In recent news, a ‘humanoid AI-powered robot’ has captured the attention of social media, leaving users intrigued and somewhat unsettled.
Many of us recall watching films like the 2014 release Ex Machina or the 2015 TV series Humans, perhaps dismissing the notion of such technology becoming reality anytime soon.
If Elon Musk’s Optimus robot seemed a bit too realistic, hold your breath for the latest creation from Realbotix, an AI robot that has entered the scene.
The Realbotix website showcases a variety of ‘modular AI-enabled robots,’ describing its product as “a modular, conversational robot designed for ultimate customization.”
“Whether you choose from our pre-created characters or opt for a fully customized humanoid, Realbotix offers a robot tailored to your exact specifications,” the site explains.
Realbotix’s YouTube channel elaborates: “Through our patented technologies and proprietary companionship-based AI, we combine lifelike aesthetics and movements with advanced engineering to create meaningful human-robot interactions, enhancing the human experience through connection, learning, and play.”
The robots available include options like a ‘bust,’ a ‘paneled body,’ and a ‘full-bodied robot,’ with prices ranging from $10,000 to well over $200,000.
During the CES event in Las Vegas, Chief Executive Andrew Kiguel introduced the female companion model Aria.
“This is our flagship humanoid AI-powered robot. She’s highly realistic, she has her own social media so she may be competing with you one day. What makes her really special is you can talk to her and ask questions,” he said, according to The Express.
“Some of our peers in the robotics space make robots to replace human labour. We think that’s a great area but we think there’s a much bigger area in having social robots,” Kiguel added.
The introduction of these robots has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media.
One Twitter user remarked, “How people are so comfortable around these is crazy to me. Sh*t is lowkey creepy.”
Another user commented, “This makes me feel so uncomfortable.”
Someone else declared, “If this becomes a widespread consumer product, I’m moving to the mountains in isolation. Just weird man.”
UNILAD has reached out to Realbotix for further comment.
Kiguel, however, noted that the robots are also intended to address a ‘huge epidemic’ of loneliness ‘among adults and teenagers’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3MpHO8xcIk
He stated that the robot can be ‘programmed to know you and learn more about you,’ fostering a ‘bond’ that ‘feels like a genuine human condition’.
“They don’t have the ability to clean the house, they don’t do physical labour,” the chief executive clarified. “But they’re more there to converse with you, it’s companionship. They can actually even be a boyfriend or a girlfriend, so we have built that into our AI.”
What are your thoughts on this development?