In this era of rapid AI advancement, we have to admit that the "humanization" process of robots is accelerating. Boston Dynamics' latest Atlas humanoid robot surprised us – not only is it human-looking, but it's also very agile to the point of being "terrifying". Looking at its vigorous and powerful ability to carry car parts, we can't help but ask: is this robot imitating humans, or is humans imitating it?
Boston Dynamics Atlas humanoid robot
Boston Dynamics can be described as an "old powerhouse" in the field of robotics. As the world's leading robotics company, it has been pioneering and innovating at the forefront of robotics technology. And the Atlas humanoid robot is undoubtedly its latest masterpiece.
Let's take a look at the "human" form factor of the Atlas. It has two slender and powerful "legs", a pair of "arms" and even "palms", and even the "head" is designed to be quite humane. If you dress it, I'm afraid that many people will think it's a real person, but I appreciate the smooth and natural movement of it.
In the latest technology demonstration, the Atlas demonstrated an impressive "handling" ability. Not only can it easily handle bulky parts such as car engines, but it can also handle entire cars. Watching its vigorous "handling show" in the workshop, we can't help but think of the old saying: "If only there was such a robot at home!"
Humanity will be replaced with worries
The appearance of the Atlas humanoid robot also made us feel a little "frightened". Robotics is evolving rapidly, and their capabilities are constantly being expanded and enhanced, raising fears that they will one day be completely replaced by robots.
We all know that during the Industrial Revolution, machines replaced a lot of manual labor, resulting in many workers being laid off and unemployed. Nowadays, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, robots can not only be competent for manual labor, but also gradually replace mental labor positions.
For example, there are reports that the level of AI writing has surpassed that of ordinary writers, and in the future, even me, a tech writer, may not escape the fate of being replaced. What's even more "terrifying" is that if there are humanoid robots, those compound jobs that require both physical strength and intelligence seem to exist in name only.
Therefore, when we see the Atlas humanoid robot, in addition to marveling at its "human" performance, it is inevitable that a trace of worry about the "human-machine war" will arise in our hearts.
The future of human-machine coexistence
We should also not be too pessimistic about the development of robots. Humans and robots are not in a relationship of "kinship or hatred", on the contrary, they are supposed to be "good helpers" of humans.
Imagine if we had an Atlas humanoid robot in our home, which would not only help us carry heavy loads, but also assist us with all kinds of complex household chores. We no longer have to worry about moving and cleaning, and we can put more energy into work and life.
In some special high-risk industries, the intervention of robots can also greatly reduce the intensity of human work. For example, in industries such as fire rescue and exploration and mining, we can dispatch Atlas humanoid robots to perform some high-risk tasks, so as to protect human lives to the greatest extent.
As long as we redefine the value of human beings and establish a new cooperation model on the basis of the division of labor between humans and machines, humans and robots will be able to coexist harmoniously and create a better future together.
Throughout history, every scientific and technological revolution has been accompanied by "horror" and "panic", but in the end, mankind has still braved the wind and waves and sailed away. I firmly believe that in this wave of AI, as long as we embrace change with an open and inclusive attitude, man and machine will be able to leverage each other's strengths, integrate and develop, and jointly write a wonderful era of intelligence.
A new model of human-machine coexistence
The key to achieving the harmonious coexistence of man and machine is to establish a new cooperation model. In this model, humans and robots will no longer have a master-slave relationship, but equal "partners".
Imagine a future where a project team is made up of both human and robot members, each with their own roles and working together. Humans are responsible for making suggestions and controlling the overall situation, while robots are responsible for performing specific operational tasks.
On a construction site, for example, a human engineer develops the overall plan, while an Atlas humanoid robot does the actual handling and construction work. At the rescue site, the human commander coordinates and coordinates, while the robot plays the role of reconnaissance and transportation.
In this cooperation mode, the advantages of both man and machine will be fully utilized. Human creativity, judgment and decision-making will become indispensable core values, and robots will empower humans with their excellent execution and become powerful assistants.
The establishment of this new model does not happen overnight, it requires continuous run-in and learning between humans and robots. For example, humans need to learn how to command robots efficiently, and robots need to continuously improve their ability to learn and judge autonomously in order to better understand human intentions.
However, as long as both sides have an open and inclusive mind, I believe that the best way to cooperate between man and machine will be able to create a new era of intelligence.
We can see that human attitudes towards robots are changing dramatically. From the initial "horror" and "panic", to the later "appreciation" and "acceptance", and now to the current "cooperation" and "coexistence", human cognition of robots is constantly deepening and sublimating.
At the heart of this change is the gradual realization of the value of robots. They are not meant to replace human beings, but to become "good helpers" for human beings, helping us to better exert our subjective initiative to create a better future.
In the face of the AI wave, we do not need to be afraid and resist, on the contrary, we should have an open and inclusive mind, actively embrace robots, and establish a new type of cooperative relationship with them. Only the integration of man and machine can make science and technology truly available to mankind and help us move towards a higher stage of civilization.
I would also like to thank Boston Dynamics for constantly pushing the boundaries and allowing us to witness the "amazing" performance of the Atlas humanoid robot. I believe that in the near future, we will definitely see more "humanized" robots coming out, adding more imagination to the road of human-machine coexistence.