Google’s Most Advanced Robot Brain Just Got a Body

Google has taken a new leap forward in AI, building its most advanced natural language processing into an Everyday Robots helper robot that can understand (and act on) normal human speech. CNET's Claire Reilly speaks to AI expert Stephen Shankland about what this tech means for the future of humanity.

0:00 Intro
0:38 How the Robot Works
1:17 PaLM-SayCan AI explained
2:14 Robot Demos: How Does the Robot Understand Colours and Objects?
3:01 The Robot Builds a Hamburger
4:06 How Does It Compare to Other Moving and Talking Robots?
5:11 Google Robot Home Helper vs. Amazon Astro
5:52 Google Robot vs. Boston Dynamics
6:34 The Future of Google Robotics and AI

[clairereilly]

I'm loving reading the comments on this video - some of you genuinely excited, some of you genuinely terrified... and some of you a bit of both! It's interesting that we've had the language processing side for a while, but when we put it in a physical form like a roaming robot, it really shifts our perceptions of the technology 🤖

[vice.nor.virtue]

I like that it looks like a totally original robot, - like, it's not trying to mimic any existing animal or human frame.

[alexander]

If Google ported their software to the Boston Dynamic robots, we’d have something great.

[NirvanaFan]

more than anything else, i'm excited for robots to help the planet: grow food more efficiently (and with fewer toxins), help sort waste streams for a more sustainable system, clean polluted areas, plant trees, etc.

[ChronotriggerJM]

For some reason I thought Google had abandoned robotics ambitions. Super cool to see they still have these products in the works :)

[matthewloxton]

I would expect Spot to have this kind on versatility within five years. It can already open doors, turn knows, flip switches. A hurdle is how to limit natural language responsiveness. You REALLY don't want the robot to think you want it to put a bottle of ketchup in the microwave and zap it for five minutes

[DPearls]

Exciting, terrifying all in one. Always interested in seeing advances in robotics.

[mikeandbrenproductions]

The timing of saying “I’m hungry” then the robot running was hilarious 🤣

[Germania]

Everyone's gangsta until that robot is given opposable thumbs.

[mepilot]

think this is an important step. we've all had a few years to talk to AI. we're ready for AI to have mobility. do think having a more robotic and less android is a good way to start. issue right now is humans have a high threat response to rivals; and android robots would trigger those responses easily. plus, we need to work out the mechanics of robots to get mobility first. but we are ready for this industry. we have all gotten comfortable talking to AI now. now we are ready for our AI to be mobile.

[Robocat]

This exciting. There are many companies working on these robot arms to work in the food/restaurant industry. I can't wait to see where it goes

[jessemcelroy]

I think in the future that companies will have to manufacture robot friendly appliances like robot friendly refrigerators that will have doors that will be able to open. And dish washers and clothes washers as well maybe even coffee makers that will allow a robot to just dock up to it and get multiple cups of coffee if need be.

[dsvilko]

Sooo... what Google engineer is saying is that even though they conveniently provided all the recognizable ingredients that normally go into making a burger, in no way were they to know that the journalist would ask the robot to make a burger and therefore this unpredictable, spur of the moment request really allowed the robot to show off how it handles situations and requests it hasn't previously encountered?

[KENZOkm]

I freakin love CNET's new video designs and transitions. Keep it up!

[Cilexius]

When do they all combine their knowledge and technologies into one amazing robot?

[Jimmeh_B]

I love the way they never mention it's not the robot doing any of it at all.
Without an internet connection allowing it to talk to google servers, it can't do anything except drive it's attachments and basic collision avoidance.
What they never mention is, the robot will be sending a complete 3d scan of your floor plan and basically every other piece of data it can harvest from your day to day lives, to be collated, stored, tested and weaponized against and to exploit you.

[Mr_Wiley]

Man 1:
“I’m hungry.”
Man 2:
“I spilled my drink.”
Man 3:
“ I can’t find my keys.”
Robot:
**thinking*
**Shoots man 123.*
Robot:
“Problem solved.”

[JJs_playground]

Great video. I didn't realize PALM was so sophisticated. Very interesting.

[rus.t]

My robot barista will now know that I tip the robot waiter down the block 1.2% more that it

[saqibmudabbar]

I don't know why but i find the robot's actions very cute. Especially when it put the whole bottle of ketchup in that burger! hahaha