This Robot Lamp, Influenced by Pixar, Representates the Initial Apple Intelligent Gadget That Piques My Interest
Apple's recent venture into home robotics has brought us a fun, expressive desk lamp that perfectly encapsulates Pixar's beloved character, Luxo Jr. The tech giant's Machine Learning Research division delved into the world of creating a non-anthropomorphic robot capable of making people smile with its cute antics.
Apple posted a research paper on Arxiv, detailing the "expressive and functional movement design for non-anthropomorphic robot." MacRumors, who discovered the paper, uploaded a video showing the lamp in action, and it's safe to say this adorable desk lamp is reminiscent of Luxo Jr. Engineers guided the lamp, making it move forward and adjust direction with a variety of "attention," "attitude," and "expression" states. The team named the framework ELEGNT, a nod to its expressive and functional qualities.
At first glance, Apple hasn't missed the mark by a mile with its expressive robot. In the YouTube video, it's effortlessly entertaining as it awkwardly tries to extend its arm or apologizes for failing at a task with its AI-generated voice. It even asks if it's invited on a hiking trip, making for a delightful viewing experience.
Still, making the bot functional while maintaining its "attitude" presents a challenge. Previous attempts have fallen short of entertaining – the Last Guardian’s giant beast was as likely to follow a player's orders as a puppy, which was endearing but inconvenient at times. The question also lingers: does the bot's expressive movements truly add to the emotional experience or just complicate AI-generated speech?
Apple continues to explore the waters of smart home technology, surpassing the humdrum nature of regular HomePods. Amidst various rumors circulating, it’s suggested that Apple engineers are working on a robot with a touchscreen at the end of an arm that follows users around and responds to their demands hands-free. This idea conjures up thoughts of futuristic, Jetsons-style smart home tech, which is intriguing, although limited by cost and practicality issues.
Expressive interactions are likely to set upcoming smart home tech apart from common smart screens on the market. Apple's engineers cite a 2014 paper in the Journal of Human-Robot Interaction, using the "Wizard of Oz" technique, which relies on a human controlling the robot from behind the curtain. Through the advancements in robotics and AI, we'll see how this works without human control in action (except perhaps, Tesla's team).
Sources also indicate that Apple is developing a smart home camera, smart home display, and a direct competitor to AI-enabled Google Nest cameras or Amazon's Echo Show. Apple's determination to integrate robotics into smart home technology could further drive the Apple Intelligence angle, enticing customers to thrive in the comforting embrace of the walled garden.
Overall, Apple's expressive and functional non-anthropomorphic robot, inspired by Luxo Jr., showcases a different approach to AI interaction in smart homes by incorporating adaptive movement, AI voice control, and privacy-focused design. With seaming integration capabilities, this promising addition to the smart home ecosystem could enhance user experiences as well as Apple's dominance in the market.
The research paper from Apple's Machine Learning Research division also mentioned the use of artificial intelligence in powering the lamp's expressive voice. The future of smart home technology might involve more machines like this, using technology and artificial intelligence to create engaging, interactive experiences for users.
