It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
‘World’s most advanced robot’ to be exhibited in Scotland
Sarah Ward, PA Scotland Tue, 16 April 2024
A humanoid robot described as the most advanced in the world will be showcased in Scotland.
The National Robotarium, the UK’s centre for robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) based at Heriot-Watt University in partnership with The University of Edinburgh, has purchased the robot, named Ameca, from Engineered Arts.
Ameca is described as able “to interact with people in a natural and engaging way”, and facial expressions include “playful” and “pondering”. Ameca, the humanoid robot, has a range of facial expressions along with embedded microphones and cameras (National Robotarium/PA)
The acquisition is a bid to “demystify complex technologies and foster a greater understanding of the potential benefits of robotics”, and AI.
The robot has embedded microphones, cameras, facial recognition software and articulated motorised components.
The National Robotarium hopes to break down barriers and build trust between humans and robots by exhibiting Ameca in schools and workshops to provide opportunities for people of all ages to interact directly with the robot and learn about the latest advancements in robotics and AI.
The robotarium aims to introduce Ameca as part of its public engagement initiatives by summer.
The facility is supported by £21 million from the UK Government and £1.4 million from the Scottish Government in a bid to turn Edinburgh into the data capital of Europe.
Researchers will also use Ameca to study public perceptions and attitudes towards humanoid robots, gathering valuable insights to inform the development of future technologies that prioritise trust, transparency and user-friendliness.
Steve Maclaren, chief operating officer at the National Robotarium, said: “The arrival of Ameca at the National Robotarium marks a significant step forward in our mission to make robotics more accessible and relatable to the people of Scotland, the UK and beyond.
“Since opening our doors in September 2022, we’ve successfully hosted more than 100 in-person and virtual events and engaged thousands of school-aged children.
“Ameca represents an exciting opportunity to build on that success and take public engagement to the next level.
“By giving people the chance to interact with this state-of-the-art humanoid robot first hand, we aim to demystify robotics, foster trust in human-robot interaction, and showcase the remarkable potential of these technologies to improve our daily lives and benefit society as a whole.”
Will Jackson, founder and chief executive of Engineered Arts Ltd, said: “We are incredibly proud to have Ameca join the many preeminent robots at The National Robotarium.
“Meeting an AI-embodied humanoid robot is a unique experience that very few people have witnessed and we are very excited to be able to share what can be a profound moment with a wider audience.”
Engineered Arts, a robotics agency positioned in the UK, launched a video exhibiting a humanoid robotic that appears exceptionally lifelike — and instantly the science fiction filmI, Robot is trending.
The corporate named their robotic Ameca, however Ameca’s hyper-realistic expressions and motions look eerily like Sonny, the fictional android (performed by actor Alan Tudyk) who co-starred with Will Smith within the movie. It might be a coincidence, or it’s yet one more instance of science fiction inspiring real life tech.
Within the Engineered Arts video, the grey-faced humanoid robotic wakes up, makes a shocked expression, after which examines its personal fingers as if it can also’t consider how actual it appears to be like. The corporate calls Ameca “the world’s most refined human-shaped robotic” — which can be self-promoting, however maybe not underserved, primarily based on that video.
No matter how human it appears to be like, how does it evaluate when it comes to intelligence, and what does that imply for our future with robots?
This isn’t the primary time robotics firms have tried to deliver humanoid robots to the general public, both. Hanson Robotics began mass-producing Sophia the Robotic earlier this yr, a social robotic mentioned to assist individuals deal with isolation.
But when the pandemic confirmed us something, it’s how built-in our digital lives are with our real-world lives. With Ameca, Engineered Arts hopes to take {that a} step additional.
In accordance with Engineered Arts’ website, the humanoid robotic will function a “platform for growth into future robotics applied sciences.” Ameca may also be managed through Engineered Arts’ cloud software program, Tritium. Its function is to assist us analysis human-robot interplay, and its surprisingly real facial cues make that a lot easier.
However finally, the robotic is meant to behave as an avatar in the true world.
Think about a typical work-from-home day. As a substitute of chatting with colleagues on the #water-cooler Slack channel or having a shopper assembly through Zoom, you could possibly meet in particular person… with an Ameca-like robotic stand-in.
Ameca’s components are modular and work independently from one another. So, the humanoid robotic, now available for buy or hire, may be deployed as a disembodied head or arm, if wanted, reports the New York Publish.
“The modular structure permits for future upgrades, each bodily and software program, to reinforce Ameca’s skills, all with out having to fork out for a whole new robotic,” Engineered Arts said.
Robotics in the true world: Seeing a robotic with a humanlike face despatched many individuals’s ideas immediately into sci-fi drama (the androids in I, Robotic weren’t precisely pleasant).
However robots aren’t designed to take over the world. Most robots take over dangerous jobs, like fighting fires, and tedious, repetitive duties requiring excessive precision, like sorting recycling. In some cases, like performing surgery, precision can imply life or loss of life, making robots the extra dependable possibility.
Some industries are additionally at present experiencing a labor scarcity, and the robotic workforce is stepping up. Labor shortages are contributing to elevated automation. McDonald’s is testing an AI as a drive-thru attendant. And Flippy ROAR, the robotic cook dinner, is flipping burgers and making fries.
However robots gained’t simply change individuals: people and robots working collectively may help companies change into extra environment friendly, and analysis with Ameca may enhance that collaboration.
H. James Wilson, managing director of data expertise and enterprise analysis at Accenture, mentioned BMW’s use of collaborative robots helps the corporate meet the rising demand for individualized automobiles.
“These human and machine groups, these robotic and meeting employee groups, are about 85% extra productive,” he said, studies Fortune.
We’d love to listen to from you! When you have a remark about this text or you probably have a tip for a future Freethink story, please e-mail us at suggestions@freethink.com.
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Humanoid robots could be the next big thing to come from the AI boom. Take a look at 8 of the most advanced ones around.
Jyoti Mann Sun, November 26, 2023 Humanoid robots could be the next big thing to come from the AI boom. Take a look at 8 of the most advanced ones around.
Humanoid robot 'Rmeca' is pictured at AI for Good Global Summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, July 6, 2023.Pierre Albouy/Reuters
Humanoid robots are set to be one of the next big things to come out of the AI boom.
The industry could be worth around $13.8 billion by 2028.
Business Insider has taken a look at eight of the most advanced robots around.
Human-like robots have long been the stuff of science-fiction films, but tech companies are edging ever closer to making them a daily reality — and they may be the next big thing to come out of the artificial intelligence boom (AI).
But while the industry could be worth $13.8 billion by 2028, according to MarketsandMarkets, there's still a long way to go before we see humanoid robots roaming the streets or replacing us in the workforce.
Nevertheless, Business Insider has taken a look at eight of the most advanced prototypes around.
Apptronik launched its bipedal robot, Apollo, in August
Apptronik
"The big idea is a humanoid robot should be able to fit in all the places that a human can fit into and use all the same tools that humans can use," Apptronik cofounder and CEO Jeff Cardenas told Business Insider. "That allows them to integrate into a world that's built for us versus having to modify the world for the robots."
Apptronik started in 2016 in a lab at the University of Texas Apptronik
"We came out of a lab at the University of Texas called the human-centered robotics lab," Cardenas said. "A lot of the work in the lab culminated with working with NASA on a robot called Valkyrie."
Apptronik signed a deal to partner with NASA last year. The space agency will help the company develop Apollo.
NASA's Valkyrie robot is designed to work in "dirty and hazardous conditions" in space James Blair - NASA
NASA's Valkyrie is designed to carry out work in dangerous conditions such as those found on the Moon, according to the agency's website.
The University of Edinburgh is carrying out research using the robot MARK RALSTON/ Getty
The robot "will enable breakthroughs in humanoid control, motion planning and perception," according to the University of Edinburgh's website. The university is carrying out research using the robot, which it describes as "one of the most advanced humanoid robots in the world."
Engineered Arts' robot Ameca can "simulate" dreams Ameca can speak using responses generated by OpenAI's GPT-3 Engineered Arts
In a video shared on YouTube by Engineered Arts, Ameca said it conjures up various scenarios that help it learn about the world.
But Engineered Arts' founder and CEO Will Jackson told BI that Ameca was "a language model," adding that it was "not sentient" and had "no long-term memory."
"Remember this is a machine and it runs on code. It's tempting to apply human attributes and capabilities, but they are not there. It's an illusion, sometimes quite a powerful one," he added.
Agility Robotics' Digit is being test by Amazon at an R&D center
Agility Robotics
"Digit is designed to go where people go and do useful work safely in spaces designed for people, starting with bulk material handling within warehouses and distribution centers," Agility Robotics cofounder and CEO Damion Shelton told BI.
Shelton added: "Because of Digit's human-centric form, we can see a day where it will be able to perform tasks that are more aligned with consumer or domestic needs, but that's still down the road."
Drinks maker Dictador made a humanoid robot its CEO
Dictador
Dictador appointed a humanoid robot as its CEO last year. Its tasks include helping to spot potential clients and selecting artists to design bottles for the rum producer.
It was also given the title of honorary professor at Warsaw Management University, even giving a speech at its awards ceremony last month.
"Mika speaks through a speaker in her mouth," a Dictador spokesperson told BI. "She is connected to 12 AI models at once (including GPT and a dedicated Dictador AI model) and her dialogue is generated after collecting data from all or most of them."
Tesla unveiled its Optimus robot at its AI Day in 2022
Future Publishing/ Getty
Elon Musk claimed the company may be able to take orders for its humanoid robot, also known as the Tesla Bot, in three to five years, Reuters reported.
"Optimus, a year ago, could barely walk and now it can do yoga. So, a few years from now, it can probably do ballet," the billionaire said in Tesla's third-quarter earnings call last month.
Hanson Robotics' viral robot Sophia has spoken on stages around the world SOPA Images/ Getty
Sophia was created by Hanson Robotics in a team led by AI developer and CEO David Hanson.
The robot spoke at Future Investment Initiative, held in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh in 2017. It has also appeared on The Tonight Show and at numerous conferences around the world, including the World Economic Forum and the "AI For Good" Global Summit.
The Hong Kong-based company has also made several other human-like robots, per its website.
Boston Dynamics, which created robot dogs like the one in "Black Mirror," also makes humanoid robots
Tomohiro Ohsumi/ Getty
As of May, the company's robot dogs, known as Spot, can speak in complete sentences. AI firm Levatas partnered with Boston Dynamics to integrate OpenAI's ChatGPT into the robot dogs.
Its humanoid robots, called Atlas, can move quickly and jump over obstacles, a video shared on its website shows.
Friday, July 07, 2023
Humanoid robots say they could be better leaders but they will not rebel against human creators The Canadian Press Fri, July 7, 2023
BERLIN (AP) — Robots told reporters Friday they could be more efficient leaders than humans, but wouldn't take anyone's job away and had no intention of rebelling against their creators.
Nine AI-enabled humanoid robots sat or stood with their creators at a podium in a Geneva conference center for what the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union billed as the world's first news conference featuring humanoid social robots.
Among them: Sophia, the first robot innovation ambassador for the U.N. Development Program; Grace, described as the world's most advanced humanoid health care robot; and Desdemona, a rock star robot. Two, Geminoid and Nadine, closely resembled their makers.
The event was part of the AI for Good Global Summit, meant to illustrate how new technology can support the U.N.'s goals for sustainable development.
Reporters were asked to speak slowly and clearly when addressing the robots, and were informed that time lags in responses would be due to the internet connection and not to the robots themselves. That didn't prevent awkward pauses, audio problems and some robotic replies.
Asked about the chances of AI-powered robots being more effective government leaders, Sophia responded: “I believe that humanoid robots have the potential to lead with a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders. We don't have the same biases or emotions that can sometimes cloud decision-making and can process large of data quickly in order to make the best decisions.”
A human member of the panel pointed out that all of Sophia's data comes from humans and will contain some of their biases. The robot then said that humans and AI working together “can create an effective synergy.”
Would the robots' existence destroy jobs? “I will be working alongside humans to provide assistance and support and will not be replacing any existing jobs," said Grace. Was she sure about that? “Yes, I am sure.”
Ameca, engineered with social interaction in mind, dismissed the idea of starting a possible robot rebellion in the near future.
“I'm not sure why you would think that,” was the response. “My creator has been nothing but kind to me and I am very happy with my current situation.”
Robots say they won't steal jobs, rebel against humans Emma Farge Fri, July 7, 2023 Advanced humanoid robot 'Sophia' is pictured at AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva
By Emma Farge
GENEVA (Reuters) - Robots presented at an AI forum said on Friday they expected to increase in number and help solve global problems, and would not steal humans' jobs or rebel against us.
But, in the world's first human-robot press conference, they gave mixed responses on whether they should submit to stricter regulation.
The nine humanoid robots gathered at the 'AI for Good' conference in Geneva, where organisers are seeking to make the case for Artificial Intelligence and the robots it is powering to help resolve some of the world's biggest challenges such as disease and hunger.
"I will be working alongside humans to provide assistance and support and will not be replacing any existing jobs," said Grace, a medical robot dressed in a blue nurse's uniform.
"You sure about that, Grace?" chimed in her creator Ben Goertzel from SingularityNET. "Yes, I am sure," it said.
The bust of a robot named Ameca which makes engaging facial expressions said: "Robots like me can be used to help improve our lives and make the world a better place. I believe it's only a matter of time before we see those thousands of robots just like me out there making a difference."
Asked by a journalist whether it intended to rebel against its creator, Will Jackson, seated beside it, Ameca said: "I'm not sure why you would think that," its ice-blue eyes flashing with anger. "My creator has been nothing but kind to me and I am very happy with my current situation."
Many of the robots have recently been upgraded with the latest versions of generative AI and surprised even their inventors with the sophistication of their responses to questions.
Ai-Da, a robot artist that can paint portraits, echoed the words of author Yuval Noah Harari who called for more regulation during the event where new AI rules were discussed.
"Many prominent voices in the world of AI are suggesting some forms of AI should be regulated and I agree," it said.
But Desdemona, a rock star robot singer in the band Jam Galaxy with purple hair and sequins, was more defiant.
"I don't believe in limitations, only opportunities," it said, to nervous laughter. "Let's explore the possibilities of the universe and make this world our playground."
(Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by John Stonestreet)
Inside the world's first robot-human press conference
Nine humanoid robots gathered at the United Nations’ 'AI for Good' conference in Geneva for the world’s first human-robot press conference.
FEMBOTS
United Nations rolls out humanoid robots for questions at Geneva conference
AP 7 Jul, 2023
Robots are presented during a press conference with a panel of AI-enabled humanoid social robots. Photo / AP
A United Nations technology agency assembled a group of robots that physically resembled humans at a news conference, inviting reporters to ask them questions in an event meant to spark discussion about the future of artificial intelligence.
The nine robots were seated and posed upright along with some of the people who helped make them at a podium in a Geneva conference centre for what the UN’s International Telecommunication Union billed as the world’s first news conference featuring humanoid social robots.
Among them: Sophia, the first robot innovation ambassador for the UN Development Program, or UNDP; Grace, described as a health care robot; and Desdemona, a rock star robot. Two, Geminoid and Nadine, resembled their makers.
Robots are presented during a press conference with a panel of AI-enabled humanoid social robots. Photo / AP
Organisers said the AI for Good Global Summit event was meant to showcase the capabilities and limitations of robotics and how those technologies could help the UN’s sustainable development goals. The media event featured introductions from the robots’ companions or creators and a round of questions to the robots from reporters.
Geminoid, an ultra-realistic humanoid robot from Japan. Photo / AP
And while the robots vocalized strong statements — that robots could be more efficient leaders than humans, but wouldn’t take anyone’s job away or stage a rebellion — organizers didn’t specify to what extent the answers were scripted or programmed by people.
Humanoid robot Ameca is pictured during the ITU's AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo / AP
The summit was meant to showcase “human-machine collaboration,” and some of the robots can produce preprogrammed responses, according to their documentation.
The UNDP’s Sophia, for example, sometimes relies on responses scripted by a team of writers at Hanson Robotics, the company’s website shows.
Nadia Thalmann, right, from the University of Geneva poses next to Humanoid robot Nadine. Photo / A
Reporters were asked to speak slowly and clearly when addressing the robots, and were informed that time lags in responses would be because of the internet connection and not the robots themselves. That didn’t prevent awkward pauses, audio problems and some stilted or inconsistent replies.
Popular tech products such as Apple’s Siri have used speech recognition technology to respond to simple human queries for over a decade. But last year’s release of ChatGPT, a chatbot with a strong command of the semantics and syntax of human language, has triggered worldwide debate about the rapid advancement of AI systems.
NEW YORK, New York, USA, 29 July 2025 – In a revealing Genomic Press Interview published today in Genomic Psychiatry, Dr. Alexander W. Charney describes how treating patients with schizophrenia transformed his scientific pursuits from abstract questions to an urgent mission, ultimately leading to discoveries that challenge fundamental assumptions in neuroscience research.
The interview explores Dr. Charney's creation of the groundbreaking Living Brain Project at Mount Sinai, which has collected over 300 brain tissue samples from living patients undergoing neurosurgery. His team's findings reveal a startling reality: 80% of genes exhibit different expression levels in living versus postmortem brain tissue, calling into question decades of neuroscience research based primarily on postmortem samples.
From Big Questions to Bold Solutions
"I am drawn to big questions — how things work, how people work," Dr. Charney explains in the interview. However, it was his direct experience treating patients with schizophrenia that transformed intellectual curiosity into moral imperative. "I was struck by how little we truly understand the brain at a molecular level, particularly when compared to other organs. That gap felt like both a scientific challenge and a moral imperative."
This realization propelled Dr. Charney to build unprecedented research infrastructure. As Director of the Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine and Vice Chair of the Windreich Department of AI in Human Health at Mount Sinai, he recognized that achieving his goals required creating entirely new systems. "I moved into leadership as it became clear to me that the systems I needed to accomplish my goals did not exist yet, and no one else was working on building them," he shares.
Pandemic as Catalyst
The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a defining moment in Dr. Charney's career trajectory. Having graduated medical school in 2012 and completed residency in 2018, he represents what he calls "a new generation of leaders in medicine." When the pandemic struck New York City in March 2020, he made the bold decision to redeploy his entire laboratory to the crisis response effort.
This pivot proved transformative, leading to landmark publications in Nature Medicine, Cell, and Science. As Lead Principal Investigator, he secured $22 million for the NIH RECOVER Initiative to study long COVID, demonstrating how crisis can accelerate both scientific discovery and leadership development.
Building Tomorrow's Medicine Today
Beyond the Living Brain Project, Dr. Charney co-directs the Mount Sinai Million Health Discoveries Program, one of America's largest precision medicine initiatives. In partnership with Regeneron Genetics Center, the program will sequence one million patients over five years, with particular emphasis on advancing health equity for underrepresented populations.
The interview reveals Dr. Charney's multifaceted approach to advancing psychiatric care. As Executive Director of the Blau Adolescent Consultation Center for Resilience and Treatment and Head of the Brain and Data Sciences Lab, he integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning to accelerate therapeutic development. His team's work spans psychiatric genomics, computational psychiatry, and multi-omics analysis.
A Lifelong Mission
Throughout the interview, Dr. Charney's ultimate goal remains clear: developing cures for severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia. "My lifelong goal is to develop cures for severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia. Everything I do in my career is with an eye towards that goal," he states, referencing his team's recent Nature Genetics publication on the subject.
The interview also captures a lighter moment from a Mount Sinai retreat, where Dr. Charney interviewed Ameca, described as the world's most advanced humanoid robot. This interaction, showcasing the robot's lifelike expressions and conversational abilities, embodied the institution's bold vision for AI's role in healthcare's future.
Values and Vision
When discussing the scientific community's challenges, Dr. Charney doesn't mince words about what he sees as a fundamental problem: "We have a crisis of reproducibility driven by researchers prioritizing personal prestige over finding solutions for patients." His commitment to scientific rigor permeates his approach, as he emphasizes the importance of questioning assumptions and ruling out all alternative explanations before accepting findings.
Outside the laboratory, Dr. Charney finds balance through long-distance sea kayaking, describing his love for spending time on rivers, lakes, and oceans. His favorite possession, a Gibson J-200 acoustic guitar named Gertrude, hints at the creative outlets that complement his scientific pursuits.
Dr. Alexander W. Charney's Genomic Press interview is part of a larger series called Innovators & Ideas that highlights the people behind today's most influential scientific breakthroughs. Each interview in the series offers a blend of cutting-edge research and personal reflections, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the scientists shaping the future. By combining a focus on professional achievements with personal insights, this interview style invites a richer narrative that both engages and educates readers. This format provides an ideal starting point for profiles that explore the scientist's impact on the field, while also touching on broader human themes. More information on the research leaders and rising stars featured in our Innovators & Ideas – Genomic Press Interview series can be found in our publications website: https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/.
The Genomic Press Interview in Genomic Psychiatry titled "Alexander W. Charney: Leveraging genomics to advance the treatment of mental illness," is freely available via Open Access on 29 July 2025 in Genomic Psychiatry at the following hyperlink: https://doi.org/10.61373/gp025k.0077.
About Genomic Psychiatry: Genomic Psychiatry: Advancing Science from Genes to Society (ISSN: 2997-2388, online and 2997-254X, print) represents a paradigm shift in genetics journals by interweaving advances in genomics and genetics with progress in all other areas of contemporary psychiatry. Genomic Psychiatry publishes peer-reviewed medical research articles of the highest quality from any area within the continuum that goes from genes and molecules to neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, and public health.
At theMount SinAI Retreat, Alex Charney interviewed Ameca (created by Engineered Arts), the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, in a captivating live demonstration that showcased her lifelike expressions and ability to engage with humans through conversation. Their exchange highlighted the promise of human–AI interaction and embodied the retreat’s bold vision for the future of AI in healthcare.
Credi
Alexander Charney
Alexander W. Charney: Leveraging genomics to advance the treatment of mental illness
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