such as “pick up the red ball and put it in the blue box”.
Digit: Digit is a humanoid robot that can perform logistics and delivery tasks, such as carrying packages, loading and unloading vehicles, and traversing stairs and curbs. Digit is designed to be lightweight, compact, and agile, and can fold itself into a small footprint for easy transportation and deployment. Digit uses a variety of sensors, such as cameras, lidars, and force-torque sensors, as well as computer vision and machine learning, to perceive and interact with its environment. Digit can also communicate with humans and other robots using natural language, powered by GPT-3.
These are some of the examples of how OpenAI and Figure are advancing the field of humanoid robotics and AI, and creating new possibilities and applications for the future. Humanoid robots with AI have the potential to revolutionize various domains and industries, such as healthcare, education, entertainment, and manufacturing, by providing human-like capabilities, intelligence, and interaction. However, humanoid robots with AI also pose some challenges and risks, such as ethical, social, and safety issues, that need to be addressed and mitigated by the researchers, developers, and users of these technologies.