Image created using DALL·E 3 with this prompt: A future filled with autonomous robots, making lives for humans and robots easier, all governed by Isaac Asimov’s Three Rules of Robotics. Idyllic, edenic, futuristic. Aspect ratio: 16:9.
Foreshadowing CES shows yet to come, Google’s DeepMind has introduced three new robotic training tools: AutoRT, SARA-RT, and RT-Trajectory. AutoRT is a system that enhances robotic training by integrating large foundation models, specifically a Visual Language Model (VLM) and a Large Language Model (LLM). This integration allows robots to better understand and adapt to their environments. A key aspect of AutoRT is its incorporation of a “Robot Constitution,” drawing inspiration from Isaac Asimov’s iconic Three Laws of Robotics:
The First Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
The Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
The Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
It’s pretty clear that semi- or fully-autonomous robots are coming soon to a big box retailer near you. How do I define “autonomous robot?” Bigger and badder than a robot vacuum, but not quite C-3PO. How do I define “coming soon?” More than three years and less than five.
In Walter Isaacson’s book Elon Musk, he recounts a story of a disagreement between Elon Musk and Google co-founder Larry Page regarding AI’s potential danger to humanity. This disagreement sparked a series of events that, in retrospect, make Google’s Robot Constitution appear almost like an apology from Larry to Elon. I’ll leave it to you to draw your own conclusions.
I don’t think we’ll see many humanoid robots for sale at CES this year, but we will see plenty of prototypes and concept devices each bringing us a step closer to a future where it will be harder and harder to distinguish between science fiction and science fact.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it. This work was created with the assistance of various generative AI models.