In a recent speech at the 2024 World Congress on Innovation and Technology in Armenia, Rev Lebaredian, VP of Omniverse and Simulation Technology at Nvidia, made a bold prediction: AI-powered humanoid robots could soon become as commonplace as smartphones in our daily lives.
Lebaredian emphasized the importance of the humanoid form factor in robotics, arguing that it's crucial for these machines to coexist in a world built for humans. He explained that our current infrastructure - from factories and warehouses to offices and hospitals - is designed for human movement and activity. Rather than rebuilding our entire world to accommodate different robot designs, it makes more sense to create robots that can navigate our existing spaces.
While specialized robots will still have their place, Lebaredian believes humanoid robots will offer unparalleled versatility. These robots could potentially stock shelves in retail stores, handle logistics in warehouses, or even assist in complex medical procedures like surgeries.
The Nvidia executive pointed out that recent advancements in AI and computing have brought us closer to solving major challenges in robotics, such as balance, walking, and navigation. He described AI as the "missing ingredient" for creating useful, general-purpose robots.
Nvidia's Omniverse platform is already being used to train these robots in highly accurate simulations before they're deployed in the real world. Once in operation, these robots continue to learn and adapt to their surroundings.
Lebaredian also predicted a rapid decrease in the cost of developing humanoid robots, comparing it to the price trajectory of smartphones. This cost reduction could lead to widespread deployment across various industries in a matter of years, not decades.
The potential implications of this technology are vast. In healthcare, humanoid robots could assist with surgeries requiring fine motor skills. In manufacturing and logistics, they could help address labor shortages and increase automation.
As businesses have eagerly adopted AI technologies in recent years, Lebaredian hopes this enthusiasm will extend to the integration of robotics and AI in physical environments. If his predictions hold true, we may soon find ourselves working and living alongside humanoid robots sooner than we ever imagined.