Growing up, we have all read books about robots and humanoid creatures. We have all seen science-fiction movies with fully-automated houses and robots who do all the housework. But, did you ever think that this would someday be a reality? Thanks to advancements in science and technology, we are now closer than ever before to see such a revolution. The momentum for such a change has been gaining, and the wheels seem to be in motion. Recently, in an announcement, Samsung unveiled an AI-powered digital avatar or artificial human which resembles humans. This robot, the company claims, can converse with empathy and sympathy the way we do. The announcement came as a part of the 2020 CES, or Consumer Electronics Show. Samsung’s collaborators, Star Labs have made this new AI, called NEON, which frankly resembles something out of our dreams.
What is NEON?
This new technology will allow developers to create customized avatars on display boards, ads, and video games. Such beings may be modeled to look like anyone from TV anchors to mega movie-stars. They can even become our companions if you let them be, as per the California-based laboratory. Pranav Mistry, who is the Chief Executive at Star Labs said that NEON can serve as a constantly evolving friend retains memories. The humanoid chatbot will not replace humans, but rather make us even more human.
How realistic is NEON?
The people that NEON generates are super realistic people of sorts. The computationally generated virtual entity looks, talks and behaves exactly the way a human does, even being capable of emoting. The robot can also handle a variety of emotions and shows considerable intellect and reasoning. Therefore, the technology allows developers to create video chatbots that look, behave and talk like real people. While these robots aren’t all-knowing assistants like the ones seen with Iron Man, they behave a lot like humans themselves. They are independent beings which show emotion and learn from their experiences to evolve and adapt better to their surroundings. The bot might not be able to tell you about the weather, but can have real, deep conversations with you!
NEON bots form memories and have the ability to teach themselves new skills. However, they do not have a physical body to manifest, for now, but they might in the future. But due to their hyper-realistic approach NEONs can become teachers, advisers, actors, and even TV anchors. Though they resemble humans, they cannot be exact copies of someone alive because each one has a unique personality.
NEON and the Future
Even before arriving on the scene through the CES 2020, NEON had made a name for itself. The robot had generated a lot of buzz for Samsung, though no one knew what the project was about. Several tweets and teasers had come out by December before the unveiling to keep spectators and enthusiasts excited. The bots are even capable of conversing in other languages such as Hindi. While the lab is funded by Samsung, these bots aren’t their property. Star Labs aims at expanding by turning science fiction into reality.
Samsung, much like Apple and Amazon have realized that the best way to make useful devices is to use artificial intelligence as voice assistants. Every big fish in the field of technology is investing in this field, as they think it is the future. Very soon, such AI-powered bots will decide how we interact with the world around us and our gadgets. The bots run using a technology called Core R3, where the three Rs stand for Reality, Real-time and Responsive. It also makes use of a technology called Spectra, which handles the bot’s capacity to learn, memorize and emote.
The company will beta-launch Neon this year around the world, and will sell it via a license. Samsung also hopes that one-day NEON will appear in movies and news around the world. Let us hope that the future makes more of our dreams come true, with life resembling science fiction faster than imagined.
Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.