AI ROBOTS Are Becoming TOO REAL! - Shocking AI & Robotics 2024 Updates #2

A rundown of 2024's biggest AI and robotics breakthroughs, from brain-on-a-chip systems to humanoid robots backed by OpenAI and Nvidia. Skilled AI just raised $300M, while defense contractors are building armed quadrupeds and remote weapon stations. The tech is moving fast and the stakes are getting real.
Chapters
Over the past six months, the world of AI robotics has exploded with groundbreaking advancements. And today we're diving into the most incredible updates. If you remember, our first video covering advancements in the first half of 2024 was a massive hit with over 2 million views. And now it's time for part two. From robots with human like brains and real muscles to upgrades in well known names like a mecha and figure two, there's so much to cover and today I've got a special guest joining me for the intro.
Hey everyone, it's so great to be back. I know I've been away for a while, but I'm fully back now and I can't wait to bring you fresh content and new videos on my channel. But for now, I'm here to help kick off this exciting video with all the amazing updates coming out of the AI robotics world.
We'll look at robots that get smarter with every move they make. Just trying to keep up with me, I guess. Then we'll explore the first water powered AI humanoid and even touch on fully autonomous robots like the new atlas. Plus we'll uncover shocking developments in synthetic AI humans and discuss what this means for the future of robotics, including updates from Tesla's Optimus and even some unexpected innovations inspired by nature.
And trust me, it's going to be amazing. I'm excited for what's ahead both in this video and back on my channel. So stay, stay tuned for my new content. You won't want to miss it.
It's a packed lineup of jaw dropping progress. Let's get started. Alright guys, let's talk about the insane pace of AI and robotics development. Lately it's been moving fast, real fast. But what's happening in China right now is on a whole other level. They've created an AI robot that's unlike anything we've seen before. And trust me, when I first heard about this, my mind was blown. Let's cut to the chase. Cut to the chase. This isn't your average robot with a silicon brain. Nah. These mad scientists have gone and given it a brain made from actual living cells. You're not mishearing me. We're talking about a robot with a partially biological brain. They've crossed a line that many thought was uncrossable, redefining the very essence of artificial intelligence. Now, before you start picturing some kind of cyborg monstrosity, let me paint you a clearer picture. They're calling this thing a brain on a chip. Sounds pretty futuristic, right? Well, it kinda is. Instead of relying on traditional Computer circuits. These researchers have grown teeny tiny brain cells in a lab and plopped them onto a microchip. With surgical precision, they've transplanted the essence of human cognition into the cold heart of a machine, kickstarting a whole new era of smart machines. But here's where it gets really trippy. Our brains, right, they're these complex networks of neurons all firing and connecting. Somehow these absolute geniuses have managed to recreate that on this tiny chip. Now let's rewind a bit and talk about how they actually pulled this off. It all starts with stem cells. The superheroes of the cell world. These little guys can transform into pretty much any cell in your body. It's like cellular shape shifting. So these scientists took these stem cells and essentially said, today you're going to be brain cells. And somehow they actually managed to do it. They coaxed these cells into growing into this intricate network of brain cells, mimicking what you'd find in a human brain. Then, in a move that probably made every sci fi writer jealous, they stuck this cellular brain onto a special microchip. And just like that, robot brain. Now, you might be thinking, this is cool and all, but why should we care? Well, let me tell you, this is a game changer. Most AI we deal with today is based on computer programs, right? It's all coded and pre programmed. But this is a whole different ball game. This robot can actually learn and adapt like a living creature. It's not just following a set of instructions. It's experiencing things and changing based on what it learns. It's closer to how our brains work than any AI we've seen before. It's beautiful. You have to guess. What's it look like? Like it's thinking. The implications of this are huge. Just take a second to consider the possibilities. Think about how this could revolutionize our understanding of the brain itself. Artificial intelligence. By studying these lab grown brain networks, we might uncover new ways to tackle neurological diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. It's not just cool science, it's potentially life changing stuff. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. This tech, as amazing as it is, also opens up a whole can of worms when it comes to ethics. We're entering uncharted territory here. At what point does a robot with a living brain become, well, alive? It's not just a philosophical question anymore. It's something we might actually have to grapple with in the near future. Now I can almost hear some of you freaking out. Skynet, anyone? Are we on the brink of a Robot uprising. Relax, we're not quite there yet. This is still early days and there's a lot of work to be done before we see this tech out in the wild. But it does mean we need to start having serious conversations about the implications of this technology. The thing is, this isn't just about creating smarter machines. It's about blurring the lines between artificial and biological intelligence. We're talking about a future where the boundaries between AI and biotechnology start to disappear. It's exciting, it's a little scary, and it's definitely going to change the world as we know it. But here's the thing. With all this potential comes a huge responsibility. Are you afraid that I'm going to turn into some kind of criminal? Quit worrying about me, okay? We're not just talking about technological advancement here. We're talking about potentially redefining what it means to be alive, to be conscious. These are big, heavy concepts that we as a society need to wrestle with. But that's the nature of progress, isn't pushes us out of our comfort zones, forces us to confront new realities. And while it can be daunting, it's also incredibly exciting. Now interestingly, Jeff Bezos and Softbank have invested a staggering $300 million in a startup called Skilled AI. Now it seems these folks aren't going for the whole lab grown human cells, brain in a robot thing instead of they're aiming to build a full on artificial brain from the ground up. They say they're pioneering what they call a robot brain, which is about crafting a general purpose AI brain that can be installed in any robot, making it capable of performing complex and varied tasks without needing specific programming for each task. Skilled AI, led by some brilliant minds from Carnegie Mellon, envisions a future where robots can handle adverse physical conditions or perform dexterous manipulations in industrial and household environments. They're pushing the envelope towards developing artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which aims to achieve human like intelligence in robots. Now there's actually another breakthrough in robotics, maybe not as crazy as human brains in robots, but still pretty wild. And Indian companies just jumped into the robot game and they're not messing around. So Zen Technologies and their partner AI Turing Technologies have cooked up this four legged robot, they're calling it Prahasta, is apparently some badass warrior from Hindu mythology. And let me tell you, this thing's no joke, a robot dog. But instead of fetching your slippers, it's carrying an assault rifle. Yeah, this isn't Boston Dynamics parkour bot. This thing's built for Defense. Now Prahasta's got some seriously cool tech under the hood. It uses something called lidar, which, which is like radar but with lasers to scan its surroundings. And it's got AI that helps it understand the terrain and plan missions. These guys released a video showing off what Prahasta can do and it's pretty impressive. This robot's climbing stairs like it's nothing. With a gun strapped to its back. It's hopping over obstacles and gaps like some kind of mechanical gazelle. And get this, they say it can even pick up a fully grown adult. I'm talking about a robot dog that can fireman carry a 180 pound person which could be potentially life saving in dangerous situations. If this robot gets knocked over, it can get right back up on its own. They're calling it Auto Resurrection, which sounds pretty dramatic, but when you see it in action, it's hard not to be impressed. Now they've also unveiled barbaric URCWs. It's basically a remote controlled weapons station that they're claiming is the lightest in the world. And it's not just for land. They're saying it can be used on ships too. The folks at Xen are pretty hyped about all this. Their big boss, Ashok Atluri is talking about how these robots are going to change the game for defense operations. He thinks this is going to make people sit up and take notice of how important robotics could be in combat and recon missions. It's worth noting that Xen's not new to this game. They've been in the defense tech business for a while, making things like anti drone systems and combat simulators. In fact, they've shipped out over a thousand simulators and training systems worldwide. So what does all this mean? Well, we're looking at a future where robots aren't just in factories or delivering packages. We're talking about robots that could be on the front lines. But of course, just like with the brainchip robots, this raises some big questions. How much autonomy should we give to armed robots? What are the ethical implications of using AI in defense? These are heavy topics we're going to have to wrestle with as this tech keeps advancing. A brand new humanoid robot called figure02 just got the Internet's attention. It is backed by OpenAI and some other huge names in tech like Nvidia, Microsoft and even Jeff Bezos private fund. So yeah, it's pretty big. Alright, so let's get into it. Figure the company behind this robot just dropped a teaser video for their Latest model. Figure O2. The video is short, like seriously short, but it's packed with some really interesting details if you look closely. So let's check out the video first and then I'll break down everything you need to know. Sam. Alright, so we see some robotic joints, limbs, and these futuristic looking flexible mesh designs that are probably part of the robot's body. And if you're into specs, they even tease torquey ratings up to 150 newton meters to break it down. That's basically a measure of how much force the robot can exert when it's moving something. There's also something about a ROM or range of motion up to 195 degrees, which is kind of a big deal in the world of robotics. Now, Brett Adcock, the founder of Figure, and this guy's not new to wild tech startups. He's also behind Archer Aviation and Vettery, posted on Twitter, or X as it's called now, that figure 02 is the most advanced humanoid robot on the planet. Bold claim, right? But with the backing they've got, it's hard not to take him seriously. So let's rewind a bit. Figure as a company only started in 2022, which is like yesterday in startup terms, and they've already got a lot of people talking. They came out of nowhere in March 2023 with their first model, figure 01, which was aimed at tackling global labor shortages. The idea is that these robots can step in to do jobs that are unsafe or just plain boring for humans, like working in warehouses, factories and retail. And get this, they built their first full scale humanoid robot in just six months. Six. Six months, people? That's insane. They've got a team of 40 experts, including their CTO, Dr. Jerry Pratt, who's a big name in the robotics world. Their vision is pretty make robots that boost productivity, make workplaces safer. And get this, they've promised they'll never weaponize these robots, so they're really going for that good guy angle. What's also cool is they've already inked a deal with BMW Manufacturing, so we might be seeing these robots in action sooner rather than later. And to top it off, figure 01 had some impressive integration with OpenAI's GPT4V model, which is like the top of the line AI tech right now. Can you explain why you did what you just did while you pick up this trash on it? So I gave you the apple because it's the only edible item I could provide you with from the table. So you can bet Figure 02 will be packing some even newer AI models when it drops on August 6, 2024. Now, Figure isn't the only one in the game. The race to bring AI powered humanoid robots into our homes and workplaces is heating up. You've got Elon Musk out there saying there's going to be a market for over 10 billion. Yes, billion with a B humanoid robots. He's working on his own robot, Tesla Optimus, which is basically going to be a competitor to Figure. And then there's Nvidia, who's been showing off some pretty wild stuff with their Project GR00T, using Apple Vision Pro headsets to help train AI robots through tele operators. Oh, and don't forget Boston Dynamics. Those guys have been in the game for a while and they're working on their own humanoid robot too, upgrading their Atlas model with electric motors to make it cheaper and more reliable. Now, another really interesting development in the world of AI and robotics is coming from a startup called Oxford Dynamics, based in Harwell, Oxfordshire. They're working on a robot called Strider. And this thing is specifically designed to venture into some of the most dangerous environments known to man. We're talking about places where chemical, biological or even nuclear threats are present. Basically situations where you really wouldn't want to send a human. Now, Oxford Dynamics isn't just playing around here. They've already landed a £1 million contract with the UK Ministry of Defense MOD to design, develop and supply these robots. The idea is, instead of risking human lives, why not send in a machine that can handle the job? Mike Lawton, one of the directors at the company, is thinking big. He's talking about building hundreds, maybe even thousands of these Strider robots in the future, all with the goal of making the world a safer place. So we what exactly can Strider do? Well, this robot is pretty versatile. It's got a long multi jointed arm that can take readings, collect samples and retrieve contaminated objects. And it moves around on these tank like treads, which means it's built to handle rough, unpredictable terrain. Think about how tough it would be for a human in a hazmat suit to navigate a place like that. Strider can do it without breaking a sweat. Well, if robots could sweat. The company started working on Strider in November and they've got until September to deliver the finished product to the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory. They're hoping Strider can be used in scenarios like the 2018 Novichok attack in Salisbury, where dealing with contaminated objects was a serious challenge. This robot could SWOOP in, grab those dangerous items and secure them in sealed containers, all while performing tasks that would be really difficult for humans. But Oxford Dynamics isn't stopping there. They're planning to integrate their AI software into Strider and they're calling it avis, which stands for a Very Intelligent system. That sounds a bit like Jarvis from Iron Man. You're spot on. That's exactly what inspired them. Wake up, Daddy. Sham. Welcome home, sir. The possibilities here are endless. Sheffaly Sharma, one of the founders, even mentioned that this tech could be adapted for use in submarines or fighter jets in the future. For these guys, seeing this technology get into the hands of people who truly need it and is the ultimate goal, Fali said it would be a dream come true to see Strider out there making a real difference. And it's not just the startup that's excited. Ewan Davies from defra, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, mentioned in a statement that it's great to see these concepts rapidly turning into a highly capable and flexible platform. So just like Figure is pushing the boundaries of what humanoid robots can do, Oxford Dynamics is showing us how AI and robotics can literally sit save lives by stepping into the most hazardous situations on Earth. It's a thrilling time for technology and it's going to be fascinating to see how both of these projects evolve in the near future. So, yeah, the competition is fierce, but with the kind of momentum Figure has, plus the backing of some of the biggest names in tech, they seem like they're in a really strong position to keep pushing forward. I can't wait to see what.










