Google unveils AI-powered household robots capable of understanding natural language
American software and internet giant Google created robots designed to understand commands spoken in everyday language and to fulfill those requests, such as delivering food or bringing cleaning supplies. The company, based in Mountain View, California, shared with EFE a video showing these compact robots. They appear as white cylindrical towers with wheels and a black eye-like sensor on top, animatedly performing simple tasks.
The innovative feature of these robots lies in their ability to think for themselves using artificial intelligence. Rather than being limited to a predefined set of instructions, they listen to a human command, interpret the meaning, and decide on a response based on the message received. For instance, if a person says, I’m hungry, can you bring me food, the robot analyzes the statement, understands the request in context, and chooses an action to help solve the problem. It might select a piece of fruit or a sweet treat to bring to the user.
This capability significantly enhances interaction with people and sets these models apart from others that tackle more complex tasks. Some competing systems already exist on the market, but those units often respond only to commands for which they are specifically programmed. The Google approach emphasizes flexible interpretation of human language, enabling a broader range of helpful responses without explicit programming for every possible request. This shift could influence how future domestic robots are designed, tested, and adopted in homes and workplaces, inviting ongoing evaluation of safety, reliability, and user experience. [Source attribution: Google press materials]