Dawn of new robotic era
The world is about to change like we see in sci-fi movies
ON December 12, 2023, TESLA unveiled its Optimus Gen-2 robot, a bipedal general-purpose robotic, marking a substantial stride forward in the realm of humanoid robotics.
Elon Musk’s Tesla has consistently led the charge in revolutionising human technology, and its latest innovation promises to be a true game-changer.
With Tesla Inc. claiming an astonishingly low price of $20,000 upon release, this new development is poised to enter the market with unprecedented accessibility rates for such new and cutting-edge technology.
The new bot has picked up a lot of knowledge just by watching people, even picking up new abilities without the need for programming.
You read that correctly, ladies and gentlemen: a robot that no longer needs programming and is using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to learn tasks and even human behaviour on its own.
Using AI technology, the Optimus bot tracks human movements and picks up on new skills from these interactions.
And Tesla has modified the Optimus Gen 2’s inside and out, enabling the robot to mimic human-like movements with shocking realism.
In a recent video where the TESLA owner took a walk with the Optimus, viewers expressed disbelief at how human-like its movements were.
The robot can also move with precision and delicacy thanks to its 11 degrees of freedom with its fingers’ tactile sense enables careful item manipulation.
Videos have been released of the robot being able to handle a delicate egg and it even went on to cook it.
Musk claims that the robot will be able to thread a needle.
Musk’s vision for the robot is that it will be able to take repetitive, mundane tasks off of us and allow humanity to progress to the next level by using our time better. One video shows the Optimus folding clothes.
It will also possess the capability to undertake hazardous tasks in dangerous environments, ensuring the safety of human life. It will excel at performing tasks more effectively and efficiently than humans.
Optimus Gen 2 is still in the development stage, but there are a lot of possible uses for it. In factories, warehouses, and private homes, among other human situations, Tesla envisions these robots blending invisibly and performing difficult, dangerous, or simply unattainable activities that fall outside the purview of human beings.
Robots are already revolutionising medical procedures, and we can only imagine the possibilities of AI-powered machines being able to perform perfect surgeries sometime in the near future.
With AI technology now integrating into machines capable of physically completing tasks, the world is about to change like we have only seen in sci-fi movies.
As you read this, the already impressive Gen-2 continues to get upgrades as TESLA rushes to make it available commercially.
Concerns with artificial intelligence
As with all new technology, there are concerns about its application by unscrupulous individuals and the implications it could have on society in general.
I have previously talked about the immense benefits and grave dangers of AI technology. With the US Army already utilising drones that use AI to track and kill targets, there is always a danger of sentient killer robots who have decided that humans are no longer needed, and this is something that the tech community is constantly debating.
There are, however, more immediate dangers to consider.
One significant concern is the potential for social manipulation, as AI algorithms can easily be used to influence human behaviour through targeted content and messaging, leaving communities, especially children, at the mercy of the developers.
AI also raises serious issues regarding data privacy, as the collection and analysis of vast amounts of personal data can lead to breaches and misuse of sensitive information (AI can analyse data within milliseconds)
The use of AI for social surveillance directly endangers individual freedoms and rights, as advanced surveillance technologies powered by AI can monitor and track people’s activities.
AI-powered drones and cameras can easily be programmed to run surveillance on individuals and communities.
A Reuters story talked about China, where software that uses artificial intelligence sorts data collected from residents. The system has the ability to learn independently and can optimise the accuracy of file creation as the amount of data increases.
China employs AI facial recognition technology on a large scale. For example, they use AI technology in surveillance cameras to identify jaywalkers, linking them to their government records and issuing fines automatically, along with public shaming. The system, equipped with high-resolution cameras and facial recognition algorithms, scans pedestrians against a database, displaying photos of the offence and partial government ID numbers on screens.
How can these preexisting AI technologies integrate with robots? Will we finally see a reallife Robocop soon?
These are questions currently being hotly debated in the tech community, and a small island nation like Fiji must take steps to be aware of the latest technological developments.
There are numerous opportunities for Fiji to adopt technology to vastly improve many industries and facets of life, taking us to the next level and allowing us to compete with many larger economies.
The Tesla Optimus Gen 2 is more than just a robot; it’s a fascinating look into a future where technology and people coexist together. The indisputable advantages of this technology indicate a positive future, despite ongoing hurdles.
One thing is certain as Optimus develops further: Tesla is in the vanguard of this fascinating revolution in robotics, and the future of robotics is bright.