Figure-01: Humanoid Robot Learns to Make Coffee By Watching Videos

Quincy Jon, Tech Times 19 January 2024, 02:01 pm

Figure, the creator of the Figure-01 humanoid robot, demonstrated its capacity to autonomously make coffee by learning from a video of a human performing the task, a noteworthy breakthrough in robotics.

The Figure-01 robot, equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), showcased its ability to watch and learn from human actions during a demonstration at Figure's San Francisco headquarters. Responding to a human request for coffee, the robot, having previously observed a video of a human using a Keurig machine, autonomously executed the steps of making coffee, from opening the hatch to pressing the button, according to Fox News. This achievement highlights end-to-end artificial intelligence, with potential applications for collaborative learning and increased autonomy in AI-driven robotics.

California-based startup Figure has entered into a commercial partnership with BMW, marking its first collaboration since its establishment in 2022. Carscoops reported that BMW plans to deploy Figure's general-purpose humanoid robots on the production line at its Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant, aiming to integrate advanced robotic technologies into automotive manufacturing. The partnership reflects the broader trend in the automotive industry, with companies like Tesla and Hyundai actively working on incorporating general-purpose robots into their manufacturing facilities, emphasizing efficiency and innovation through increased automation.

Boosting the Manufacturing Sector

Figure 01 emphasizes the safety of its robots when operating alongside humans, a crucial consideration given Spartanburg's current workforce of 11,000 individuals. The collaboration with BMW signals a concerted effort across the automotive industry to advance automation within manufacturing processes.

In a related development, Richtech Robotics recently unveiled ADAM, a two-armed robot designed to serve as a barista. ADAM crafts various beverages, from boba tea to cocktails, and engages with customers, takes orders, and prepares food. The robot is a comprehensive business solution for food manufacturing and delivery, powered by robotic arms, AI, cameras, and facial recognition software.

Despite receiving positive reviews for its barista skills and potential as a solution for businesses facing staff shortages, ADAM comes with a significant price tag of $180,000 per system, making it a substantial investment for interested enterprises, according to Richtech Robotics, as per a report on ABS-CBN News.

Are Robots Going to Replace Human Workers Soon?

A recent Goldman Sachs report suggests that generative AI tools like ChatGPT could boost global GDP by up to 7%, simultaneously displacing 300 million full-time workers, per the BBC. Contrary to expectations of initial job losses in manual tasks, the rapid adoption of generative AI, impacting knowledge-based roles, poses a significant threat. Jobs in fields previously deemed secure, such as marketing, music production, and graphic design, now face the accelerated risks of automation.

The "exposure curve," indicating vulnerability to AI, is found to be upward-sloping, with higher-echelon professional positions being increasingly susceptible. As generative AI evolves, tasks like crafting marketing plans and search strategies, traditionally done by skilled humans, become more automatable. The advent of AI colleagues further heightens concerns for knowledge workers.

Time reported a research paper by MIT and Boston University economists suggesting that robots may replace up to 2 million workers in the manufacturing sector alone by 2025. According to Daniel Susskind, an economics fellow at Balliol College, University of Oxford, and author of "A World Without Work: Technology, Automation, and How We Should Respond," the COVID pandemic has significantly encouraged the automation of human tasks. The advantages of machines, such as immunity to illnesses, the absence of the need for isolation, and continuous work without time off, contribute to the growing trend of automation.