OpenAi recently invested $23.5 million in the Norwegian robotics firm 1X. The news comes after the AI company CEO Sam Altman declared large language models for artificial intelligence are over. It would seem the tech leader has found the next step for AI: ChatGPT robots! The robot firm 1X has two automatons for ChatGPT: EVE and NEO.
Humans control the latter with virtual reality headsets and interfaces so that they can pick up objects. As a result, the robot can work alongside human beings by performing manual labor. On the other hand, OpenAI’s funding will also support the manufacture of NEO, a robot that will aid researchers in applying AI to humanoid forms.
Alliance Venture Capital partner Arne Tonning said, “1X is exploring opportunities and applications within retail, logistics, and health care with leading customers and partners.” As a result, we may expect ChatGPT robots to roll out in the coming months or years.
How is OpenAI developing ChatGPT robots?
OpenAI invested $23.5 million into 1X, a Norwegian company that creates robots designed to perform human jobs. The first one is EVE, a humanoid robot with wheels for legs.
Its face is a black screen that shows LED representations of facial features. More importantly, 1X designed EVE to move and manipulate objects gently.
That means its hands would adapt to an object’s texture to ensure it wouldn’t deform or crush it. As a result, EVE could become more useful for carrying objects.
The Norwegian firm also created the robot to perform repetitive tasks. Moreover, EVE will have human drivers. They will use virtual reality technology to look through the robot’s perspective.
On the other hand, George Strakhov, the chief strategy officer at advertising company DDB EMEA believes artificial intelligence will significantly improve robotics. He told Daily Mail, “Generative AI is going to be absolutely transformative for the two problems we currently have with robots.”
“They are quite dumb, and they don’t always understand what we want,” Strakhov explained. Also, he claimed large language models like GPT-4 are great at complex reasoning.
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Applying them would enable ChatGPT robots to “act much more dynamically, respond to the environment changes, and plan ahead.” As a result, they can “think through” ways to solve problems.
Strakhov believes AI would enable us to control robots by talking to them. For example, tell a robot to “Find out where I can warm up my lunch.” In response, it will point to a nearby microwave oven.
The NEO robot will enable AI researchers to develop such features. More importantly, experts suggested 1X robots could replace manual labor roles like nursing workers.
What are tech projects similar to ChatGPT robots?
Companies had been developing androids before OpenAI tried to merge ChatGPT and robots. For example, Boston Dynamics has been creating human-like machines for many years.
In January 2023, it shared a video demo of its robot working at a construction site. An employee asked the Atlas bot to hand over his tools. In response, the robot navigated through the scaffolds and planks strewn in the area. It crossed a gap by turning a wooden board into a makeshift bridge.
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It climbed to the worker to give his tools. Then, Atlas descended from the platform by backflipping to the ground. Which one will publicly deploy first, Atlas or ChatGPT robots?
Perhaps Elon Musk will lead the consumer robotics revolution with his Optimus Tesla bot. He said his company is developing a humanoid robot to perform household chores. He believed people worldwide would have such androids in their homes. Also, perhaps Musk will deploy his robots beyond households.
Conclusion
OpenAI invested heavily in a Norwegian robotics company called 1X. It will facilitate the development and manufacture of ChatGPT robots EVE and NEO.
Both companies have not confirmed when they will offer these robots to consumers at the time of writing. Still, we could expect its launch to come soon.
After all, AI chatbots have been progressing rapidly following ChatGPT’s launch. Keep up by learning about the latest trends in artificial intelligence and more at Inquirer Tech.