Boston Dynamics has taken their already impressive robot dog, Spot, to a whole new level, and it’s nothing short of mind-blowing!
In a captivating and somewhat surreal video posted by Boston Dynamics, Spot is decked out with a dapper top hat, a suave mustache, and a pair of googly eyes, all while sporting a charming British accent. And let’s just say, Spot isn’t here to play fetch; it’s here to give you a tour of the company’s fascinating facilities.
“Shall we commence our journey?” Spot inquires with an air of sophistication. ” The charging stations where Spot robots rest and recharge is our first point of interest. Follow me, gentlemen,” says Spot in a video posted by Boston Dynamics. In this remarkable demonstration, Spot showcases its ability to answer questions and even opens its “mouth” (or gripper, if you will) to create the illusion of genuine speech.
To achieve this incredible feat, Boston Dynamics turned to OpenAI’s ChatGPT API, along with a selection of open-source large language models (LLMs) for rigorous training. The robot was equipped with a speaker and text-to-speech capabilities, while its gripper mimics speech movements like a puppet’s mouth.
Matt Klingensmith, Boston Dynamics’ principal software engineer, reveals that Spot was given a concise script for each room within the company’s facilities. The bot then combined this script with data from its gripper and body cameras, allowing it to gather more context from visual input before generating responses. Spot employs Visual Question Answering models, which enable it to essentially caption images and provide answers to questions about them.
But what truly sets Spot apart is its ability to adopt various personas throughout the video. It transforms into a 1920s archaeologist, a snarky teenager, a Shakespearean time traveler, and even a sarcastic wit.
In a surprising twist, the Boston Dynamics team quizzed Spot about its “parents,” leading it to navigate towards the older Spot models showcased in the company’s office. However, not everything goes perfectly.
Though Spot may appear whimsical in this video, it’s hard not to ponder the broader implications of this technology. After all, Spot has been employed as a valuable tool in the fields of law enforcement and the military, showcasing its versatility and promise in numerous real-world applications.
In a world where technology is advancing at an astonishing pace, the fusion of AI and robotics is nothing short of extraordinary. Thanks to Boston Dynamics, we’re witnessing the dawn of a new era, where our robot companions don’t just follow our commands, they engage with us in conversation, and Spot is leading the charge. The future of robotics is looking more intriguing than ever with robot dogs which can speak become man’s new best friend!