Not the sexiest headline, but if you made it that far, it worked. I wanted to start with something more frightening like “This Dog Robot is Why We are All Doomed.” but I thought this was to biased – although, let’s be honest, it would have generated a lot more clicks.
Intuicell, a Swedish startup, has just unveiled Luna, a robot dog capable of learning by itself. It does not need to be fed data or told how to do things, because it is equipped with a digital nervous system that allows it to learn and adapt to reality like a real dog. Unlike traditional AI systems that rely on extensive pre-training and vast datasets, IntuiCell’s approach enables Luna to learn through direct interaction with its environment. This method mimics the way humans and animals learn, allowing Luna to develop skills without predefined programming.
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Watching the video, you will realize that is not a quick and easy process. Luna has to learn how to stand on its own without being told how, nor knowing much about its own body and how its legs work. It might not seem like much, after all dogs learn to walk pretty quickly too, but this experiment is just the beginning. Soon Luna will learn to walk, without being told or shown how to, and next, it will learn more and more tricks. IntuiCell actually plans to hire a professional dog trainer to teach Luna, emphasizing the robot’s ability to learn through experience rather than preloaded data.
Cute, right?
Except we would be naive to think this is where this will stop. IntuiCell’s ambitions extend beyond robotic pets. The company envisions deploying autonomous robots in unpredictable environments such as space exploration, deep-sea missions, and disaster response scenarios. These robots would need to adapt and learn in real-time, handling unforeseen challenges without human intervention.
Great. But do you see the problem?
While the advancements are impressive, one can’t help but recall the cautionary tales from science fiction. We have all grown up watching the same movies. The idea of machines learning and adapting on their own brings to mind scenarios from movies like “The Terminator,” where autonomous robots pose significant risks. It’s a reminder that as we develop more sophisticated AI, ethical considerations and safety protocols must keep pace to ensure these technologies benefit humanity without unintended consequences.
Or maybe soon, Robots will teach us new tricks.
OK now you can watch the video. It’s a bit long and tedious, but worth it.