Robots with artificial intelligence: how close are we to living with them

According to MIT Technology Review, advances in artificial intelligence are taking robotics to a new level, allowing machines to understand natural language commands. Although the technology is progressing rapidly, challenges remain before interaction is completely seamless.

For years, artificial intelligence (AI) was developed primarily in the digital realm, optimizing search engines, virtual assistants, and automated systems. However, the integration of language models with robotics is driving a new technological era.

According to MIT Technology Review, Google unveiled a version of its AI, Gemini, designed to operate in the physical world through robots. It allows machines to interpret verbal commands and transform them into specific actions.

The publication explained that this technology combines language models with spatial reasoning, facilitating the execution of complex tasks, such as identifying objects and placing them in a specific location.

Google's interest in robotics has had its ups and downs. Alphabet, its parent company, acquired several startups in the sector in the last decade, but in 2023 it closed a division dedicated to robots for practical tasks. Despite this, the company renewed its commitment by merging AI with robotics to improve the ability to understand and execute commands.

                                                                          

The Convergence of Trends: AI and Robotics Advance Together

The development of robots that understand natural language is not an isolated phenomenon. According to MIT Technology Review, two key trends have intersected in recent years: the growing use of AI in robotics and the interest of large technology companies in building machines capable of interacting with the physical environment.

In this context, several companies have driven significant progress. OpenAI, which had closed its robotics team in 2021, launched a new project in 2024 to develop humanoid robots. Nvidia, for its part, stated that the next major transformation in artificial intelligence will be "physical AI," focused on providing robots with greater autonomy and spatial reasoning capabilities.

In the business world, various startups have demonstrated that the combination of AI and robotics can be applied in real-life environments. MIT Technology Review highlighted the case of Figure, which presented a humanoid robot capable of receiving instructions to organize objects. Covariant, an OpenAI spinoff, developed a similar system for robotic arms in warehouses, attracting the attention of Amazon, which acquired the company just months after its public demonstration.

                                                                             

When will we see robots at work and at home?

The impact of these advances in the workplace is already visible. MIT Technology Review noted that Figure plans to manufacture 12,000 humanoid robots per year, which could accelerate their adoption in factories and logistics centers. However, the implementation of these machines in the workplace still faces challenges, especially in terms of regulation and safety.

Agility Robotics, one of the few companies with paying customers for the use of humanoid robots in the United States, stated that its devices must operate in areas separate from workers due to a lack of clear safety standards. The outlet suggests that this limitation makes the full integration of humanoids into shared spaces difficult, as it still requires regulatory adjustments.

The domestic scenario is even more complex. MIT Technology Review explained that homes represent a greater challenge than factories, as they are less predictable environments with a higher level of interaction between humans and machines.

The article compared this process to the development of autonomous vehicles, highlighting that robots will require extensive testing before operating safely in residential spaces. Before reaching homes, these technologies are likely to be deployed in warehouses, hotels, and hospitals, where they can be remotely monitored.

A promising future, but with challenges still ahead

While artificial intelligence is enabling advances in robotics, there are still obstacles to overcome. MIT Technology Review indicated that the widespread adoption of these robots will depend on multiple factors, such as regulation, social acceptance, and the machines' ability to operate autonomously without posing risks.