this post was submitted on 19 May 2025
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[–] [email protected] 27 points 5 days ago (18 children)

"We don't believe robots will make people unemployed, but rather they'll boost efficiency or take on tasks humans are unwilling to do - like exploring the vast universe or the ocean depths where people can't go. Machines can assist us in that exploration," Liang said.

Then why robots human shaped? I mean that seriously, would it simply not be better to design robots for the task at hand, instead of designing robots that are human shaped?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 days ago (8 children)

There are a lot of significant advantages to a single general-purpose platform versus designing custom robots for every task. You can use the same group of robots and assign them different jobs as needed. These robots can also adapt to new tasks and workflows as they emerge. Additionally, you can use the same set of replacement parts that work on any robot. Production costs are also much lower since you won't need lots of factories for different robot types.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (7 children)

Yes, but in the context of what they're saying, exploring space and the depths of the ocean, why humanoid robots? The world has specialized machines and platforms for that very thing right now.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I think the text is misrepresenting - he didn't specify humanoid in the quote. But running with it to try and speculate, hm, a humanoid bodyplan would be compatible with (the few) existing technologies and infrastructure - and as long as it isn't limited to following human functionality for the limbs (especially in space or underwater) then it's just a multiarmed drone that happens to fit in an acceleration couch or whatever. Not sure that's enough of a benefit unless you intend actual humans to follow after.

I guess it'd also be a good visual stunt to have a humanoid do stuff? At least for orbital and underwater stuff it could even be teleoperated in an immersive VR style - signal lag would make it a bit dreamlike, but having a humanoid automata build a sandcastle on the Moon or explore a habitat being printed by specialised drones would be extremely cool.

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