The future of robotics

Stanford Engineering

17 May 2024

Guest Jeannette Bohg is an expert in robotics who says there is a transformation happening in her field brought on by recent advances in large language models. The LLMs have a certain common sense baked in and robots are using it to plan and to reason as never before. But they still lack low-level sensorimotor control — like the fine skill it takes to turn a doorknob. New models that do for robotic control what LLMs did for language could soon make such skills a reality, Bohg tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast. Episode Reference Links: Jeannette Bogh: WebsiteStanford Profile: WebsiteJeannette's Lab: WebsiteRobotics startup Jeannette discusses: Diligent RoboticsConnect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Russ introduces guest Professor Jeannette Bohg, an expert in robotics from Stanford University. (00:01:58) AI's Impact on Robotics How AI is transforming robotics and the use of AI in high-level planning and reasoning in robotics. (00:04:26) Challenges of Applying Language Models in Robotics The challenges and potential of using large language models for robotic task planning and interaction between humans and robots. (00:07:06) Data Shortages in Robotics The scarcity of training data in robotics compared to other AI fields and its impact on development. (00:10:43) Human-Robot Interaction and Augmentation The potential for robots to augment human capabilities rather than replace them and different approaches to autonomy in robotics. (00:16:41) The Future of Robotic Hardware The current state of robotic hardware, its limitations, and what the future might hold for robotic development. (00:19:53) The Financial and Practical Realities of Robotic Research Cost and maintenance challenges associated with robotic research platforms, as well as practical applications of robotics in everyday life. (00:25:11) Humanoid Robots vs. Practical Robots The practicality and implications of designing robots that mimic human appearance and capabilities. (00:27:55) Future Outlook and Commercial Viability The future outlook for robotic platforms and when they might become commercially available. (00:29:08) Conclusion Connect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.