Humanoid robots are attracting attention with increased investment and impressive videos demonstrating their capabilities. However, roboticist Ken Goldberg advises to be skeptical when watching these videos, as they may be edited or staged to show off the robots abilities in a better light.
Mainly, when watching and judging robot videos, you should think about whether the robot is controlled off-screen, how many attempts were needed to complete the featured tasks, and whether the environment in the video is carefully controlled to make the robot’s performance look better than it actually is.
While robots are showing progress, especially in locomotion, the dexterity and strength of their hands may be less advanced than it seems. As humanoid robots become more common, it is important to question their real capabilities and possible costs.
Source: MIT Technology Review
