Sam Altman says smart robots are coming and world is not ready for it
AI has likely started taking over some jobs, something that has potential to transform our lives. But this is just the beginning, or so says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman whose ChatGPT is one key ingredient in this AI disruption. Altman now believes that the world has still not witnessed what smart robots can truly do. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Altman warned that while most people focus on AI replacing desk jobs, a more significant change is around the corner: humanoid robots that will soon be walking down the street.advertisement"I don't think the world has really had the humanoid robot's moment yet," Altman told Bloomberg. "People may have abstractly thought about AI replacing specific tasks like programming or customer support, but the moment when humanoid robots are a common sight will take people by surprise." Altman went on to say that this moment isn't far off, and it will feel like something out of a sci-fi movie. "You'll be walking down the street, and there'll be seven robots walking past you, doing things. It's gonna feel very sci-fi," he added. Altman emphasises that humanoid robots will change the way people perceive work and technology.
Meanwhile, talking about the current disruption in the job sector, Altman acknowledged that "AI is for sure going to change a lot of jobs." However, he noted that the change will happen in two phases: "AI will totally take some jobs away and create a bunch of new ones," he noted.advertisementAltman believes that this disruption is nothing new, pointing out that technology has always brought significant changes to the workforce. However, he also expressed concern that the world is still not prepared for the scale and immediacy of the upcoming technological shifts, particularly the arrival of humanoid robots in everyday life. The idea of humanoid robots entering the workforce might seem like a far-off dream, but as Altman points out, it is closer than many realise."We've always been transparent about what we think the impact of AI will be, realising we'll likely be wrong about some of the details," Altman admitted.Interestingly, OpenAI is actively working on its humanoid robot project. Earlier this year, OpenAI announced its collaboration with Figure AI, a startup focused on developing humanoid robots. As reported by Business Insider, OpenAI signed a deal with Figure AI earlier this year to accelerate the development of humanoid robots designed to assist in various sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail. Figure has already launched its robot, the Figure-01. The company said this humanoid is designed to help solve labour shortages by performing physically demanding jobs. The company also demonstrated the robot operating a coffee machine, a feat which the robot managed to do with the help of AI that learned the task by watching humans. Brett Adcock, Figure's founder and CEO, called the demonstration a milestone in 'end-to-end AI', where a single model learns a complete task autonomously.With advancements in AI and robotics, we could soon find ourselves in a world where robots are not just tools but active participants in daily life. However, Altman warns that the change will come sooner than expected, and the world may not be ready for it. His view is that shift to robots could be more dramatic than anyone anticipates.
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