It seems that people have not yet grasped the essence of the matter. Androids are no longer the stuff of science fiction movies, they are real. And it's not me saying it, but Paul Pallaghy, Doctor of Philosophy, in a recent article. According to him, by 2026 "commercial" androids will already be among us. Hard to believe, but there's more.
And there's more: a few more years, from 2030 onwards, androids will no longer be an exception: we will find them everywhere. And most importantly, they will be much more useful than industrial robots.
Androids? But what, really?
Androids represent a radical change in the way we see technology. I'll set aside Mr. Pallaghy's predictions for a moment: I'm going there with leaden feet, for me the mere fact that they are achievable is an epochal fact.
And I am. Thanks to advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generative technologies like ChatGPT and MidJourney, the necessary and sufficient basis for developing "pet androids" exists.
Will Tesla cross the finish line first?
During an event last May 2023 (and even earlier, on Investor Day in March), Tesla showed its "Optimus", an anthropomorphic robot. In its latest update, the Teslabot:
- Walk steadily;
- Does not collide with objects;
- Wander around Tesla factories and grounds;
- Collects items;
- Use tools.
And unlike industrial robots, it doesn't require expensive, time-consuming programming or setup by experts. A promising start, which for some is perhaps a source of easy enthusiasm.
Cala, Trinchetto
Impressed by the good debut of the "new androids" with artificial intelligence, Pallaghy lets himself go. He even predicts that androids will significantly outnumber industrial robots, which will be as many as 100 times as many by 2035. And within a few years we could have billions of androids.
Waiters at the restaurant, receptionist in hotel, assistants of elderly and disabled, and who knows what else. I believe it, I just don't agree with the timing.
Considering the production processes that androids would involve, energy autonomy and raw materials (I said right three of the many factors involved) for me there is still a little missing. Maybe twenty years. Maybe more.
For me, to think that within 3 years we will have something ready for the market, and within 10 years androids will start to be as widespread as smartphones is beyond reality.
Then maybe Sarah Connor arrives and denies me, but for now I think Teslabot and the like will still have to do a lot of apprenticeship.
What do you think about it?
