In spite of their vast potential for practical advantages, humanoid robots could have a disruptive impact on human society as innovation advances, said Liu Cixin, celebrated sci-fi writer and Hugo Award-winning author, ahead of the worlds first humanoid robot half-marathon, which kicked off in Beijing on Saturday.Tune in for our unique relay live protection with CGTN reporters on site, covering the action from start to finish.Spanning more than 21 kilometers, the half-marathon will need taking part bipedal robotics to execute roughly 250,000 exact joint movements.
The event marks a significant milestone in the advancement of embodied AI and humanoid robotics.Liu, best understood for his science fiction unique The Three-Body Problem, told China Media Group (CMG) in an interview ahead of the race that he thought the occasion would help the public much better understand the capabilities of humanoid robots.
He also noted that robotics with useful functions such as taking care of the elderly and patients or carrying out home chores would have substantial market capacity.
I think the robotic marathon is more of a display.
The robots show their capability to move in a steady, well balanced way while running, similar to those carrying out traditional Yangge dances at this years Spring Festival Gala, which revealed the public what robots are capable of today.
Their physical form is also useful, he stated.
For example, robotics that can help the senior or take care of patients have huge market capacity.
Family robotics that can manage chores are also exceptionally beneficial.
Of course, robotics have not reached that level.
But once they do, the marketplace will be huge, and the impact on life will be extensive, Liu said.However, Liu warned that once an advanced advancement permits the production of robots indistinguishable from people, the societal effect could be deeply disruptive to a degree tough to imagine, even in sci-fi.
The supreme objective of establishing embodied robots may be to develop machines that are indistinguishable from people.
Once that technology is realized, its impact on society might be really disruptive.
If we can no longer inform a robot from a human whether by intelligence or look the effects would be tough to think of, even in sci-fi books, he stated.