In the foreseeable future, humanoid robots could become as commonplace as cars or smartphones, if the vision of Agility Robotics materializes. Jonathan Hurst, the co-founder of the Silicon Valley-based company, is an engineer who has dedicated his career to creating a human-like robot. His ambition is to create machines that we can converse with and ask for assistance in various tasks.
Agility Robotics recently unveiled its humanoid robot, “Digit,” to investors and media. The current version of Digit is capable of performing simple tasks such as loading and unloading bins and stacking items. The robot demonstrated its ability to operate autonomously and solve problems in real time during a presentation. This is made possible by the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4.0 AI into its software.
However, the demonstration also highlighted the current limitations of the technology. For instance, when a CNN reporter asked Digit to perform a series of tasks via voice command, the robot completed them out of sequence and required several repetitions of the commands. Another Digit model programmed to transfer bins from a storage rack to a conveyor belt fell over and struggled to get back up.
Safety regulations mandate that humans maintain a distance of six feet from Digit at all times. Hurst believes that it could take several years of operation and thousands of hours of testing before these robots can work alongside humans without any safety concerns.
Upon first sight, Digit might remind some of a Star Wars battle droid due to its flexible and advanced physique. However, coexisting with highly intelligent robots is no longer a concept confined to science fiction. Amazon recently announced that it will begin testing Digit in one of its Seattle warehouses. Amazon, which is an investor in Agility Robotics, already has over 750,000 robots working in collaboration with its employees.
Initially, Digit will be assigned a specific task: assisting employees with tote recycling, which involves picking up and moving empty totes once their inventory has been fully extracted. But not everyone is thrilled about the prospect of robot colleagues, as this raises concerns about job security in various industries.
In response to these concerns, Hurst emphasized that the transition to robots will not happen overnight and is unlikely to cause immediate job losses. He pointed out that these are physical hardware that takes time to manufacture and scale up. While Hurst did not disclose the number of Digits currently under testing by Amazon, he projected that their new robot factory in Oregon would be producing 10,000 Digits per year by 2027.
Agility’s Chief Technology Officer, Melonee Wise, spoke enthusiastically about Digit’s potential. She stressed that Digit is more than just a piece of hardware; it represents a software platform that could serve as the foundation for a labor app store.
The integration of electronics, computers, and advanced programming languages in creating Digit is a testament to the remarkable strides made in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence. As technology continues to evolve, it’s clear that coding and programming will play an increasingly crucial role in shaping our future.
While the introduction of humanoid robots like Digit into everyday operations may pose challenges and spark debates about job security, it also presents exciting possibilities for improving efficiency and productivity. As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how these technological advancements reshape our workplaces and daily lives.
