Expert Warns: Regulation Crucial for Humanoid Robots’ Future

Autonomous humanoid robots are advancing, but experts caution that without proper regulation, they may pose significant risks. Dr. Carl Strathearn, a leading robotics expert from Edinburgh Napier University, emphasizes that while the technology is progressing, the reality of effective humanoid robots remains years away. His insights will be shared at the upcoming New Scientist Live event scheduled for October 18-20 at London’s ExCel.

Despite impressive demonstrations of humanoid robots performing tasks such as pouring drinks and folding clothes, Dr. Strathearn highlights a significant gap between these showcases and the reality of reliable assistance in everyday life. He states, “The biggest problem is the lack of real-world data and the technological means of gathering it in large enough quantities to train our robots effectively.” Current systems are heavily reliant on virtual simulations and limited training data, which means these robots often struggle outside controlled environments.

Dr. Strathearn is developing a humanoid robot named Euclid, which will be exhibited at New Scientist Live. He notes the challenge of training robots to recognize and interact with everyday objects, citing, “Think of a simple object like a cup. There are millions of variations in size, weight, shape, and color.” This complexity underscores the limitations of existing training methods.

To overcome these challenges, Dr. Strathearn suggests crowdsourcing data on a large scale, potentially through technologies like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. However, he acknowledges the ambitious and ethically complicated nature of gathering such data from thousands or millions of participants.

The expert argues that the primary danger lies not in machines turning against humans, but in human mismanagement of the technology. He explains, “Humans control them using handheld devices, which makes them very dangerous and unreliable.” Strathearn is spearheading a petition for regulatory measures in the UK Parliament due to rising incidents of near misses involving humanoid robots, emphasizing that these issues stem more from human error than from artificial intelligence itself.

Another significant concern is the perception of robots. Strathearn warns that overly lifelike robots risk entering the “uncanny valley,” which can make people uncomfortable. Yet, in certain contexts, such as dementia care, a friendly, human-like appearance may provide comfort. He explains, “People have different thresholds of perception when it comes to creepiness,” indicating the need for various designs in robot aesthetics.

Throughout his research, Dr. Strathearn developed the “Multimodal Turing Test,” which examines whether lifelike robots can effectively communicate and appear human-like. Subsequent studies by Japanese researchers confirmed that people were more likely to perceive AI as human when it was embodied in a realistic robot.

Dr. Strathearn stresses that acceptance of humanoid robots will not occur spontaneously but requires careful introduction and education, particularly for young people learning robotics and AI in schools. He points to a skills shortage within the robotics field, as educational institutions often separate disciplines such as computer science, engineering, and design. He warns, “Without a solid foundation in education, I worry about the sustainability of the humanoid robotics industry.”

Interestingly, Dr. Strathearn identifies space exploration as a potential area where humanoid robots could prove beneficial much sooner than in everyday applications. He suggests that “we could use telemetric or AI-controlled humanoids to work in space for longer periods than humans, advancing us further into the unknown.”

Future humanoid robots might even assist in terraforming planets or exploring challenging terrains beyond the reach of current rovers. Dr. Strathearn concludes, “They may be more useful much quicker for this type of exploration work than down here on Earth.”

While the potential for humanoid robots to aid in colonizing new worlds exists, Dr. Strathearn’s caution is clear: regulatory measures are essential to ensure that these technologies are safe and reliable before they are integrated into society. He reiterates, “Robots might terraform Mars one day. But on Earth, only strict regulation will keep us safe.”