4d ago

What if future robots are mostly cheap, open-source, and owned by everybody? Researchers in California have developed a humanoid robot that is 3D printed and costs just $5,000.

Hollywood's love of dystopian sci-fi has a lot to answer for, as it has shaped many people's ideas about the future very negatively. One of the most persistent of those ideas is that robots will only be owned by the 1%, who will use them to subjugate everyone else.

Reality is shaping up to be different. Free, open-source AI is the equal of anything privately controlled. Robotics too looks like it is following a similar trajectory. The Berkeley Humanoid Lite is built with off-the-shelf and 3D-printed components and costs just $5,000.

Contrary to doomerist fantasies, with decentralized renewable energy, and open-source AI & robotics - it seems hard to believe the 1% will own everything in the future.

5 comments

Cool! I hope this sort of thing continues. This specific robot is obviously pretty limited, but it seems like this sort of thing can evolve into really great robots over time. It's certainly a positive thing seeing something like 'early Linux/FOSS' in the robot world.
I would love to be able to avoid Big Tech robots and still end up with useful, cool and affordable robots. I'm in no huge hurry, so the limitations of this robot at this stage don't really bother me.

We don't have to let greed fuck everything up.
- I don’t know shit but would think not greed but perhaps the system would be problematic.
  There are laws forcing publicly traded business to act in best interest of shareholder. (US)

"just" 5K? I've worked with cheaper humanoid robots

I really don't see the use of these robots (setting aside the obvious reason which is why they'll actually get made)
But like for helping with tasks or anything it would be a nightmare.
Imagine all the worst parts of trying to accomplish something with your dumbest coworker combined with the joys of ai. Don't really need a robot dropping his half of the crate to play "Lay down Sally" because i told it to set it down slowly.
We should be focusing on mech suits.