Boston Dynamics teaches Spot the robot to talk (yes, using ChatGPT and other AI models) – video

Boston Dynamics has developed Spot, a tour guide bot integrated with Chat GPT and other AI models that can support conversations and mimic different communication styles.

What happened.

Boston Dynamics presented a video showcasing the innovative capabilities of Spot robots, which effectively use advanced artificial intelligence technologies. They not only act as guides moving along predetermined paths, but also interact with the environment by understanding context and answering questions. This is made possible by incorporating modern AI models, including ChatGPT, which enable creative interaction between robots and humans.

The scenarios developed for Spot robots include a variety of characters and roles, from an archaeologist talking about the 1920s to an actor quoting Shakespeare. These roles highlight the ability of robots to adapt to context and change the way they interact. This interaction is taken to a new level through experiments with sarcasm and other human-like forms of communication, opening the door to a deeper exploration of human language and behavior.

A detailed study of Spot’s capabilities also focuses on the use of robots in high-risk or complex situations that require high-precision handling. This can have a wide range of applications in various industries, from production automation to emergency response.

In addition, the project demonstrates the “lateral thinking” of robots, which is reflected in the ability to create associative connections between words, ideas and cultural concepts, according to which they form answers to indirect questions. This creates the foundation for further development of AI towards a deeper understanding and better interpretation of human experience and social and cultural context.

What can you do?

The video also highlights the possibilities of customizing the robot’s personality by changing just a few lines of text, allowing the robot to interact with people more naturally and with different “personalities.” One example given is a robot that acts like a 1920s archaeologist or a Shakespearean actor. The video also shows the robot’s ability to perform complex tasks such as tours or industrial inspections with high precision and dexterity.

Why is this important?

Incorporating advanced AI technologies into robots will not only allow robots to better perceive the world, but will also effectively act in it using their own interpretations and inferences, leading to greater autonomy and adaptability in a variety of tasks and scenarios.

About Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics is a pioneer in developing advanced robots known for their mobility, flexibility, and performance. Founded in 1992 as a spin-out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the company has developed several groundbreaking models, including BigDog, Atlas and Spot, capable of performing missions in challenging environments and used in civilian, industrial and military applications. Boston Dynamics’ strategy is to combine innovative ideas with technical expertise to further advance the field of robotics, which aims to improve human life and workflow.

Boston Dynamics is owned by Hyundai Motor Group. The South Korean auto giant acquired the company from SoftBank Group in December 2020. SoftBank Group, in turn, acquired Boston Dynamics from Google, the parent company of Alphabet Inc. The deal was announced in June 2017. The reason for the sale was difficulties in marketing Boston Dynamics products within Alphabet, as well as Alphabet’s strategic decision to focus on other business areas. SoftBank, which has invested in a variety of technology companies, saw great potential in the robots developed by Boston Dynamics, but later decided to sell the company to Hyundai in 2020.

source: Youtube