Ghosts in the Machines
Ancestral Echoes, Robots, and Modern Living
I’ve been living in the past instead of the future lately.
In an attempt to help a friend find her birth mother, I wound up wading into the world of my own ancestors. I thought I would just do a quick check on ancestry.com to see if I could learn where my people came from, and I found them all, going back to 1100AD for some of them.
The majority of them came from Ireland and Wales in the mid-18th century, while others came from Germany. The ones that didn’t come from the UK or Germany (there’s literally nobody else, I’m super white) were here long before. A few lines, like most Tennesseans’ heritage, go back to Native American roots.
What do these family ghosts have in common with technology and the future?
Consider this: our ancestors, who migrated from various parts of the world, often faced incredible challenges and hardships in their journeys. Some of the stories I discovered led me down hours-long rabbit holes. Our people had to adapt to new environments, learn new skills, and rely on their ingenuity to survive and thrive. These traits of adaptability, innovation, and resilience were passed down through generations, and they are the same qualities that drive technological progress.
The same spirit that led our forebears to adapt and conquer new frontiers is the same spirit that fuels today's technological innovators.
(Imagine our great-great-grandparents, whose idea of "high-speed communication" was a carrier pigeon. They would be flabbergasted by the idea of sending a text message at the speed of light, only to be met with "K.")
Modern pioneers are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the realms of AI, robotics, and automation. In a sense, our ancestral legacy of adaptation and exploration has found a new expression in our quest to create a technologically advanced future.
The Dawn of the Humanoid Robot
I do a little bit of work for someone named Brett Adcock. He’s the founder of Archer Aviation (electric airplanes) and now Figure AI (humanoid robots). Check out the latest video about his robots below. (Is it my favorite side gig? Yes, yes it is.)
There are a few companies working in the AI-driven humanoid robot space, namely Tesla, Figure, and OpenAI-backed 1X Technologies.
Figure’s robots are powered by artificial intelligence and can perform various physical tasks and work alongside humans. Figure aims to address the labor shortages, unsafe jobs, and supply chain challenges in different sectors, like in warehousing, transportation, and retail. It’s not replacing jobs – these robots are designed to fill the jobs that have high turnover or are just regularly unfilled.
Key differences between the three:
Figure’s vision is to address challenges in different sectors by creating and deploying autonomous humanoid robots that can work efficiently and safely. They also hope to create a positive social impact by empowering humans to focus on more creative and meaningful work and they have committed to not joining forces with the Department of Defense, which is a huge plus in my book.
Tesla’s vision is to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy and transportation by creating and delivering innovative products and services that can benefit humanity and the environment. Tesla also aims to achieve its ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. Tesla’s humanoid robot project is part of its broader vision of creating a symbiosis between humans and machines, where humans can delegate tasks to robots and enjoy a higher quality of life.
1X Technologies wants to democratize access to humanoid robotics by making its products affordable and available to anyone who wants to use them. 1X Technologies believes that humanoid robots can be a powerful tool for advancing science, technology, and society.
My bets are on Figure for many reasons. They have a lab full of experienced, high performing employees and a mission to roll out the robots by 2024. They’re moving fast, with purpose, while Tesla and Elon also have a lot going on. Adcock/Figure is dedicated to this 100%.
1X Tech has been around since 2014 and hasn’t made the types of leaps that Figure has. It seems a little more experimental, whereas Figure sees a need and is obsessed with filling it.
So there’s some healthy competition going on.
In the blink of an eye, we've moved from the pages of our ancestors' tales to a reality where robots are working in concert with humans in an array of industries. Or at least, we will soon. Like in a few months, not years. One key driver of this acceleration is the enormous compute power and artificial intelligence.Complex algorithms and machine learning models can perform tasks previously thought to be the exclusive domain of humans. And they do it a whole lot faster.
Imagine if quantum computing, or any of the supercomputing options, become mainstream within the next year! We’ll accelerate, accelerate, accelerate.
We’re gonna need some monasteries.
Figure’s robots are not only capable of performing physical tasks – they can also adapt and learn from their environment independently. This adaptability is a result of the deep learning algorithms that underpin their artificial intelligence systems. As these algorithms continue to improve, we can expect even more versatile and capable robots in the near future.
One of the most significant advantages of these robots is their ability to work in environments that may be hazardous or challenging for humans. This includes tasks in extreme temperatures, confined spaces, or areas with potential safety risks. Who knows, maybe robots can pave the way to Mars. They did in Isaac Asimov’s iRobot books.
The journey from researching the Gamble and Davis clans to contemplating the rapid progress of technology may seem like a leap, but it highlights the astonishing rate at which our world is changing. Companies like Figure AI are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI-driven humanoid robots, addressing real-world challenges and creating a future where humans and machines can drive positive change across the world(s).
I just want one that will wash my dishes, feed and walk the dogs, and put up the laundry.