OpenAI’s Incredible Robot Demo: A Breakdown of the Technical Details

HAQ NAWAZ MALIK
3 min readApr 2, 2024

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This is genuinely by far the most surprising AI demo I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and you’re about to see exactly why OpenAI and Figure’s new humanoid robot is absolutely incredible.

Now, let’s dive into all the technical details of how this robot works.

The Technical Breakdown

The first image tweeted by someone who works at OpenAI breaks down the video. It states that all behaviors are learned and not teleoperated, meaning the robot’s actions are entirely autonomous. Unlike previous robot demos, this recent demo was done in real-time, without any speeding up of the footage.

The tweet also explains that OpenAI’s robot uses a multimodal model trained by OpenAI to process images from its cameras and transcribe text from speech captured by onboard microphones. This model understands both images and text, allowing the robot to have conversations and respond accordingly.

Furthermore, the robot utilizes an end-to-end neural network, which enables it to decide which learned closed-loop behaviors to execute based on the conversation and its understanding of the environment. It can also execute these behaviors in real-time without human control.

One of the most impressive aspects of this robot is its visual processing capabilities. It can recognize and understand its surroundings using its cameras, allowing it to reason about what is happening and make decisions accordingly. It can even describe its surroundings using common sense reasoning.

Another significant feature of this robot is its ability to convert its reasoning into spoken words. It can respond to humans by generating spoken language responses based on the conversation and its understanding of the environment.

Additionally, the robot has a whole body controller, ensuring it can move in a controlled and stable way. It has 24 degrees of freedom, meaning it can adjust the position of its wrists and the angles of its fingers in 24 unique ways to grasp and manipulate objects. It can make smooth and precise movements, reacting quickly to changes in its environment.

The robot’s actions are updated 200 times per second, and the forces at its joints are updated 1000 times per second, allowing for smooth and precise movements. The entire system operates seamlessly, enabling the robot to understand and respond to both visual and spoken aspects of its environment.

Impressions and Future Possibilities

This demo from OpenAI and Figure is truly groundbreaking. The speed at which this company has progressed in just 18 months is remarkable. From having nothing to building a working humanoid robot with advanced AI capabilities, OpenAI has demonstrated its ability to push the boundaries of robotics.

One of the most impressive aspects of this demo is the robot’s natural language capabilities. The ability to have a conversation with a robot that sounds human-like is a significant step forward in human-robot interaction. It opens up possibilities for various applications and advancements in robotics.

While the current demo showcases the robot’s abilities in a controlled environment, the next step for OpenAI could be to further improve the robot’s mobility and adaptability. It would be fascinating to see the robot navigate and interact in unfamiliar environments, dynamically adjusting its policies based on real-time information.

With OpenAI’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, it’s not far-fetched to imagine a future where humanoid robots like this one become a common sight in various industries. The implications for automation and AI are vast, and OpenAI is at the forefront of this technological revolution.

In conclusion, OpenAI and Figure’s robot demo is a testament to the rapid advancements in AI and robotics. The capabilities showcased in this demo are truly impressive and offer a glimpse into the future of human-robot interaction. With further development and refinement, the possibilities for this technology are endless.

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HAQ NAWAZ MALIK
HAQ NAWAZ MALIK

Written by HAQ NAWAZ MALIK

AI & CS Specialist | Student | BITS PILANI | ISC2 |

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