In sci-fi films, the rise of humanlike artificial intelligence often comes hand in hand with a physical platform, such as an android or robot. While the most advanced AI language models so far seem mostly like disembodied voices echoing from an anonymous data center, they might not remain that way for long. Some companies like Google, Figure, Microsoft, Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and others are working toward giving AI models a body. This is called "embodiment," and AI chipmaker Nvidia wants to accelerate the process.
[...] To that end, Nvidia announced Project GR00T, a general-purpose foundation model for humanoid robots. As a type of AI model itself, Nvidia hopes GR00T (which stands for "Generalist Robot 00 Technology" but sounds a lot like a famous Marvel character) will serve as an AI mind for robots, enabling them to learn skills and solve various tasks on the fly. In a tweet, Nvidia researcher Linxi "Jim" Fan called the project "our moonshot to solve embodied AGI in the physical world."
[...] According to Fan, Project GR00T is a cornerstone of his newly founded GEAR Lab (short for "Generalist Embodied Agent Research"). During his time at Nvidia, Fan has specialized in using simulations of physical worlds to train AI models, and now that approach is extending to robotics. "At GEAR, we are building generally capable agents that learn to act skillfully in many worlds, virtual and real," wrote Fan in a tweet. "Join us on the journey to land on the moon."
Related stories on SoylentNews:
Humanoid Robots are Coming - 20230319
Human-Like Robots May be Perceived as Having Mental States - 20220718
This Robotic Finger is Covered in Living Human Skin - 20220613
Even as It Retires, ASIMO Still Manages to Impress - 20220425
Singapore Has Patrol Robots Now! This Should Be Fine. - 20210907
Elon Musk Reveals Plans to Unleash a Humanoid Tesla Bot - 20210820
Entire Boston Dynamics Robot Line-Up Dances in the New Year - 20201230
Study Explores The Meaning Of Humanoid Sex Robots - 20190928
Increasingly Human-Like Robots Spark Fascination and Fear - 20181007
Boston Dynamics' Atlas Can Now Backflip - 20171118
Humanoid Robots Could "Wear" Tissue Grafts Before Transplantation - 20170302
"Sweating" Robot can do More Push-Ups - 20161016
Man Builds 'Scarlett Johansson' Robot from Scratch to 'Fulfil Childhood Dream' - 20160402
Yamaha Unleashes Motorcycling Robot - 20151030
The Robot Revolution Has Snuck Up On Us - 20150903
Geek Nirvana Approaches: Robots to Cook You Breakfast - 20150415
Robot-Staffed Restaurant Opens in China - 20140816
(Score: 5, Funny) by Thexalon on Friday March 22 2024, @12:22PM (3 children)
Any androids that will become truly popular will have to be, ahem, "fully functional".
"Think of how stupid the average person is. Then realize half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday March 22 2024, @06:12PM
...ahem, "fully functional".
That so, Howard?
I don't think they're going for profitability, either they just wanted to see if they could or there's a sinister reason.
It should actually be pretty easy to do. All AI needs is clever programming and stage magic. The hard part will be fitting it all inside a humanoid form. In my story Sentience [mcgrewbooks.com] the computer is an entire building, controlling the physical robot with radio, similar to Wi-Fi.
The more I learn, the more I realize how abysmally ignorant I am.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by crafoo on Saturday March 23 2024, @07:24AM (1 child)
the funniest thing about AI is how popular synthetic girlfriends are with men. like, they are so popular and pervasive that the hateful, violent porn all over the internet is losing out to them. women flick their beans to "romance novels" for 100 years and all of a sudden AI waifus signal the downfall of humanity. It really makes you pounder. Or maybe it doesn't and you're a Tucker or Shapiro fan.
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Saturday March 23 2024, @10:47AM
I'm happily married, for the record. That said, I'm sure there are enough frustrated people out there that a viable sexbot would in fact be a big seller. Given how much effort has gone into, say, RealDolls, it seems like a useful application of the technology.
And for fantasies that are actively harmful to the other people involved in them, I'd much rather they use robots to try to act them out rather than people.
"Think of how stupid the average person is. Then realize half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin