Now that artificial intelligence makes it impossible to fully know what is real and what is not, it seems that the world could be preparing for the next technological revolution: robots. At least many companies, from Tesla to LG, are betting on it. So much so that In China they have already created schools for humanoid machines.
In fact, it is not the first time that the Asian giant has shown its absolute interest in leading what they consider to be the industry of the future, and almost of the present: robotics. The most striking thing about the matter? That many experts specialized in the same do not agree at all, and are very skeptical of the supposed advances of this technology.
Chinese schools for robots
Many specialists, in fact, regularly complain about the real performance of robots. They show that the main problem with most humanoid models lies in the difference between controlled demonstrations and real environments. The former may look spectacular, but they have nothing to do with the latter.
So, taking this reflection into account, China must have thought: what can be done about it? Well, if robots don’t know, we will have to teach them. As indicated by specialized media, there are already several schools designed for different models to train and improve their skills where they fail: in the real world. Although it sounds like science fiction.
In Beijing, without going any further, they have launched a center where robots practice industrial and domestic activities in controlled environments: assembly lines, kitchens, warehouses or recreated rooms. All of this in huge facilities that bear little resemblance to a traditional school, but in practice they do have a very similar objective.
In this case, the goal is for humanoid robots to accelerate their learning before being marketed. Although most of the press talks about schools for robots, the truth is that they could also be considered academies for them. Perhaps even this term was more precise. These are trial and error exercises under human supervision, one assumes.
The skepticism of the experts
Despite China’s enthusiasm to create these flashy robot schools, many robotics teachers still think that the industry is a long way from allowing humanoid robots to become an everyday reality. Elon Musk’s dream, almost everyone seems to agree, will have to wait.
Can robotic schools help change this? Nor in this sense do specialists give the impression of leaving their skepticism aside. Robots do not reason or have human learning capabilities. Even if they get used to performing a specific task, they would still have problems doing the same thing in a different scenario. Or so the experts say.