Two robotic arms with human-like movements, built for research on physical artificial intelligence, mirror the movements of an operator wearing a VR helmet who rotates his hands like a magician.
"With a little practice, such arms can perform everyday tasks on their own," says the company Enactic, which is developing humanoid robots to wash dishes and do laundry in nursing homes in Japan, where there is a shortage of workers.
This marks the beginning of the era of AI entering the material world through smart robots, self-driving cars, and other autonomous devices.
Technology companies are investing huge sums in this field, and Morgan Stanley predicts that by 2050 there could be more than a billion humanoid robots in the world.
Examples from the field are increasing.
In Guangzhou, China, "XPeng" presented an elegant-looking humanoid robot last week, amid applause and amazement from those present.
Such robots can walk and even jump, but their ability to manipulate more complex objects has yet to be convincingly demonstrated. Meanwhile, the high cost of mechanical parts makes these robots unsuitable for mass replacement of workers in Chinese factories.
However, manufacturers believe that with enough data and training, humanoid robots will be able to perform almost any human task, from nannying to cooking to gardening.
In Japan, Enactic is partnering with care centers to have their remote-controlled robots take over heavy work while professional workers focus on the well-being of the elderly.
