Speak to me, robot: Startling Google Duplex demo raises endless concerns
Google Duplex has people (and digital assistants) talking about talking to robots, Google may also be eyeing an entry into the smartwatch market, the latest Boston Dynamics robot is going to need some of those marathoner stickers.
Scared yet? Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot can now jog freely
With every new video, Boston Dynamics impresses us with its robotic creations. Fresh from performing several flawless backflips, its Atlas humanoid robot was recently untethered and allowed to go for a run in the woods. If you're fearful of a robot uprising, you'll now fear it a little more.
The best sci-fi robots
Robots are a hot topic these days, but whether the latest news story is about robots taking factory jobs or robots to do your chores for you, one thing tends to be true: The robots are kind of dull, at least compared to robots in fiction. Here are some of the best sci-fi robots.
A new A.I. can guess your personality type based on your eye movements
Researchers from Australia and Germany have developed a machine learning artificial intelligence system that is able to predict a person’s personality type by looking into their eyes. Or, more accurately, looking at the way their eyes move. Here's how the A.I. system works.
Robotic exosuits will make us better, stronger, faster, right? Not necessarily!
Like Iron Man's amazing armor, the dream of robot exosuits is that they can give human wearers vastly increased strength, speed and endurance with no negative repercussions. A new study from Ohio State University suggests that some of our optimism may be a bit misplaced.
A fleet of delivery robots could soon be coming to a campus near you
Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robot has so far been tested in more than 20 countries, covering some 100,000 miles in the last four years. A recent trial involved taking a fleet of the wheel-based robots to a Silicon Valley campus, allowing workers to order meals from the comfort of their desk.
Pepper the robot’s latest gig is at the Smithsonian
Pepper's latest gig is at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. And there won't be just one or two of them helping out. The museum, research, and education complex is hiring 25 of the diminutive droids to assist at several of its locations, with visitors encouraged to interact with the friendly robot.
The Roomba of the tennis court? Ball-retreiving Tennibot launches on Kickstarter
Tennibot is a robot designed for use on the tennis court. The A.I.-driven device saves coaches and players time by automatically retrieving tennis balls completely on its own. The device has launched on Kickstarter and promises to take the tedium out of cleaning up the court after a practice session.
Robot chefs are the focus of new Sony and Carnegie Mellon research
Sony and Carnegie Mellon University are collaborating on A.I. and robotics research, starting with a focus on optimizing food preparation, cooking, and delivery. Food preparation tasks are complex and varied, so the resulting tech could eventually be applied to a wide range of industries.
By assembling Ikea chairs, robots steal the one job we never wanted
Researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have demonstrated how a pair of off-the-shelf robot arms can be used to assemble a flat-packed Ikea chair in just a matter of minutes. Best of all? They can apparently do it without having a massive argument, too.
Forget cloning dogs, A.I. is the real way to let your pooch live forever
Researchers from the University of Washington and the Allen Institute for A.I. have created a deep learning artificial intelligence that’s designed to behave just like a dog. The technology could one day let your family dogs live on forever -- in shiny robot form, of course.
Scientists figure out how to monitor the brain activity of bats in midflight
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University have developed technology that lets them study what happens in the brains of bats in flight. It involves a tiny wireless brain signal and a room kitted out with microphones and cameras. And it might just improve future autonomous vehicles.
This trailer-towing robot is like a Roomba on steroids
Ever wanted to park your trailer by remote control? The Trailer Valet RVR is a mini-tracked tank that is capable of pulling remarkably heavy loads.
Amazing software turns 3D scans into knitted objects, no grannies required
Researchers in Carnegie Mellon University's Textiles Lab have created a new computer system that can turn 3D scans into instructions ready to be knitted by a machine.
8 things kids born in 2018 will never experience, thanks to technology
Here are our predictions for eight things that the class of 2036 (that’s today’s kids at 18) won’t experience.
Resistance isn’t futile! 6 tips for keeping your job amid the robot takeover
Chances are that you’ve considered the possibility that you could be replaced by a robot. Here are our tips for how to survive the A.I. job takeover.
Latest Festo creations include a bionic bat and somersaulting robo-spider
Two latest nature-inspired robots from Festo include a robotic spider and a bionic flying fox which really flies.
Walmart says that store employees have embraced new robots
Walmart is expanding its fleet of robots to 50 new stores, but the company promises it won't cut any new jobs.
Construction companies are welcoming their new robot workers
It's getting harder and harder for construction firms to find qualified workers, and many are turning to automation for help.
Do you want to live forever? 6 ways tech could extend your life
Here are six ways that technology could extend your lifespan -- anywhere from a few decades to, well, the end of life as humankind knows it.
This robot with jet-powered feet is proof that we’re living in the future
Researchers from China have built a jet-powered bipedal robot that does the splits to cross large chasms.
Pepper’s next gig is at Pizza Hut, but the robot won’t be tossing any dough
Pepper the friendly humanoid robot has worked at a few places in its short life. Its latest gig is at a Pizza Hut in Singapore.
These white-hat Twitter bots collaborate to solve chemistry problems
These chemistry robots carry out research and then share the results with one another using a Twitter account.
New ‘documentary’ shows SpotMinis trying to survive in a desolate wasteland
A herd of SpotMinis is ravaged by Mother Nature in a parody documentary that envisions the critters trying to survive in a desolate wasteland.
Hackers could seize robots with ransomware, costing companies millions
A recent report explains that hackers could use ransomware to seize robots in corporate, manufacturing, and healthcare environments, costing millions.
Flippy the burger-flipping robot is now working alongside humans at CaliBurger
Flippy, the world's first burger-flipping robot, has started work at a burger joint in California, and could be employed at 50 more outlets before long.
FDA-approved robotic exoskeleton magnifies wearers’ strength tenfold
The FDA recently gave its stamp of approval to a medical robotic exoskeleton built by the Japanese company Cyberdyne, which can magnify wearers' strength.
Humanoid firefighting robot will go where it’s not safe for humans to venture
Engineers at IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia have developed Walk-Man, a robot emergency responder which could be used to assist firefighters.
Pollen-dispensing, bee-attracting robo-flower is the coolest art project ever
An Australian artist has created a robo-flower designed to attract real bees. Here's how it works, and what makes it so exciting.
Whatever you do, don’t mess with Boston Dynamics’ SpotMini robot
A new video from Boston Dynamics demonstrates SpotMini's ability to stay focused on a task despite someone trying to push it around.
Purdue’s microbots are designed to wander around inside your body
Researchers at Purdue University have developed tiny microscale magnetic tumbling robots for carrying out targeted drug delivery in the body.
Robot skiers race in PyeongChang, but they’re not at Olympic level just yet
Olympic skiers needn't be too worried yet about robots taking over their sport, at least if the first-ever robot skiing contest is anything to go by.
The key to next-gen 3D vision for autonomous cars is … praying mantis goggles?
Researchers may have discovered a new way to model computer vision systems -- and it's all thanks to putting tiny 3D goggles on praying mantises.
Science fiction’s 5 most haunting A.I. villains, ranked
We love writing about the latest advances in artificial intelligence, but, boy, does A.I. also have the potential to make for some great movie antagonists. Here are five of the best.