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In focus
- Scott Shuey goes robot hunting and finds traces of how our generations affect today’s machines.
- We chat with Eric Guo of AI² Robotics about jobs, space, and US competition.
- And for a break from robots, we unpack what Nadiem Makarim’s trial could mean for Indonesia’s tech scene.
Hello reader,
This might sound weird, but I think our generational views are determining how we build robots today. I noticed this as I was walking through the Beyond Expo in Macao last week.
The theme of this year’s show was embodied AI, and I went there looking to see how robots were being developed.
The Boomer’s thought of robots as domestic helpers, ala Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons. That’s probably why many robotics companies are trying to find ways to make robots that can clean your house, wash your clothes, and bring you your medicine. The training grounds for these robots: retirement homes.
Millennials, meanwhile, seemed more interested in anthropomorphizing them and asking whether robots “have feelings and rights.” It didn’t take long for me to find an AI-enabled robot that could hug you and give you emotional support.
Made by Tech in Asia with the help of AI. The character is based on Moya product images provided by the company.
In all fairness to this robot, Moya, it is designed to support mental health, which is a noble ambition. And Moya’s booth was always crowded with people wanting to hold it, so the designer, Jian Liu, clearly hit upon something.
But the Gen X in me, who grew up thinking of robots as amoral killers, kept thinking: DON’T LET IT TOUCH ME. Sorry, but emotions and robotics didn’t blend well together in the ‘90s (looking at you Star Trek).
I’d generalize about Gen Z, but that would be pointless. Unlike previous generations, their opinions about robots are not theoretical. Gen Z grew up with Roombas, Alexa, and those robots at the restaurant that deliver your food to the table.
And many of the products I saw from younger developers seemed to mirror these experiences: massagers, music bots that could interface with stream apps, and a tennis ball serving bot that can not only fire tennis balls at your head but even play against you.
Scott Shuey, senior editor
Editor’s picks
1️⃣ The Nadiem effect on investors, talent, and Indonesia
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