When it comes to robots, most people imagine androids from Detroit: Become Human or Blade Runner 2049. We are used to thinking that robots are a technology of the distant future that will only appear in science fiction movies and TV shows in the next few decades.
But in fact, robots are already here. A mechanical arm on the assembly line, an automatic vacuum cleaner in your home, and an electric car with autopilot are robots. They are not particularly clever yet, but this situation may change very soon. Let's figure out how the world will change when humanity gives robots artificial intelligence (AI).
Where will robots come from?
Currently, the main application of the new technology is assembly lines. Complex mechanisms do monotonous work — physically difficult, boring and not requiring special intellectual activity. But the last point could change with the advent of AI. By empowering robots to make decisions, we can entrust them with more complex tasks, including quality control, repairing worn parts and maintaining units.
Experts also say that in the next 20-25 years, robots will appear in the following areas:
- Construction. Construction robots will look like giant 3D printers with guides that look like crane arrows. They will pour concrete with powerful pumps and lay bricks with manipulators.
- Agriculture. Remote control systems for tractors, combines and other equipment are already being actively tested by large enterprises. The introduction of artificial intelligence will allow them to operate autonomously, exploring the area using satellites, drones and built-in sensors. AI will help you avoid obstacles and choose the optimal processing settings for each square meter of land.
- Medicine. Robots are already assisting surgeons by performing basic procedures. Having received artificial intelligence, they will be able to assess the consequences of each decision made and choose the best intervention in a matter of seconds or even a split second — much faster than a person.
- delivery. Fleets of fully autonomous trucks and drones could appear on roads and in the sky before 2035. It is possible that at one point people will simply be banned from driving for safety reasons. This is an efficient and safe, but emotionless future — most likely, special tracks for driving in it will be entertainment similar to today's water parks.
- Social work. In many countries, 2 to 5 social workers care for one person in need of support. This is humane but not very productive. Using robots could be a human solution to the problem. Complex machines with generative artificial intelligence can monitor a patient's health, bring medicines and food, call for help, and even entertain them with casual conversations. And the longer a person uses AI, the better they will adapt to their needs and characteristics.
How will robot use scenarios change?
Today's robot is a soulless piece of hardware that performs actions according to an algorithm predetermined in it. Even when writing the most complex program, there will come a point when it stalls and shuts down. Because of this, we have to read headlines like “Two robots collided at the exhibition” or “The conveyor was idle for a day and a half because of a speck of dust on the sensor”.
Artificial intelligence is a completely different phenomenon. It allows the machine to simulate human thinking and make decisions on the go, independently changing its software algorithms. This allows intelligent robots to be used in the following scenarios:
- In mixed working groups. Imagine a team made up of humans and robots. In construction, specialists can take care of design, and machines can take care of execution. In marketing, people will generate creatives, and robots will test ideas and do analytics. Convenient, efficient and affordable!
- In adaptive living and working spaces. Let's take one day as an example. In the kitchen, you will find coffee heated to the ideal temperature, and in the dressing room you will find an ironed suit that matches today's daily routine. In the office, the robot adjusts the air conditioner and maintains the computer, while in the car, it takes control and reports the latest news. Agree, it's cool to have such smart and executive assistants.
- In an adaptive urban environment. Robots can switch power lines, repair infrastructure, and manage traffic flows. Thanks to AI, they are able to make decisions in real time, creating a comfortable environment for everyone without exception.
- Under extreme conditions. Humans cannot survive at the poles of our planet, in outer space, deep under water and in the stratosphere. On the other hand, robots can work in all these places — collecting valuable resources, carrying out scientific research, observing the environment and signaling danger. In extreme conditions, self-replicating systems will be useful — robots that assemble and repair other robots, selecting their optimal configuration depending on current goals.
- In virtual reality. Even the most expensive and advanced VR systems today have limited feedback. If you introduce intelligent robots into them, you will be able to feel the touch of virtual objects, which will make them much more realistic. There are already technologies that make it possible to simulate the sensations of different textures using weak electrical signals. This is a new word in both entertainment and learning.
How exactly will robots change our future?
Predictions, dreams and assumptions are good and interesting. But the reality is more prosaic: the degree of robotization of our future depends on how productive these intelligent machines will be. We have selected statistics that clearly demonstrate the results of the use of new technologies:
- explorations MIT Sloan They show that in professional professions, one robot can replace 6 people. In engineering specialties, where a lot depends on experience and professional intuition, this ratio is lower — 1:4. And in creative areas, where robots are not yet able to completely replace humans, they increase productivity by an average of 40%.
- According to data International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the use of artificial intelligence in software increases machine productivity by 31%. At the same time, leading technology companies are already adapting new software to past generations of robots, which makes it possible to obtain this effect with minimal investment, significantly increasing the level of profitability.
- National Bureau of Economic Research The US claims that the use of robots in retail and service industries reduces the time spent servicing one customer by 9%. Artificial intelligence quickly determines customer needs and selects suitable products for them. This increases the level of satisfaction with the service and increases the capacity of stores and offices.
- Professionals Stanford University We found that so-called co-bots (collaborative robots that work in the same team as people) not only take on some of the tasks, but also increase employee productivity by 9.1%. Such machines optimize the use of time by adapting all processes to people's needs and working style.
- Same Stanford University reports that the share of automated operations in Chinese industry has exceeded 50%. This became possible due to the massive introduction of artificial intelligence, which makes it possible to perform complex tasks without human intervention. In other countries, this figure ranges from 5 to 35%.
One of the non-obvious effects of the introduction of artificial intelligence into robotics is the return of industries to high-income countries, the creation of new jobs and the recovery of economies. Contrary to popular belief, robotization does not destroy jobs, but creates them: due to lower costs, new enterprises are opened, production volumes are increased and costs are reduced. Robots are not destroying humanity, they are saving it and helping it move towards prosperity.
One step closer to your dream
Combining robotics with artificial intelligence could be a new technological revolution that will change humanity in the coming decades. It will help increase the productivity of performing important tasks on Earth and in space, in production and services, in urban space management and social work.
Artificial intelligence is not the future; it is our reality. You can already see its positive effect today. StartDuck will help you find ideal ways to implement it in digital marketing, retail, SaaS, and other areas. Do you want a comprehensive solution? Contact us to discuss all the details of this promising project!
