Humanoid Robot Bubble Imminent: Renowned Roboticist Warns of Industry Crash

Renowned Roboticist Warns of Humanoid Robot Bubble Bursting Rodney Brooks, a pioneering roboticist and co-founder of iRobot, has sounded the alarm on the growing trend of humanoid robot startups. In a recent essay, Brooks expressed skepticism about companies like Tesla and Figure attempting to teach robots dexterity by showing them videos of humans performing tasks. "This approach is pure fantasy thinking," Brooks wrote. "Human hands are incredibly sophisticated, packed with about 17,000 specialized touch receptors that no robot comes close to matching." Brooks' concerns center on the complexity of human touch and the lack of a comparable tradition in robotics. While machine learning has transformed speech recognition and image processing by building on decades of existing technology for capturing relevant data, there is no such foundation for touch data. "The problem is that we don't have a way to capture the subtleties of human touch," Brooks explained in an interview. "We're trying to replicate something that's been honed over millions of years of evolution." Furthermore, Brooks highlights the safety risks associated with full-sized walking humanoid robots. These machines pump massive amounts of energy into staying upright and can be hazardous when they fall. "When a robot twice the size of today's models falls, it will pack eight times the harmful energy," Brooks warned. "We need to rethink our approach to robotics and focus on more practical and safe designs." Brooks predicts that successful humanoid robots in 15 years will abandon their human-like form and instead feature wheels, multiple arms, and specialized sensors. "We're not going to get there by trying to replicate humans," he said. "We'll get there by creating machines that are designed for specific tasks and environments." The essay has sparked debate within the robotics community, with some experts defending the approach of companies like Tesla and Figure. "While Brooks' concerns about safety and touch are valid, we're making progress in areas like machine learning and sensor technology," said Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, a roboticist at MIT. "We need to continue exploring new approaches and not be afraid to take risks." Despite the controversy, Brooks' warnings serve as a reminder of the challenges facing humanoid robot development. As investors pour billions into these startups, it remains to be seen whether they will heed Brooks' advice or continue down the path of trying to replicate human-like robots. Background: Rodney Brooks is a renowned roboticist and co-founder of iRobot, which developed the Roomba vacuum cleaner. He spent decades at MIT, where he was a professor of computer science and artificial intelligence laboratory director. Brooks has written extensively on robotics and AI and has been a vocal critic of the humanoid robot trend. The essay in question is part of a larger discussion about the future of robotics and the need for more practical and safe designs. As the field continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether investors will take Brooks' warnings seriously or continue to bet on humanoid robots. Current Status: Humanoid robot startups like Tesla and Figure are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with machine learning and sensor technology. However, as Brooks points out, these advancements are not yet sufficient to replicate human-like dexterity and safety. Next Developments: As investors continue to pour money into humanoid robot startups, it will be interesting to see whether they heed Brooks' warnings or continue down the path of trying to replicate humans. Meanwhile, researchers like Brooks and Breazeal will continue to explore new approaches and push the boundaries of what is possible with robotics and AI. *Reporting by Techcrunch.*