What is High-Tech Artificial Intelligence Robots? Explained

The field of high-tech artificial intelligence robots is an exciting topic in research. It’s also a heavy influence in cyberpunk and sci-fi media.

Many believe it’s certain that intelligent robots will be a part of our daily lives in the future. In healthcare, in education, and even in our own homes.

In this article we’re going to talk about:

1. What is artificial intelligence and robotics?
2. What abilities do high-tech artificial intelligence robots need to have?
3. And how will futuristic AI robots look like?
Topics covered

1. What is artificial intelligence and robotics?

Here's a Roundup of All the Super Bowl Ads About Robots and AI — Futuristic AI robot – From a Super Bowl Ad

Artificial Intelligence & Human Mind

The term artificial intelligence has been thrown around for more than a decade now. But it can be hard to grasp what exactly AI is and how one could go about creating it.

It doesn’t help that there are a lot of different definitions of the term AI as well.

However to describe it as easily as possible…

The goal of artificial intelligence is to recreate the human mind and thought processes in a man-made machine.

In a goal vision, AI machines may have developed all the abilities we have or perhaps even surpass us in one or all areas. (This has already happened with chess, and the ability to handle large amounts of data).

That goal entails creating machines that have the abilities humans have such as:

Ability to learn new things
Use language and communicate
Formulate creative and original ideas
Social interactions

But, it’s a whole research field in itself to answer the following questions: What is human intelligence, and what makes us what we are?

Those are the types of questions being researched by cognitive scientists, philosophers, neuroscientists, and data scientists.

In some areas, we have found out quite a bit, such as in answering how our memory works in the brain (biologically with neurons).

But we may also need to answer harder questions such as “What is consciousness?“.

Some may say that consciousness is what makes us human, what makes us truly intelligent.

Book recommendation about consciousness & free will >>

AI & Robotics (Embodiment)

white and black robot toy — High-tech AI robot – Image by Fitore F

Some also argue that human intelligence doesn’t only stem from the ability to draw logical conclusions (e.g. if x, then y). But that it also includes our ability to apply our knowledge to the physical environment.

AI systems, however, have mostly taken the shape of a software program in a computer. They haven’t been able to physically interact with the world.

But, we can combine this software with physical robots.

This enables man-made machines to interact with the world. Either by being controlled by an external device or by being controlled by something embedded. Such as software.

A robot gives an AI program embodiment = A tangible and visual form with which the program can interact with the physical world.

When we view AI and robotics in this way, it’s clear how we may need to give AI programs physical embodiment. It would allow them to act as we humans are capable of.

And so, there’s a high likelihood that high-tech artificial intelligence robots in the future will be walking around in physical shapes.

Bonus: Video by Boston Dynamics of an AI robot embodied

Boston Dynamics

2. What abilities should high-tech artificial intelligence robots have?

As mentioned in the section above, the goal is to create artificial intelligence that can match, or surpass human abilities.

A few of the most important abilities that a high-tech AI robot would need to have would be

The ability to solve problems
Being able to learn new things from inputs
Social interactions (possibly)

Problem solving

Solving problems is a complex issue. But of course, it also depends on the specific problem and the difficulty level.

Modern AI robots can solve math problems on their own. But they don’t have the ability to solve societal issues such as “How can we decrease domestic violence?”.

To solve a problem, the AI robot need to be able to…

Gather input
Compare data
Understand what the data signifies – draw knowledge from the information
Predict which action will provide the most satisfactory result

More advanced versions of AI robots would in the future also need to be able to solve problems that it hasn’t been programmed to solve.

This is called the ability of generalization.

AI programs needs to be able to identify what the problem is, and be able to apply its analytical abilities to any problem area.

We humans have a great ability to generalize your knowledge and problem solving abilities.

Learning

Learning is another big field being researched.

Some modern AI robots have the ability to learn limited things. For example learning and recognizing if a certain action they perform gives the desired result.

For example:

A modern robot can be programmed to successfully move itself from a starting location to a goal destination.
But, there may be a few obstacles blocking its way.
The AI robot, therefore, needs to try a bunch of different paths.
It then learns at least one path that takes it to the goal destination.
And now the AI robot has learned a new way to solve this problem.
The robot can then store that information to be used again at a later point.

In the future, however, high-tech artificial intelligence robots will need to be able to absorb much more information. But they will also need to be able to learn from more contexts and sources. And they’ll need to be able to use that knowledge to solve problems, even in new areas.

They also may need to be able to communicate with each other and humans in order to transfer useful information to solve problems (teamwork).

Social Interaction

photo of girl laying left hand on white digital robot — AI Robot Social Interaction – Image by Andy Kelly

Futuristic artificial intelligence robots may also be programmed to learn social interactions.

It can be argued that a part of human intelligence is our communication and ability to interact with each other.

Interaction helps us collaborate, learn, and improve.

Work on robotics social interactions has already started, for example, Kismet, the robot at M.I.T’s Artificial intelligence Lab.

Kismet can recognize humans’ body language and voice inflections. And itt can then respond accordingly.

3. How will futuristic AI robots look like?

Perhaps like humans?

One way the aesthetics of high-tech artificial intelligence robots could go towards areas close to human looks as possible.

This could be a good idea if we are looking to truly recreate human minds as well as if we want AI robots to live among humans as equals.

Westworld Series (SHOW SPOLIER ALERT!)

In the Westworld tv-series, there are AI robots that have been designed to look and act exactly like humans. They even have real emotions and consciousness as we do.

And that’s leads to some interesting questions in itself:

If future AI robots gain consciousness and emotions as we humans have, dothey not deserve the same rights as we do?
And is it even ethical to create robots in that way?

High-tech Artificial Intelligence Robot by Oliver Wetter

The uncanny valley

… the uncanny valley is a hypothesized relationship between the degree of an object’s resemblance to a human being and the emotional response to such an object. The concept suggests that humanoid objects which imperfectly resemble actual human beings provoke uncanny or strangely familiar feelings of eeriness and revulsion in observers.
Wikipedia

There is a phenomenon called the uncanny valley.

The uncanny valley states how humans get an eery feeling when something that is not human, visually resembles humans.

For example: when a robot looks too much like a human. This could be a real issue in regards to how AI robots should be designed.

If we can’t create robots that look exactly like humans, it may be a good idea to go the other way…

Visually distinct from humans

It is also possible that futuristic AI robots won’t be designed to look like humans.

Japanese robots, for example, have been known for the past few years to not look like humans, but as cute toys.

See some examples below.

robot standing near luggage bags — Japanese Robot – Image by Lukas

Softbank Pepper robot is fighting the coronavirus in Japan and Germany - Business Insider — Robots being used to combat coronavirus in Japan

Movies with high-tech artificial intelligence robots

If you’re interested in seeing more about how futuristic AI robots may look, act, and be a part of society, you may be interested in watching the movies/series in the list below.