Brett Adcock, a tech industry veteran, discusses the future of human-like robots. Topics include advances in AI and robotics, addressing labor shortages with robots, challenges of designing entire robots, and the potential for robots to match human ability.
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Quick takeaways
Figure AI aims to create affordable humanoid robots that can blend into commercial sectors like manufacturing, retail, and warehouses.
Advancements in robotics have made tasks like bipedal locomotion and object manipulation more feasible, but building reliable and cost-effective robot hardware remains a challenge.
Deep dives
Figure's Mission to Deploy Autonomous Humanoid Robots
Figure, a robotics company, aims to deploy autonomous humanoid robots that can perform physical work similar to humans. The company believes that the world has been built around the human form, and it seeks to create an autonomous automation system that can mimic human-like work. The company's robot, standing at five foot six, is electromechanical and has an AI-first strategy. Figure focuses on deploying robots in commercial settings such as warehouses, manufacturing, and retail to assist with physical labor tasks. The goal is for every human to eventually own a humanoid robot that can perform various physical tasks.
Advancements in Robot Capabilities and Hardware Challenges
In recent years, advancements in robotics have made tasks like bipedal locomotion and object manipulation more feasible. The ability to walk bipedally and maintain balance, as well as manipulate objects with adequate power and precision, has significantly improved. However, building reliable and cost-effective robot hardware remains a challenge. Many companies, including Figure, have been forced to design and manufacture their own parts, from electric motors and sensors to structures. The robotics industry still faces the need for scalable supply chains to produce high-quality robot components at a reasonable cost. Additionally, the integration of AI systems and robust software is essential for enabling human-like capabilities in robots.
The Potential for Robots in Commercial and Industrial Applications
Figure sees significant potential for robots in commercial applications, particularly in industries facing labor shortages and repetitive, physically demanding tasks. Large-scale warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and retail spaces often rely on human labor to move bins, push carts, and bridge automated systems. However, companies struggle with labor turnover and inefficiencies. Figure aims to address these challenges by providing robots that can perform structured, repetitive tasks, contributing to increased productivity and efficiency. By starting with commercial applications, Figure plans to deploy robots that can handle standardized, relatively simple tasks, such as moving bins and boxes. This approach enables quicker market entry and data collection to improve AI training for future robot capabilities and applications.
The Path to Affordable Humanoids and Future Applications
Figure envisions a future where humanoid robots are not only capable but also affordable for individuals. Through continuous hardware improvements, manufacturing scalability, and data collection for AI training, the company aims to reduce the cost of humanoid robots to hundreds of dollars per month per person. The goal is to enable broader adoption of humanoid robots in various applications, including home automation and assistance for tasks like elderly care and household chores. Figure emphasizes the need for collecting large-scale data to improve robot functionality and anticipates that millions, if not billions, of robots in the market will contribute to the collective knowledge of robots and enhance their capabilities over time.
Today, Sam Korus sits down with Brett Adcock, a veteran in the technology industry who has devoted his career to building cutting-edge tech companies. Brett has been an integral part of technology companies for over two decades, more recently steering his focus toward creating affordable and practical humanoid robots. With his company Figure AI, Brett is giving life to robots that can easily blend into commercial sectors like manufacturing, retail, and warehouses. His plan involves developing an artificial intelligence-centric (AI-centric) robotic design that would not just decrease dependence on humans for tedious tasks but also make these robots more reliable. Our guest also shares his valuable insights on the challenges faced in this venture and the ambitious timeline for seeing these robots in action.
Key Points From This Episode:
Overview of Brett’s background
Advances in AI and robotics
How robots tackling simple, repetitive tasks can address labor shortages in warehouses
Unexpected challenges of designing entire robots from scratch
How advancements and strategic data collection propel AI and robotics to new heights
Robotic automation promises significant cost reductions over time
How robotics as a service could revolutionize affordability and functionality in automation
Robots could match human ability in certain jobs this decade, with home use by its end
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