- Phoenix: The Multi-Purpose Humanoid Robot of the Future
- Advancements in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
- A Potential Revolution in Labor and Industry
An expert predicts that by the end of the decade, this robot will be a must-have for millions of American households, performing a variety of tasks.
Geordie Rose, the founder of Vancouver-based Sanctuary AI, has designed a human-sized robot named Phoenix that has already worked in two retail stores bagging merchandise and cleaning.
He believes that within ten years, Phoenix or his predecessor will be able to perform all human tasks and chores.
The Phoenix android is already able to perform tasks such as cleaning, organizing, and even stocking the refrigerator, and can ‘learn’ new skills in the same manner as a human.
General-purpose robots must be able to perceive, comprehend, and interact with the environment in the same manner as humans.
This necessitates the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) that resembles human intelligence.
Rose considers it plausible that this could occur within a decade.
He stated that the best method to create a human-like artificial intelligence is to construct humanoid robots, noting that ten years is an “eternity” for AI at the current rate of technological advancement.
He stated, “Every month, there are new AI-related advancements that can fundamentally alter and advance the field.”
At Sanctuary AI, we believe that the best method to create the world’s first AGI is to develop software systems for controlling humanoid robots with similar senses (vision, hearing, proprioception, and touch), actions (movement, speech), and goals (completing work tasks) as humans.
The electrically powered automaton measures 5.7 feet in height and weighs 155 pounds. He has a top speed of three miles per hour and can transport up to 55 pounds of cargo.
Instead of selling Phoenix robots, the company will license them out to perform human labor.
Goldman Sachs predicted that the global market for humanoid robots could reach $150 billion per year within the next 15 years and that humanoid robots will be viable in factories between 2025 and 2028, and in other occupations between 2030 and 2035.
Musk has stated that Tesla’s Optimus robot could be ‘ more significant’ than the company’s automobiles. Elon Musk’s Tesla is developing a robot called Optimus that seeks to perform any task a human can.
Rose believes that humanoid robotics will define the 21st century.
He remarked, “These are significantly larger than Hoover cleaners and washing machines.” As valuable as a Hoover cleaner is, so too is a washing machine. However, these are specialized technologies. What we are constructing is completely different.’
The AI’s hands are crucial to the success of the Phoenix robot, as is the Carbon AI software that the robot employs to ‘think’.
This enables the robot to ‘learn’ various skills: Phoenix is trained to perform tasks by a human operator ‘driving’ it in virtual reality. But later learns to perform tasks independently.
Rose said that more than 98 percent of tasks require human hands – and said that Phoenix can already load items into a bag, clean mirrors, sort objects, and supply fridges.
According to him, haptic (vibration) sensors in the robot’s hands provide the machine with a sense of touch and bring its hands ‘as close as feasible’ to human hands in terms of their ability to manipulate objects.
Rose stated that Phoenix can “think, then act, and complete work tasks just like a person.”
While we are extremely proud of our physical robot, the true star of the show is the software that runs it.
Sanctuary AI is a Vancouver, Canada-based company that has raised $100 million to explore the creation of “human-like intelligence.”
The company believes that such machines will one day be as ubiquitous as automobiles.
In experiments at Mark’s retail store in Langley, British Columbia, the robot was able to complete 100 distinct tasks, or 40 percent of all tasks that human employees could – including packing merchandise, cleaning, labeling, and folding – while another robot performed similar tasks at a Sport Chek store.
Rose stated, “In the future, our general-purpose robots will be able to perform any task that a human can.”
‘At present, we are concentrating on developing robots to help businesses combat labor shortages. As a consequence of declining birth rates and an aging population, the world is experiencing a severe labor shortage. The US has 9.9 million vacant positions but only 5.8 million unemployed people.
