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Skin Suits for Robots, DIY AIs, and Sony's New XR Play

Author

Abby Bradeen
July 02, 2024

Humanoid Robots

Grinning Tissuey Robots - Enough to Make Your Skin Crawl

Image source: arstechnica

Living Skin for Machines: Some of the top minds from the University of Tokyo, Harvard, and the International Research Center for Neurointelligence have developed living skin suits for robots. Personally, we’re glad that the world’s geniuses are devoting themselves to solving the issue of ugly robots – there couldn’t be anything more pressing than giving machines a makeover. The robot covering, made from juvenile foreskin, is an attempt to make robots more lifelike as they enter our social order, with regenerative living tissue allowing them to express the emotions necessary for interaction. Researchers also believe that this technology could be used for cosmetic and orthopedic surgeries, as it provides new insights into the mechanisms behind facial expressions.

The researchers aim to make robots more approachable, thereby “improv(ing) human-robot communications.” Elon Musk makes similar claims, believing that a pleasing outward appearance will “encourage people to welcome androids into their homes and businesses.” In order to demonstrate their findings, the aforementioned researchers created a small robot face with the ability to smile (pictured above). And while the thing won’t be winning any pageants any time soon, it is still a noteworthy development in robotics.

Now, at least when robots replace hard working humans in industries everywhere, the formerly employed can see a friendly (if friendly is another word for freaky) face as they say sayonara to their livelihoods. Alright, enough with the doom and gloom. Musk’s predictions for humanoid robots actually sound kind of nice, as long as you don’t get any satisfaction from playing with your kids, cooking for your family, or walking your dog.

While big boys like Amazon are already making the shift toward robot warehouse workers, Musk predicts that conglomerates, small businesses, and home-makers alike will benefit from humanoid robots in the near future; anticipating that the Optimus androids will bring Tesla to a whopping $25 trillion market cap someday.

Will you be bringing in some extra robot hands to help with the daily grind? Share your thoughts in the Reality Bytes Linkedin group HERE!

Spatial Computing

Get Lost, Four Eyes. We Don’t Need Headsets for XR.

Sony’s New Spatial Reality Displays: AWE 2024 saw some incredible announcements, including the unveiling of Sony’s latest spatial reality displays. The ELF-SR1 and ELF-SR2 allow users to see and interact with 3D content without requiring headsets, providing an unobstructed and immersive experience free from the pitfalls of AR/VR HMDs.

These displays facilitate a range of professional workflows, including content creation, design, and visualization. Additionally, the displays promote new levels of collaboration and efficiency by integrating with echo3D, allowing users to easily manage, optimize, and share 3D assets.

This launch is an important milestone in the spatial computing sector, as it unlocks the power of XR for a wide array of industries without playing the notoriously gimmicky smart glasses game. By avoiding the hardware hurdles traditionally associated with XR technology, Sony opens up new possibilities for businesses to leverage 3D visualization in their daily operations, driving innovation and efficiency across diverse sectors. Here are some examples:

  • Architecture and Construction: Create and visualize detailed 3D models of buildings, enabling teams to explore and modify designs collaboratively.

  • Automotive: Prototype and test vehicle components in a 3D space, enhancing precision and speeding up the design process.

  • Healthcare: Facilitate advanced medical training and surgical planning with lifelike 3D visualizations of anatomical structures.

  • Retail and Marketing: Develop immersive product demonstrations and virtual showrooms to boost customer engagement.

  • Real Estate: Provide immersive 3D tours of properties, allowing potential buyers to explore homes without being physically present.

Regardless of whether or not you’re buying the ELF-SR displays, Sony’s launch proves one thing: XR holds incredible potential for the future of work, and business leaders would be wise to start incorporating the technology into marketing strategies and workflows. 

AI

Build-A-Bot: DIY AIs

User-Generated AI Characters:  Character.ai is a platform that allows users to create their own AI characters, with specific personality traits, values, and specialties. From Elon Musk and Albert Einstein bots to creative writing assistants and AI psychologists, users have created a world of customized AI helpers to meet the information needs of consumers the world over. The platform effectively democratizes AI technology, allowing anyone and everyone to create a personalized bot tailored to their preferences.

The company recently launched a new voice call feature, that allows users to have real time phone conversations with these AI characters using over 1 million community-created voices. The AI can adapt their pitch, tone, accent, and language, offering a wide range of creative applications both professionally and recreationally (one of our personal faves is Netflux, a bot that uses your entertainment preferences to make movie/show recommendations).

Here are some potential use cases for business owners:

  • Customer Service Enhancement: AI Characters can handle customer inquiries with a natural conversational flow, providing immediate and consistent responses. This can reduce wait times and free up human agents for more complex issues.

  • Language Training: Utilize AI Characters for interactive language practice. Employees can improve their language skills through engaging, real-time conversations with Characters that can speak in various accents and dialects.

  • Marketing and Sales: Develop interactive marketing campaigns where AI Characters narrate product features, tell brand stories, or guide customers through virtual tours. This can enhance customer engagement and provide a more personalized experience.

  • Employee Training: Create immersive training programs where AI Characters can walk employees through processes, answer questions, and provide feedback in real-time. This can lead to more effective learning experiences and better knowledge retention.

The company’s introduction of voice calls signifies the next big thing for AI platforms - multi-modal interfacing. ChatGPT made recent moves in this direction (as we well know from the infamous ScarJo debacle, featured at the bottom of this post), but delayed the alpha launch for at least a month due to issues with content moderation.

Don’t let us do all the yapping! Share your thoughts on the tech happenings of the world and connect with other like-minded business leaders below!