July 22, 2025 • 28 mins
What if you could “inhabit” a robot and interact with the world from miles away?
In this mind-bending episode, we dive into the latest breakthroughs in humanoid robotics that are redefining what it means to be present, productive, and even human. From Palmer Luckey’s jaw-dropping use of the Phantom robot for remote presence—literally letting him “be” the robot in front of a live audience—to the rise of Leju Robotics’ Lubon No. 2, a nimble, practical humanoid built for real-world efficiency, we’re witnessing a revolution in human-robot interaction.
But the story doesn’t stop there. Meet UBTech’s Walker S2, the industrial humanoid robot that never sleeps, thanks to its game-changing autonomous battery swapping. As Nvidia’s Jensen Huang boldly claims, the era of humanoid robots is not just coming—it’s here, and it’s set to solve global labor shortages with China leading the charge in mass production.
This episode unpacks the controversy, the hype, and the real-world impact of these advancements. Are we ready for robots that work alongside us, or even for us? Will humanoids become as common as smartphones?
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a robotics skeptic, or just curious about the future, this episode will challenge your assumptions and spark your imagination.
Don’t miss out—hit play, subscribe, and share this episode with anyone who’s ever wondered what life with robots will really look like. The future is closer than you think!
#HumanoidRobotics #Telerobotics #IndustrialRobots #HumanRobotInteraction #RoboticsPodcast
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tech-threads-sci-tech-future-tech-ai--5976276/support.
You May also Like:
🎁The Perfect Gift App
Find the Perfect Gift in Seconds
⭐Sky Near Me
Live map of stars & planets visible near you
✔Debt Planner App
Your Path to Debt-Free Living
In this mind-bending episode, we dive into the latest breakthroughs in humanoid robotics that are redefining what it means to be present, productive, and even human. From Palmer Luckey’s jaw-dropping use of the Phantom robot for remote presence—literally letting him “be” the robot in front of a live audience—to the rise of Leju Robotics’ Lubon No. 2, a nimble, practical humanoid built for real-world efficiency, we’re witnessing a revolution in human-robot interaction.
But the story doesn’t stop there. Meet UBTech’s Walker S2, the industrial humanoid robot that never sleeps, thanks to its game-changing autonomous battery swapping. As Nvidia’s Jensen Huang boldly claims, the era of humanoid robots is not just coming—it’s here, and it’s set to solve global labor shortages with China leading the charge in mass production.
This episode unpacks the controversy, the hype, and the real-world impact of these advancements. Are we ready for robots that work alongside us, or even for us? Will humanoids become as common as smartphones?
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a robotics skeptic, or just curious about the future, this episode will challenge your assumptions and spark your imagination.
Don’t miss out—hit play, subscribe, and share this episode with anyone who’s ever wondered what life with robots will really look like. The future is closer than you think!
#HumanoidRobotics #Telerobotics #IndustrialRobots #HumanRobotInteraction #RoboticsPodcast
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tech-threads-sci-tech-future-tech-ai--5976276/support.
You May also Like:
🎁The Perfect Gift App
Find the Perfect Gift in Seconds
⭐Sky Near Me
Live map of stars & planets visible near you
✔Debt Planner App
Your Path to Debt-Free Living
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Imagine, for a moment, you're sitting in a crucial meeting,
maybe giving a presentation that could, you know, genuinely to
change the trajectory of your entire career. Or maybe you're
at a family gathering, sharing a meal, laughing at old stories,
feeling completely at ease. But here's a twist. Your physical
body isn't actually there. It's miles, maybe even continents away.
(00:23):
Your presence, your voice, your gestures, your very essence are
channeled through another form of machine. How would that reshape
the way we interact, the way we work, even how
we understand our own selves. I've often thought about those
moments when I desperately wished I could be in two
places at once. I remember one particular week where I
had a critical product launch on the West Coast that
demanded my full attention, and like simultaneously, there was a
(00:45):
significant family event on the East Coast. I just couldn't
miss the feeling of being stretched. Then that disconnect, the
sense of missing something vital, it was palpable. It left
me wondering what if there was another way to truly
be there?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And that yearning, that desire for you, abiquitous presence, the
whole idea of bridging immense distances and transcending physical limitations. Well,
it's not really science fiction anymore, is it. We are
genuinely witnessing a fundamental blurring of the lines between human
and machine presence, I mean, and it's happening at an
astonishing pace, far quicker than most people probably realize, and
(01:20):
in ways that are deeply, profoundly impactful. It's not just
about automating tasks anymore. It's really about extending human capability,
human experience.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Absolutely, and that's precisely what we're diving into today. Humanoid
robots are no longer just advancing in what they can
physically achieve, their strength, their dexterity, their AI smarts, but
quite fundamentally they are evolving and how they enable us
to project our presence into the world, and even how
they can operate autonomously without constant human intervention. We're going
to unpack some truly groundbreaking developments that are redefining our
(01:53):
relationship with these incredible machines, forcing us to rethink what
being there genuinely means, and well the very nature of
work itself.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Right, So our mission for this deep dive is to
explore some recent frankly jaw dropping revelations from some of
the most influential players in the robotics world. We'll be
focusing on three pivotal areas that when you look at
them together, they paint a pretty compelling picture of our
near future. First, we'll delve into the incredible innovations in
remote human presence through robotics, basically extending our minds into
(02:24):
mechanical bodies. Second, we'll look at these strategic and maybe
surprising pivot towards shrinking humanoid forms, making them more practical
for everyday utility, moving beyond just the flashy demo. And Third,
we'll uncover the astonishing leap towards continuous, self sustaining robotic
operation machines that quite literally never stop working.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Okay, And the why now factor you mentioned.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Oh, absolutely crucial here. It's this convergence we just can't ignore.
These aren't isolated advancements happening, you know, in a vacuum.
They represent a powerful collision of technological maturity think advanced AI,
more robust hardware, increasingly precise actuators, converging with pressing global
economic pressures like labor shortages, and also subtle but significant
(03:07):
philosophical shifts in how we view automation. All these forces
are collectively accelerating what we can only really describe as
the humanoid revolution. It's truly all happening at once, and
it's accelerating faster than most probably realize.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Okay, let's unpack this. Let's start with what many are
calling one of the most surreal and arguably paradigm shifting
tech moments of the year. We're talking about a prominent figure,
a name synonymous with revolutionizing virtual reality, someone who helped
kickstart the entire VR thing with Oculus, Palmer Lucky. Now,
(03:40):
when someone like that makes a public appearance at a
major tech summit, you typically expect them to walk onto
the stage right, or maybe dial in on a video call,
or you know, at the very least send a pre
recorded message. But that's not what happened. Instead, Palmer Lucky
made his public appearance through a fully embodied humanoid robot.
Can you even begin to imagine witnessing that firsthand, To
(04:01):
see a human personality, complete with their voice, their emotions,
their unique expressions, genuinely inhabiting a full humanoid robot body
right there in front of a stunned crowd. Wasn't some
pre program stunt. It was a bold, live demonstration, really
pushing the very definition of presence. It must have been
truly on inspiring, a moment that makes you pause and
question everything you thought you knew about where we end
(04:21):
in technology begins.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
It was, and I don't think this is hyperbole, a
new definition of presence, taloressence in its most literal and
frankly captivating form. What made this fundamentally different and so
profoundly impactful wasn't just the robot's impressive tech. It was
the nature of the interaction, the sheer fidelity of the connection.
This wasn't a pre recorded voiceover nope, Nor was it
(04:44):
Palmer wearing a VR headset, just you know, controlling an
avatar in some virtual world. And it certainly wasn't one
of those smaller wheeled telepresence robots with an iPad showing
a face on a screen. We've all seen those.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Right, Those always feel a bit clunky.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Exactly, this was real time physical control. Palmer was physically
moving the robot's limbs, gesturing with its hands, speaking through
its integrated audio system live as if he were actually
there himself. The robot named Phantom, built by Foundation Robotics,
mimicked human movement with this astonishing, almost uncanny fidelity. It
featured highly expressive upper body articulation, allowing for natural gesticulations.
(05:21):
It had real time voice output perfectly synchronized with movement,
and coordinated limb control that allowed it to gesture point
talk almost as naturally as a human. The core magic
wasn't just the robot's textbecs, impressive as they are, It
was the sheer presence. It enabled the ability for Palmer
to look around, react to the audience, emphasizes points with fluid,
natural body language. It just blurred the lines in a
(05:43):
way we've only really seen in sci fi. This isn't
just teleprisons. It's practically remote embodiment.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
And that's where it gets really interesting for me, because
this isn't simply a technical milestone. It feels like a
truly profound philosophical one. What does it genuinely mean for
a human personality with all its nuances as voice, patterns, emotions, expressions,
to quite literally inhabit a full humanoid robot body. It
immediately raises these deep questions about identity right and the
(06:11):
additional boundaries of physical presence. Suddenly, the phrase you are
here doesn't necessarily mean your biological body is here. It
suggests that our consciousness, our agency, our self could extend
beyond our skin. Well, that's a radical.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Shift, precisely, And the future applications, the market impact of
something like this, they're staggering far beyond what might immediately
spring to mind. If we allow ourselves to brainstorm some
what if scenarios drawing directly from what the creators and
vision and what sources suggest, the possibilities are immense. Imagine
doctors performing complex surgeries remotely, which itself is revolutionary we know.
(06:47):
But imagine them guiding robotic instruments with the precision and
nuanced dexterity of their own hands miles away, maybe even
feeling the resistance and texture through haptic feedback. Or think
about specialized teachers appearing in classrooms globally, fully embodied, interacting
with students in real time, able to write on a whiteboard, gesture, emphatically,
make eye contact no matter where they physically are.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
That can change education completely.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
It really could. And consider the personal connections visiting your
elderly parents in another country, not just through a flat
video call, but by literally stepping into a robot shell
across the globe. You could sit at their kitchen table, speak, move, react,
share a cup of tea as if you were truly
there experiencing the environment. This tech creates an entirely new
(07:32):
category of interaction. Foundation Robotics isn't just building advanced robots.
They're effectively building infrastructure for remote embodiment. This moves us
beyond simple automation or assistance. It focuses purely on extending
human presence and experience. It enables unique things like, say,
performing delicate lab work and hazardous environments, conducting high stakes
(07:53):
diplomatic negotiations where nonverbal cues are critical, or even groundbreaking
performance art.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
The potential for connection and accessibility, especially across vast distances,
is just incredible, isn't it. It makes current video calls
for all their convenience feel remarkably limited by comparison. Like
you said, you're not just seeing a face, You're feeling
a truly embodied presence, and the vision here is truly ambitious.
If Foundation Robotics can scale this technology make phantom cheaper, lighter,
(08:20):
more accessible, it really could be a truly transformative social
technology like post iPhone era stuff. We're talking about a
shift as profound as mobile phones or the Internet.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
It has that potential absolutely, and given Palmer Lucky's background,
particularly in defense VR cutting edge robotics, it's not hard
to see how this could find rapid adoption. Sectors like military, medical,
maybe even entertainment for immersive experiences, they seem right for this,
But the real game changer would be its expansion into
everyday consumer applications, letting people virtually be anywhere. The challenge,
(08:52):
of course, is huge making such complex, high fidelity robots
affordable and robust enough for widespread use. That's a massive
engineering undertaking, but the potential payoff is equally vast.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Okay, But while that potential is exhilarating, it also raises
some pretty big, maybe even unsettling questions, doesn't it challenges
we need to think about?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Oh? Absolutely, we absolutely need to consider these as the
technology matures. For instance, privacy, What are the implications when
your digital presence can be projected into a physical form
far away, seeing, hearing, interacting in real space and beyond?
Just who owns your actions when you're embodied in a
robot across the globe? What about the data collected by
(09:31):
that robot sensors? Who gets access? What happens if someone
manages to hack into your telerescence feed, gaining control of
your projected self, potentially using your persona for malicious purposes.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Ooof, yeah, that's scary.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
And think about liability. If a remote controlled robot causes damage,
who's responsible? The human operator, the robots manufacturer, the platform provider.
And on a more existential level, what does identity even mean?
When your voice, your mannerisms, your gestures can animate a
mechanical show somewhere else entirely? Could prolonged use lead to
a sense of dissociation, a blurring of the self. These
(10:05):
are complex ethical, legal, societal dilemmas. They demand careful thought,
proactive regulation, robust security. They're not footnotes, they're fundamental challenges.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
You're absolutely right. It's both profoundly fascinating and I have
to admit, yeah, more than a little unsettling. That tension
between the incredible potential and the inherent perils is what
makes us feel so captivating. But during his robotic appearance,
Palmer Lucky made a really key point, one that sort
of sums up this moment in tech. He said that
hype around solving hard tech problems isn't inherently a bad thing.
(10:37):
In fact, he argued, hype attracts attention, brings in crucial capital,
and it galvanizes the smartest people to focus on what
might seem like impossible problems. And when that kind of
focused energy and investment converges, innovation just accelerates exponentially.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And he's absolutely spot on about that. The transformative power
of optimism and yes, strategic hype as a driving force.
Think about it. If we hadn't hyped the dream of
commercially viable VR or truly capable humanoid robots years ago,
we likely wouldn't be seeing the incredible advances we are today.
Without that initial spark, that audacious dream presented to the
(11:13):
public and investors, we might not have Tesla Optimist pushing boundaries,
or Figure Z two showing advanced manipulation, or unitary g
one pushing athletics. And we certainly wouldn't have witnessed the
spectacle of a human speaking through a robot body live
with such fidelity. Optimism in this context isn't just wishful thinking.
It's a catalyst. It creates the gravitational pull for talent
(11:33):
and resources needed for breakthroughs.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Okay, So while some are pushing the very boundaries of
human presence through robotics, extending our consciousness, you could say,
others are quietly but powerfully refining the robot's physical form
for truly everyday utility. This brings us to lead you
Robotics and their new creation, the Lubin number two. It's
a significantly smaller, sleeker version of their flagship robot and
(11:58):
it seems clearly to with a very specific purpose in mind,
navigating tight human centric environments. I'm thinking about its implications
for everything from an average home to a busy shop floor.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Indeed, Leju's design philosophy with the Lubin number two represents
a truly significant pivot, a design pivot within the humanoid
robotics industry. For years, the race has been dominated by
a focus on tall, human scale bipedal forms, often optimized
for impressive if sometimes you know, overly athletic movements and
controlled demos right the backflips and dancing, Yeah, exactly, the
(12:30):
flashy stuff. Lejou is consciously moving away from that, betting
on something significantly smaller, nimbler, and inherently more suited to
confined or commercial spaces where a taller, bulkier robot might
just be impractical or even hazardous. This pivot is an
arbitrary It feels like a response to the practical realities,
maybe the early market struggles of larger humanoids. There's a
recognition that for robots to truly integrate into our daily
(12:52):
lives are existing infrastructure they need to fit. The specific
refinements are noticeable. The body's more streamlined, farmer compact. The
joints look meticulously refined, probably for efficiency and quiet operation.
The arms are sleeker, the legs seem better balanced with
the lower center of gravity. Everything about it looks optimized
for practical mobility and reliable quiet operation rather than those
(13:14):
exaggerated overly athletics administrations. This feels less about demo hype
and more about actual practical deployment designing for real world
efficiency and ease of integration. It signals a shift from
can it walk? To can it work effectively?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Here, and the advantages of that compact form factor become
immediately clear when you think about real world scenarios for navigation,
A smaller robot like Lubenober two would be far better
equipped to move through tighter spaces, think typical offices with pubicles,
narrow aisles, the average home filled with furniture, or even
densely packed warehouses and retail stores where taller humanoids would
(13:51):
definitely struggle, maybe even knock things.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Over right, we'll just get stuck exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Then there's stability, lower center of gravity, smaller turning radio
that naturally means significantly less risk of falling, making them
inherently safer and more reliable in dynamic, unpredictable environments, which
translates directly into less downtime, fewer operational headaches. And let's
not overlook the crucial economic angle. A smaller frame means
(14:16):
fewer materials, probably less powerful motors, maybe simpler batteries, which
could mean significantly cheaper production costs. If Lubin number two
ends up matching the functional capability and reliability of its taller,
priceier counterparts, Luju could have a powerful price advantage. Right
Opening up markets where it costs has been a huge barrier.
It feels like a strategic play for market share through
practicality and affordability.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
It does now, It's true we haven't yet seen full
dynamic mobility from Leavin number two in public teasers. That's
an important limitation, something the still need to demonstrate effectively. However,
the very design, the balance, the arm articulation the compact
systems strongly suggests a clear intent for sophisticated and efficient
movement and cluttered indoor environments. Lisiu seems to be playing
(14:59):
a long game here, focused squarely on real world usability,
not just chasing a viral demo video. That means prioritizing
key engineering challenges efficient locomotion, reliable balance on varied surfaces,
extremely low power consumption for long operation times, and contact
packaging for easy deployment. The core technical hurdle isn't just
making it walk, but making it walk gracefully, reliably and
(15:22):
efficiently in tight spots. This requires advanced sensor fusion, combining
camera data, light our inertial sensors, and really sophisticated control
algorithms for dynamic balance and path planning in real time.
If they nailed these areas, Lubiniva two could relistedly become
one of the most deployable humanoids out there, moving beyond
the tech expos showpiece into widespread practical use in commercial
spaces logistics. Maybe even homes. Eventually, it's about building a workhorse,
(15:46):
not just a flashy performer.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Okay, so we've talked about how humans can extend their
presence through robots, blurring you lines of where we are,
and we looked at how robots are being designed to
be more practical to fit into our real world environments.
Now let's pivot to another truly astonishing capability, the idea
of continuous operation. A robot that literally never sleeps, never
stops working. This brings us a uptex Walker S two,
(16:10):
and this is the big shocker that redefines robotic endurance.
It's not just another humanoid. It's the world first humanoid
robot with autonomous battery clopping explicitly designed for twenty four
to seven NonStop operation without any human intervention. That alone
is just a complete game changer for industry.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
It really is. This is truly a revolutionary feature. It
redefines robotic endurance and opens up entirely new ways of operating.
The mechanics of it are incredibly impressive. It speaks to
a really sophisticated level of autonomous capability. The Walker S
two is engineered to detect precisely when its power is
running low, critically low. When it hits that threshold, it
autonomously navigates to a designated battery station. It precisely detaches
(16:50):
its drained battery pack, swaps in a fresh, fully charged
one with remarkable dexterity, I might add, and then without
missing a beat, without needing any human help, it just
continues its mission all by itself. No human needs to
pause its work, manually plug it in, replace anything. It's
like watching I don't know a high performance ev that
not only drives and works in factories, but also pulls
(17:11):
into a pit stop, changes its own battery, and is
back on the track in seconds, all before it ever
truly runs out of tudes. The implications for industries are profound.
This enables true, uninterrupted continuous operation. It overcomes the big
power limitations that currently plague so many autonomous systems. Drones
needing to land, warehouse bots sitting idle at chargers for hours.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Right that downtime adds up exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
This autonomous swapping eliminates that bottleneck, the idea of truly
two hundred and forty seven uptime for critical industrial processes,
logistics monitoring. It's incredibly transformative. Unlocking just unprecedented levels of
productivity and efficiency.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
I can only imagine the exponential impact that two henty
four to seven uptime would have Industries constrained by human
working hours, breaks, fatigue, Imagine massive logittics hub human workers
clock in and out, take breaks, go home. But a
flee of these robots just keeps going relentlessly. They can
be tirelessly sorting packages, delivering tools to assembly stations, performing
(18:13):
continuous inventory checks that would take humans days, or monitoring
safety systems around the clock and hazardous areas. No loss
and performance over a shift, no fatigue, errors, no distractions,
just unwavering precision and endurance day in, day out. It
shifts the bottleneck from human capacity to the robots mechanical lifespan.
And that's a fundamentally different problem to solve.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Isn't it It is, and it's critical to understand that
this autonomous battery swapping isn't just an add on or
a cool feature. It signifies a fundamental mindset shift and
how autonomous robots are designed and deployed. The Walker S
two wasn't built for fluid dance moves or entertaining crowds.
It was purpose built from the ground up. Built to
function reliably and persistently in real world, complex industrial environments
(18:56):
around the clock, with a persistence humans just can't match.
It also uses anthropomorphic bipedal locomotion walking like a human,
which is absolutely crucial for industrial settings because many existing facilities, factories, hospitals, whatever,
they aren't built for wheeled robots. Think about navigating narrow walkways,
climbing stairs, stepping over obstacles, uneven surfaces.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Things wheeled robots just can't handle easily.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Precisely, Walker s two can handle these with remarkable agility.
This is enabled by advanced sensor arrays, letting it move smoothly,
maintain balance even under shifting weight, navigate changing layouts in
real time. Combine this with the utility of its hands
for manipulation, and you're looking at a robot that's not
just mobile, but genuinely useful for a vast array of
tasks sorting, delivering, inventory, monitoring, maybe even light assembly. This
(19:44):
whole design philosophy means robots are now being built to
be truly independent, self sustaining entities, capable of living and
operating autonomously in human spaces, solving problems adapting without constant
human oversight, the human role shifts right from direct control
to managing an optimizing a fleet of these tireless workers.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
This truly changes how we conceive of robotic workforces, doesn't it.
It suggests a future where robots aren't just tools for humans,
but more like independent, tireless collaborators, an extension of the
industrial backbone itself. And if the Walker S two shows
us the how of this untiring, always on future, then
Nvidia's CEO Jensen Wong provides the compelling and urgent why
(20:23):
now you recently sit on stage at the Beijing Supply
Chain expowen, Well, he didn't mince words. He delivered a
clear message. The time for widespread humanoid robots is not eventually,
not soon. And now w that statement, coming from the
leader of the company powering basically every major AI system globally,
that should make the entire tech industry really all of
us sit up and pay very close attention. It's a
(20:45):
strategic declaration absolutely.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Wang's core argument for this immediate rollout is deeply rooted
in a huge global problem, the accelerating global labor shortage.
He highlighted that there are literally tens of millions of
unfilled jobs worldwide medical sectors like manufacturing, logistics, retail, health care.
This isn't just an issue for one region. Countries like Japan, Germany,
(21:07):
the US, even China itself. They're all grappling with the
same challenge, a profound and growing scarcity of people to
fill crucial roles. This is precisely where humanoid robots fit in.
According to Quong, they won't just passively fill these gaps.
They will actively drive up global GDP by extending productivity
beyond what humans alone can achieve. Robots can quite literally
(21:27):
make the economy bigger, more efficient, more resilient, he argues.
They won't be taking jobs from people, but rather doing
the jobs that no one wants to do or that
companies simply can't find people for, and critically doing them
twenty four to seven, continuously perfectly aligning with that autonomous
operation capability we just talked about with Walker s too.
This isn't some far off forecast. It's presented as a
present necessity, driven by demographic and economic realities, and it
(21:50):
makes perfect.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Sense that Nvidia, under Kuang's leadership, is playing such a
pivotal role in this revolution. Their ecosystem is already deeply
embedded their chips, power the AISI brains and countless humanoids,
letting them perceive, learn, act intelligently. Beyond hardware, they offer
ISAAC sim that simulation environment for training robots virtually before
they hit the real world. That dramatically speaks things up.
(22:14):
And with deep partnerships across continents, they're perfectly positioned to
provide the fundamental computing and software infrastructure, kind of like
the nervous system for this new generation of automated workers.
It's a really comprehensive strategy.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Jensen Wang is also making a particularly bold prediction about
China's potential leadership in this global robotics race. He asserts
China is uniquely positioned to lead not just because of
its massive manufacturing power, which is obviously key, but also
due to its incredibly deep and integrated talent pool in AI,
megatronics and crucially full stack hardware software integration. That's a
(22:49):
critical distinction. While other regions might excel in AI research
or robotic hardware separately, China's ecosystem seems particularly good at
merging these fields seamlessly, moving from concept to mass production
incredibly fast. He pointed to companies like ub Tech which
we discussed Jaumi even byd the ev giant. These aren't
(23:09):
traditionally seen as just humanoid robotics leaders, but they possess
immense engineering power and scale, especially in advanced manufacturing and batteries.
Huang hinted these companies could rapidly turn cutting edge ideas
into physical, mass produced robots at an unprecedented.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Pace, so they have the muscle to scale it quickly.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Exactly, and notably, in Vidia signaled it's open for business,
willing to collaborate with basically any robotics company it's permitted
to work with, from startups to industrial giants anywhere. This
positions in Vidia as a core enabler aiming to power
this next generation of humanoid machines across the globe.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
So if we bring it all together, it becomes incredibly
clear these seemingly disparate updates, remote presence, shrinking, form factor,
continuous operation, global economic comparative, they're actually all converging part
of the same grand unfolding narrative. When you connect the dots,
Lejew's Lubina to two is the body shrinking refining for practical, affordable,
(24:05):
deployable utility, making it accessible. Then Foundation's fantom is the
mind or presence, extending expanding human reach, giving human experience
mechanical legs and arms. Next, Ubtec's Walker S two is
the endurance, proving robots can operate NonStop, self sufficiently. And finally,
Jensen Huang's vision is the acceleration, calling for action, highlighting
(24:26):
economic forces providing the underlying computing power is like a
symphony of tech and economic forces playing together.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
It really is a powerful collision point creating a sum
far greater than its parts. When agile, practical, tirelessly enduring
hardware meets expressive teleorescence, we're not just getting robots that
act like humans by doing tasks. We're moving towards a
reality where robots can in a meaningful way be humans remotely, virtually,
(24:51):
and perhaps with evolving legal frameworks. Even recognizes an extension
of a person's presence in certain contexts one day, it
truly shifts our understanding of it, embodiment, and what it
means to be physically or functionally present. This isn't just automation,
it's the augmentation of human capacity, a profound expansion of
our reach.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
And this convergence leads us to a truly fascinating glimpse
of tomorrow, a future where the boundaries between a human
and machine are becoming incredibly flexible, almost fluid. Consider that
thought experiment, but one inspired by the sources. Imagine walking
into a hotel lobby in a few years. You're greeted
not by a person or a kiosk, but by a
(25:28):
Lubin style robot with a phantom style interface. And behind
that robot, a real person, maybe hundreds or thousands of
miles away, is seamlessly beaming their presence into that body
just to serve you for a few minutes. They could
be anywhere, serving customers globally, leveraging unique language skills or
expertise without needing to physically relocate. That doesn't feel like
a gimmick anymore. That feels like exactly where things are heading.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
We are undoubtedly entering an era where these boundaries are
becoming incredibly flexible, adaptable, integrated. It's a time where robot
design shrinks down for practical, ubiquitous deployment into our everyday spaces,
making them unobtrusive, efficient, and simultaneously human presence scales up
for remote immersive experience, allowing us to connect and interact
(26:12):
in ways previously impossible. It's about creating this integrated, fluid
reality where a physical distance becomes less of a barrier
to presence and productivity. The operational challenge is sure, they'll
involve ensuring ultralow latency, robust connectivity, managing the psychological impact.
But the technical foundations for this they're rapidly falling into place.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
What this all means for you, for me, for our
everyday lives is that being present won't necessarily require being
physically there anymore. Robotic embodiment in many context could very
well become as normal as accepted as a video call
is today. Think about it sending your digital self to
a meeting, a concert, maybe even a family dinner across
the globe. The implications are just enormous.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
The ultimate takeaway here is simple, yet profoundly impactful. The
age of humanoid robots isn't about replacing humans in some
zero sum game creating a stark divide. Instead, it's about
profoundly amplifying what's possible for humanity, extending our reach, fundamentally
reshaping the nature of work. It's about taking on jobs
we don't have enough people for, about machines working tirelessly
(27:13):
alongside people who need to rest recharge focus on higher
level tasks. This dynamic will drive unprecedented economic growth, stability
unlock new opportunities globally. This isn't just a tech shift,
It's a societal evolution, redefining our relationship with labor and
presence itself. And this raises an important, maybe even unsettling
question for you, our listener, to ponder long after this
(27:35):
deep dive ends. If the human soul, our personality, our
very self can, in some meaningful way project itself and
occupy a synthetic frame, even just for a little while.
What new forms of connection, What truly novel modes of work,
What unprecedented forms of art might emerge from that flexible boundary.
What if it truly mean for you when yourself can
genuinely and effectively be in two places at once?
Speaker 1 (27:55):
What a thought to ponder is we wrap up this
deep dive into the evolving world of human world, robots
and what it all means for our future. It's a
field moving at an incredible pace, constantly challenging our perceptions
of what's possible, inviting us to imagine truly different ways
of living, working, and connecting.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Indeed, the breakthroughs we discussed today are really just the
tip of the iceberg, hinting at a reality where human
and machine interaction becomes more integrated, more nuanced, and frankly,
more pervasive than ever before. It's a world being built
right now, right before our eyes.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Keep exploring, keep questioning, and stay endlessly curious about the
extraordinary world being built around.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Us until next time, Keep thinking critically.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Goodbye for now.
Imagine, for a moment, you're sitting in a crucial meeting,
maybe giving a presentation that could, you know, genuinely to
change the trajectory of your entire career. Or maybe you're
at a family gathering, sharing a meal, laughing at old stories,
feeling completely at ease. But here's a twist. Your physical
body isn't actually there. It's miles, maybe even continents away.
(00:23):
Your presence, your voice, your gestures, your very essence are
channeled through another form of machine. How would that reshape
the way we interact, the way we work, even how
we understand our own selves. I've often thought about those
moments when I desperately wished I could be in two
places at once. I remember one particular week where I
had a critical product launch on the West Coast that
demanded my full attention, and like simultaneously, there was a
(00:45):
significant family event on the East Coast. I just couldn't
miss the feeling of being stretched. Then that disconnect, the
sense of missing something vital, it was palpable. It left
me wondering what if there was another way to truly
be there?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And that yearning, that desire for you, abiquitous presence, the
whole idea of bridging immense distances and transcending physical limitations. Well,
it's not really science fiction anymore, is it. We are
genuinely witnessing a fundamental blurring of the lines between human
and machine presence, I mean, and it's happening at an
astonishing pace, far quicker than most people probably realize, and
(01:20):
in ways that are deeply, profoundly impactful. It's not just
about automating tasks anymore. It's really about extending human capability,
human experience.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Absolutely, and that's precisely what we're diving into today. Humanoid
robots are no longer just advancing in what they can
physically achieve, their strength, their dexterity, their AI smarts, but
quite fundamentally they are evolving and how they enable us
to project our presence into the world, and even how
they can operate autonomously without constant human intervention. We're going
to unpack some truly groundbreaking developments that are redefining our
(01:53):
relationship with these incredible machines, forcing us to rethink what
being there genuinely means, and well the very nature of
work itself.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Right, So our mission for this deep dive is to
explore some recent frankly jaw dropping revelations from some of
the most influential players in the robotics world. We'll be
focusing on three pivotal areas that when you look at
them together, they paint a pretty compelling picture of our
near future. First, we'll delve into the incredible innovations in
remote human presence through robotics, basically extending our minds into
(02:24):
mechanical bodies. Second, we'll look at these strategic and maybe
surprising pivot towards shrinking humanoid forms, making them more practical
for everyday utility, moving beyond just the flashy demo. And Third,
we'll uncover the astonishing leap towards continuous, self sustaining robotic
operation machines that quite literally never stop working.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Okay, And the why now factor you mentioned.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Oh, absolutely crucial here. It's this convergence we just can't ignore.
These aren't isolated advancements happening, you know, in a vacuum.
They represent a powerful collision of technological maturity think advanced AI,
more robust hardware, increasingly precise actuators, converging with pressing global
economic pressures like labor shortages, and also subtle but significant
(03:07):
philosophical shifts in how we view automation. All these forces
are collectively accelerating what we can only really describe as
the humanoid revolution. It's truly all happening at once, and
it's accelerating faster than most probably realize.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Okay, let's unpack this. Let's start with what many are
calling one of the most surreal and arguably paradigm shifting
tech moments of the year. We're talking about a prominent figure,
a name synonymous with revolutionizing virtual reality, someone who helped
kickstart the entire VR thing with Oculus, Palmer Lucky. Now,
(03:40):
when someone like that makes a public appearance at a
major tech summit, you typically expect them to walk onto
the stage right, or maybe dial in on a video call,
or you know, at the very least send a pre
recorded message. But that's not what happened. Instead, Palmer Lucky
made his public appearance through a fully embodied humanoid robot.
Can you even begin to imagine witnessing that firsthand, To
(04:01):
see a human personality, complete with their voice, their emotions,
their unique expressions, genuinely inhabiting a full humanoid robot body
right there in front of a stunned crowd. Wasn't some
pre program stunt. It was a bold, live demonstration, really
pushing the very definition of presence. It must have been
truly on inspiring, a moment that makes you pause and
question everything you thought you knew about where we end
(04:21):
in technology begins.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
It was, and I don't think this is hyperbole, a
new definition of presence, taloressence in its most literal and
frankly captivating form. What made this fundamentally different and so
profoundly impactful wasn't just the robot's impressive tech. It was
the nature of the interaction, the sheer fidelity of the connection.
This wasn't a pre recorded voiceover nope, Nor was it
(04:44):
Palmer wearing a VR headset, just you know, controlling an
avatar in some virtual world. And it certainly wasn't one
of those smaller wheeled telepresence robots with an iPad showing
a face on a screen. We've all seen those.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Right, Those always feel a bit clunky.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Exactly, this was real time physical control. Palmer was physically
moving the robot's limbs, gesturing with its hands, speaking through
its integrated audio system live as if he were actually
there himself. The robot named Phantom, built by Foundation Robotics,
mimicked human movement with this astonishing, almost uncanny fidelity. It
featured highly expressive upper body articulation, allowing for natural gesticulations.
(05:21):
It had real time voice output perfectly synchronized with movement,
and coordinated limb control that allowed it to gesture point
talk almost as naturally as a human. The core magic
wasn't just the robot's textbecs, impressive as they are, It
was the sheer presence. It enabled the ability for Palmer
to look around, react to the audience, emphasizes points with fluid,
natural body language. It just blurred the lines in a
(05:43):
way we've only really seen in sci fi. This isn't
just teleprisons. It's practically remote embodiment.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
And that's where it gets really interesting for me, because
this isn't simply a technical milestone. It feels like a
truly profound philosophical one. What does it genuinely mean for
a human personality with all its nuances as voice, patterns, emotions, expressions,
to quite literally inhabit a full humanoid robot body. It
immediately raises these deep questions about identity right and the
(06:11):
additional boundaries of physical presence. Suddenly, the phrase you are
here doesn't necessarily mean your biological body is here. It
suggests that our consciousness, our agency, our self could extend
beyond our skin. Well, that's a radical.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Shift, precisely, And the future applications, the market impact of
something like this, they're staggering far beyond what might immediately
spring to mind. If we allow ourselves to brainstorm some
what if scenarios drawing directly from what the creators and
vision and what sources suggest, the possibilities are immense. Imagine
doctors performing complex surgeries remotely, which itself is revolutionary we know.
(06:47):
But imagine them guiding robotic instruments with the precision and
nuanced dexterity of their own hands miles away, maybe even
feeling the resistance and texture through haptic feedback. Or think
about specialized teachers appearing in classrooms globally, fully embodied, interacting
with students in real time, able to write on a whiteboard, gesture, emphatically,
make eye contact no matter where they physically are.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
That can change education completely.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
It really could. And consider the personal connections visiting your
elderly parents in another country, not just through a flat
video call, but by literally stepping into a robot shell
across the globe. You could sit at their kitchen table, speak, move, react,
share a cup of tea as if you were truly
there experiencing the environment. This tech creates an entirely new
(07:32):
category of interaction. Foundation Robotics isn't just building advanced robots.
They're effectively building infrastructure for remote embodiment. This moves us
beyond simple automation or assistance. It focuses purely on extending
human presence and experience. It enables unique things like, say,
performing delicate lab work and hazardous environments, conducting high stakes
(07:53):
diplomatic negotiations where nonverbal cues are critical, or even groundbreaking
performance art.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
The potential for connection and accessibility, especially across vast distances,
is just incredible, isn't it. It makes current video calls
for all their convenience feel remarkably limited by comparison. Like
you said, you're not just seeing a face, You're feeling
a truly embodied presence, and the vision here is truly ambitious.
If Foundation Robotics can scale this technology make phantom cheaper, lighter,
(08:20):
more accessible, it really could be a truly transformative social
technology like post iPhone era stuff. We're talking about a
shift as profound as mobile phones or the Internet.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
It has that potential absolutely, and given Palmer Lucky's background,
particularly in defense VR cutting edge robotics, it's not hard
to see how this could find rapid adoption. Sectors like military, medical,
maybe even entertainment for immersive experiences, they seem right for this,
But the real game changer would be its expansion into
everyday consumer applications, letting people virtually be anywhere. The challenge,
(08:52):
of course, is huge making such complex, high fidelity robots
affordable and robust enough for widespread use. That's a massive
engineering undertaking, but the potential payoff is equally vast.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Okay, But while that potential is exhilarating, it also raises
some pretty big, maybe even unsettling questions, doesn't it challenges
we need to think about?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Oh? Absolutely, we absolutely need to consider these as the
technology matures. For instance, privacy, What are the implications when
your digital presence can be projected into a physical form
far away, seeing, hearing, interacting in real space and beyond?
Just who owns your actions when you're embodied in a
robot across the globe? What about the data collected by
(09:31):
that robot sensors? Who gets access? What happens if someone
manages to hack into your telerescence feed, gaining control of
your projected self, potentially using your persona for malicious purposes.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Ooof, yeah, that's scary.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
And think about liability. If a remote controlled robot causes damage,
who's responsible? The human operator, the robots manufacturer, the platform provider.
And on a more existential level, what does identity even mean?
When your voice, your mannerisms, your gestures can animate a
mechanical show somewhere else entirely? Could prolonged use lead to
a sense of dissociation, a blurring of the self. These
(10:05):
are complex ethical, legal, societal dilemmas. They demand careful thought,
proactive regulation, robust security. They're not footnotes, they're fundamental challenges.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
You're absolutely right. It's both profoundly fascinating and I have
to admit, yeah, more than a little unsettling. That tension
between the incredible potential and the inherent perils is what
makes us feel so captivating. But during his robotic appearance,
Palmer Lucky made a really key point, one that sort
of sums up this moment in tech. He said that
hype around solving hard tech problems isn't inherently a bad thing.
(10:37):
In fact, he argued, hype attracts attention, brings in crucial capital,
and it galvanizes the smartest people to focus on what
might seem like impossible problems. And when that kind of
focused energy and investment converges, innovation just accelerates exponentially.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And he's absolutely spot on about that. The transformative power
of optimism and yes, strategic hype as a driving force.
Think about it. If we hadn't hyped the dream of
commercially viable VR or truly capable humanoid robots years ago,
we likely wouldn't be seeing the incredible advances we are today.
Without that initial spark, that audacious dream presented to the
(11:13):
public and investors, we might not have Tesla Optimist pushing boundaries,
or Figure Z two showing advanced manipulation, or unitary g
one pushing athletics. And we certainly wouldn't have witnessed the
spectacle of a human speaking through a robot body live
with such fidelity. Optimism in this context isn't just wishful thinking.
It's a catalyst. It creates the gravitational pull for talent
(11:33):
and resources needed for breakthroughs.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Okay, So while some are pushing the very boundaries of
human presence through robotics, extending our consciousness, you could say,
others are quietly but powerfully refining the robot's physical form
for truly everyday utility. This brings us to lead you
Robotics and their new creation, the Lubin number two. It's
a significantly smaller, sleeker version of their flagship robot and
(11:58):
it seems clearly to with a very specific purpose in mind,
navigating tight human centric environments. I'm thinking about its implications
for everything from an average home to a busy shop floor.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Indeed, Leju's design philosophy with the Lubin number two represents
a truly significant pivot, a design pivot within the humanoid
robotics industry. For years, the race has been dominated by
a focus on tall, human scale bipedal forms, often optimized
for impressive if sometimes you know, overly athletic movements and
controlled demos right the backflips and dancing, Yeah, exactly, the
(12:30):
flashy stuff. Lejou is consciously moving away from that, betting
on something significantly smaller, nimbler, and inherently more suited to
confined or commercial spaces where a taller, bulkier robot might
just be impractical or even hazardous. This pivot is an
arbitrary It feels like a response to the practical realities,
maybe the early market struggles of larger humanoids. There's a
recognition that for robots to truly integrate into our daily
(12:52):
lives are existing infrastructure they need to fit. The specific
refinements are noticeable. The body's more streamlined, farmer compact. The
joints look meticulously refined, probably for efficiency and quiet operation.
The arms are sleeker, the legs seem better balanced with
the lower center of gravity. Everything about it looks optimized
for practical mobility and reliable quiet operation rather than those
(13:14):
exaggerated overly athletics administrations. This feels less about demo hype
and more about actual practical deployment designing for real world
efficiency and ease of integration. It signals a shift from
can it walk? To can it work effectively?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Here, and the advantages of that compact form factor become
immediately clear when you think about real world scenarios for navigation,
A smaller robot like Lubenober two would be far better
equipped to move through tighter spaces, think typical offices with pubicles,
narrow aisles, the average home filled with furniture, or even
densely packed warehouses and retail stores where taller humanoids would
(13:51):
definitely struggle, maybe even knock things.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Over right, we'll just get stuck exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Then there's stability, lower center of gravity, smaller turning radio
that naturally means significantly less risk of falling, making them
inherently safer and more reliable in dynamic, unpredictable environments, which
translates directly into less downtime, fewer operational headaches. And let's
not overlook the crucial economic angle. A smaller frame means
(14:16):
fewer materials, probably less powerful motors, maybe simpler batteries, which
could mean significantly cheaper production costs. If Lubin number two
ends up matching the functional capability and reliability of its taller,
priceier counterparts, Luju could have a powerful price advantage. Right
Opening up markets where it costs has been a huge barrier.
It feels like a strategic play for market share through
practicality and affordability.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
It does now, It's true we haven't yet seen full
dynamic mobility from Leavin number two in public teasers. That's
an important limitation, something the still need to demonstrate effectively. However,
the very design, the balance, the arm articulation the compact
systems strongly suggests a clear intent for sophisticated and efficient
movement and cluttered indoor environments. Lisiu seems to be playing
(14:59):
a long game here, focused squarely on real world usability,
not just chasing a viral demo video. That means prioritizing
key engineering challenges efficient locomotion, reliable balance on varied surfaces,
extremely low power consumption for long operation times, and contact
packaging for easy deployment. The core technical hurdle isn't just
making it walk, but making it walk gracefully, reliably and
(15:22):
efficiently in tight spots. This requires advanced sensor fusion, combining
camera data, light our inertial sensors, and really sophisticated control
algorithms for dynamic balance and path planning in real time.
If they nailed these areas, Lubiniva two could relistedly become
one of the most deployable humanoids out there, moving beyond
the tech expos showpiece into widespread practical use in commercial
spaces logistics. Maybe even homes. Eventually, it's about building a workhorse,
(15:46):
not just a flashy performer.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Okay, so we've talked about how humans can extend their
presence through robots, blurring you lines of where we are,
and we looked at how robots are being designed to
be more practical to fit into our real world environments.
Now let's pivot to another truly astonishing capability, the idea
of continuous operation. A robot that literally never sleeps, never
stops working. This brings us a uptex Walker S two,
(16:10):
and this is the big shocker that redefines robotic endurance.
It's not just another humanoid. It's the world first humanoid
robot with autonomous battery clopping explicitly designed for twenty four
to seven NonStop operation without any human intervention. That alone
is just a complete game changer for industry.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
It really is. This is truly a revolutionary feature. It
redefines robotic endurance and opens up entirely new ways of operating.
The mechanics of it are incredibly impressive. It speaks to
a really sophisticated level of autonomous capability. The Walker S
two is engineered to detect precisely when its power is
running low, critically low. When it hits that threshold, it
autonomously navigates to a designated battery station. It precisely detaches
(16:50):
its drained battery pack, swaps in a fresh, fully charged
one with remarkable dexterity, I might add, and then without
missing a beat, without needing any human help, it just
continues its mission all by itself. No human needs to
pause its work, manually plug it in, replace anything. It's
like watching I don't know a high performance ev that
not only drives and works in factories, but also pulls
(17:11):
into a pit stop, changes its own battery, and is
back on the track in seconds, all before it ever
truly runs out of tudes. The implications for industries are profound.
This enables true, uninterrupted continuous operation. It overcomes the big
power limitations that currently plague so many autonomous systems. Drones
needing to land, warehouse bots sitting idle at chargers for hours.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Right that downtime adds up exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
This autonomous swapping eliminates that bottleneck, the idea of truly
two hundred and forty seven uptime for critical industrial processes,
logistics monitoring. It's incredibly transformative. Unlocking just unprecedented levels of
productivity and efficiency.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
I can only imagine the exponential impact that two henty
four to seven uptime would have Industries constrained by human
working hours, breaks, fatigue, Imagine massive logittics hub human workers
clock in and out, take breaks, go home. But a
flee of these robots just keeps going relentlessly. They can
be tirelessly sorting packages, delivering tools to assembly stations, performing
(18:13):
continuous inventory checks that would take humans days, or monitoring
safety systems around the clock and hazardous areas. No loss
and performance over a shift, no fatigue, errors, no distractions,
just unwavering precision and endurance day in, day out. It
shifts the bottleneck from human capacity to the robots mechanical lifespan.
And that's a fundamentally different problem to solve.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Isn't it It is, and it's critical to understand that
this autonomous battery swapping isn't just an add on or
a cool feature. It signifies a fundamental mindset shift and
how autonomous robots are designed and deployed. The Walker S
two wasn't built for fluid dance moves or entertaining crowds.
It was purpose built from the ground up. Built to
function reliably and persistently in real world, complex industrial environments
(18:56):
around the clock, with a persistence humans just can't match.
It also uses anthropomorphic bipedal locomotion walking like a human,
which is absolutely crucial for industrial settings because many existing facilities, factories, hospitals, whatever,
they aren't built for wheeled robots. Think about navigating narrow walkways,
climbing stairs, stepping over obstacles, uneven surfaces.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Things wheeled robots just can't handle easily.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Precisely, Walker s two can handle these with remarkable agility.
This is enabled by advanced sensor arrays, letting it move smoothly,
maintain balance even under shifting weight, navigate changing layouts in
real time. Combine this with the utility of its hands
for manipulation, and you're looking at a robot that's not
just mobile, but genuinely useful for a vast array of
tasks sorting, delivering, inventory, monitoring, maybe even light assembly. This
(19:44):
whole design philosophy means robots are now being built to
be truly independent, self sustaining entities, capable of living and
operating autonomously in human spaces, solving problems adapting without constant
human oversight, the human role shifts right from direct control
to managing an optimizing a fleet of these tireless workers.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
This truly changes how we conceive of robotic workforces, doesn't it.
It suggests a future where robots aren't just tools for humans,
but more like independent, tireless collaborators, an extension of the
industrial backbone itself. And if the Walker S two shows
us the how of this untiring, always on future, then
Nvidia's CEO Jensen Wong provides the compelling and urgent why
(20:23):
now you recently sit on stage at the Beijing Supply
Chain expowen, Well, he didn't mince words. He delivered a
clear message. The time for widespread humanoid robots is not eventually,
not soon. And now w that statement, coming from the
leader of the company powering basically every major AI system globally,
that should make the entire tech industry really all of
us sit up and pay very close attention. It's a
(20:45):
strategic declaration absolutely.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Wang's core argument for this immediate rollout is deeply rooted
in a huge global problem, the accelerating global labor shortage.
He highlighted that there are literally tens of millions of
unfilled jobs worldwide medical sectors like manufacturing, logistics, retail, health care.
This isn't just an issue for one region. Countries like Japan, Germany,
(21:07):
the US, even China itself. They're all grappling with the
same challenge, a profound and growing scarcity of people to
fill crucial roles. This is precisely where humanoid robots fit in.
According to Quong, they won't just passively fill these gaps.
They will actively drive up global GDP by extending productivity
beyond what humans alone can achieve. Robots can quite literally
(21:27):
make the economy bigger, more efficient, more resilient, he argues.
They won't be taking jobs from people, but rather doing
the jobs that no one wants to do or that
companies simply can't find people for, and critically doing them
twenty four to seven, continuously perfectly aligning with that autonomous
operation capability we just talked about with Walker s too.
This isn't some far off forecast. It's presented as a
present necessity, driven by demographic and economic realities, and it
(21:50):
makes perfect.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Sense that Nvidia, under Kuang's leadership, is playing such a
pivotal role in this revolution. Their ecosystem is already deeply
embedded their chips, power the AISI brains and countless humanoids,
letting them perceive, learn, act intelligently. Beyond hardware, they offer
ISAAC sim that simulation environment for training robots virtually before
they hit the real world. That dramatically speaks things up.
(22:14):
And with deep partnerships across continents, they're perfectly positioned to
provide the fundamental computing and software infrastructure, kind of like
the nervous system for this new generation of automated workers.
It's a really comprehensive strategy.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Jensen Wang is also making a particularly bold prediction about
China's potential leadership in this global robotics race. He asserts
China is uniquely positioned to lead not just because of
its massive manufacturing power, which is obviously key, but also
due to its incredibly deep and integrated talent pool in AI,
megatronics and crucially full stack hardware software integration. That's a
(22:49):
critical distinction. While other regions might excel in AI research
or robotic hardware separately, China's ecosystem seems particularly good at
merging these fields seamlessly, moving from concept to mass production
incredibly fast. He pointed to companies like ub Tech which
we discussed Jaumi even byd the ev giant. These aren't
(23:09):
traditionally seen as just humanoid robotics leaders, but they possess
immense engineering power and scale, especially in advanced manufacturing and batteries.
Huang hinted these companies could rapidly turn cutting edge ideas
into physical, mass produced robots at an unprecedented.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Pace, so they have the muscle to scale it quickly.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Exactly, and notably, in Vidia signaled it's open for business,
willing to collaborate with basically any robotics company it's permitted
to work with, from startups to industrial giants anywhere. This
positions in Vidia as a core enabler aiming to power
this next generation of humanoid machines across the globe.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
So if we bring it all together, it becomes incredibly
clear these seemingly disparate updates, remote presence, shrinking, form factor,
continuous operation, global economic comparative, they're actually all converging part
of the same grand unfolding narrative. When you connect the dots,
Lejew's Lubina to two is the body shrinking refining for practical, affordable,
(24:05):
deployable utility, making it accessible. Then Foundation's fantom is the
mind or presence, extending expanding human reach, giving human experience
mechanical legs and arms. Next, Ubtec's Walker S two is
the endurance, proving robots can operate NonStop, self sufficiently. And finally,
Jensen Huang's vision is the acceleration, calling for action, highlighting
(24:26):
economic forces providing the underlying computing power is like a
symphony of tech and economic forces playing together.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
It really is a powerful collision point creating a sum
far greater than its parts. When agile, practical, tirelessly enduring
hardware meets expressive teleorescence, we're not just getting robots that
act like humans by doing tasks. We're moving towards a
reality where robots can in a meaningful way be humans remotely, virtually,
(24:51):
and perhaps with evolving legal frameworks. Even recognizes an extension
of a person's presence in certain contexts one day, it
truly shifts our understanding of it, embodiment, and what it
means to be physically or functionally present. This isn't just automation,
it's the augmentation of human capacity, a profound expansion of
our reach.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
And this convergence leads us to a truly fascinating glimpse
of tomorrow, a future where the boundaries between a human
and machine are becoming incredibly flexible, almost fluid. Consider that
thought experiment, but one inspired by the sources. Imagine walking
into a hotel lobby in a few years. You're greeted
not by a person or a kiosk, but by a
(25:28):
Lubin style robot with a phantom style interface. And behind
that robot, a real person, maybe hundreds or thousands of
miles away, is seamlessly beaming their presence into that body
just to serve you for a few minutes. They could
be anywhere, serving customers globally, leveraging unique language skills or
expertise without needing to physically relocate. That doesn't feel like
a gimmick anymore. That feels like exactly where things are heading.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
We are undoubtedly entering an era where these boundaries are
becoming incredibly flexible, adaptable, integrated. It's a time where robot
design shrinks down for practical, ubiquitous deployment into our everyday spaces,
making them unobtrusive, efficient, and simultaneously human presence scales up
for remote immersive experience, allowing us to connect and interact
(26:12):
in ways previously impossible. It's about creating this integrated, fluid
reality where a physical distance becomes less of a barrier
to presence and productivity. The operational challenge is sure, they'll
involve ensuring ultralow latency, robust connectivity, managing the psychological impact.
But the technical foundations for this they're rapidly falling into place.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
What this all means for you, for me, for our
everyday lives is that being present won't necessarily require being
physically there anymore. Robotic embodiment in many context could very
well become as normal as accepted as a video call
is today. Think about it sending your digital self to
a meeting, a concert, maybe even a family dinner across
the globe. The implications are just enormous.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
The ultimate takeaway here is simple, yet profoundly impactful. The
age of humanoid robots isn't about replacing humans in some
zero sum game creating a stark divide. Instead, it's about
profoundly amplifying what's possible for humanity, extending our reach, fundamentally
reshaping the nature of work. It's about taking on jobs
we don't have enough people for, about machines working tirelessly
(27:13):
alongside people who need to rest recharge focus on higher
level tasks. This dynamic will drive unprecedented economic growth, stability
unlock new opportunities globally. This isn't just a tech shift,
It's a societal evolution, redefining our relationship with labor and
presence itself. And this raises an important, maybe even unsettling
question for you, our listener, to ponder long after this
(27:35):
deep dive ends. If the human soul, our personality, our
very self can, in some meaningful way project itself and
occupy a synthetic frame, even just for a little while.
What new forms of connection, What truly novel modes of work,
What unprecedented forms of art might emerge from that flexible boundary.
What if it truly mean for you when yourself can
genuinely and effectively be in two places at once?
Speaker 1 (27:55):
What a thought to ponder is we wrap up this
deep dive into the evolving world of human world, robots
and what it all means for our future. It's a
field moving at an incredible pace, constantly challenging our perceptions
of what's possible, inviting us to imagine truly different ways
of living, working, and connecting.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Indeed, the breakthroughs we discussed today are really just the
tip of the iceberg, hinting at a reality where human
and machine interaction becomes more integrated, more nuanced, and frankly,
more pervasive than ever before. It's a world being built
right now, right before our eyes.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Keep exploring, keep questioning, and stay endlessly curious about the
extraordinary world being built around.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Us until next time, Keep thinking critically.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Goodbye for now.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.