[Part 1] AI and Humans: The Boundary Between Illusion and Reality
[Part 2] AI and Humans: Understanding AI Correctly
[Part 3] AI and Humans: Changes and Control in the AI Era
[Part 4] AI and Humans: Creativity and Senses: The Combination of the Five Senses Gifted by the Divine
[Part 5] AI and Humans: AI and Human Territory—Untapped Even in the Future
[Part 6] AI and Humans: Utilizing ASI, Understanding Humans, and New Changes
[Part 7] AI and Humans: Changes and Preparations Amid the Shift to the AGI Era
[Part 8] AI and Humans: Industrial Innovation and the Emergence of Humanoids in the AGI Era
[Part 9] AI and Humans: New Frontiers and Possibilities Unlocked by AGI and ASI
[Part 10] AI and Humans: Why Human Safety is Essential in the AI AGI ASI Era
[Part 11] AI and Humans: The Core of Peaceful Legal and Fiscal Framework in the AI AGI ASI Era
[Part 12] AI and Humans: Methods to Safeguard Human Peace in the AI AGI ASI Era
This issue explores how AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) is transforming industrial structures, examining ‘humanoid robots’ as symbols of this change. The author emphasises that the ultimate purpose of technological advancement is not to replace humans, but to establish a human-centred system of ethical control and coexistence. —Ed.
Written by Im Byoung-min (IBM) Columnist
Humanoids, which have emerged as a powerful force in the AI era, refer to robots with human form and characteristics, infused with AI knowledge. Humanoids are robots with human-like features, combining the words "human" and "oid." These robots possess human-like bodies, including two arms and two legs, and can perform various tasks, such as walking, speaking, and grasping objects, by detecting human-designed knowledge through programming algorithms. Key features include a human-like form: a head, torso, arms, and legs, and bipedal locomotion. This form is typically characterized by a combination of cutting-edge technologies: sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), mechanical engineering, and deep learning, designed to act and react like humans. The diverse potential of humanoids lies in their ability to withstand extreme environments, perform space exploration without the need for oxygen or food, and replace humans in various fields, such as patient care and repetitive labor. Humanoids can be categorized into three types: hard humanoids, soft humanoids, and hybrid humanoids. So why are human-shaped robots necessary? The technical reason is that human-compatible design (HCD) humanoids, with their human form, can function effectively in society, replacing humans. This is because they can serve as a link wherever humans are needed. Many objects around us are designed for human convenience. From roads and buildings to doors, handles, stairs, and even chairs and tools, everything created by humans is designed for human convenience. The question is whether robots with bodies designed for human convenience can be utilized in existing environments. Humanoids, as an extension of humanity, replicate human intelligence and physique, achieving "digital immortality," allowing us to experience the pinnacle of human essence and technology. The era of AI robots is upon us, not just robots.
Soft humanoids, as the name suggests, are a basic concept referring to humanoid robot systems with soft and flexible materials and structures. The flexible materials and structures use soft materials such as silicone, rubber, and gel to mimic human skin, muscles, and ligaments, enabling flexible movements, smooth and natural movements, shock absorption capabilities, shape-shifting biomimetic artificial muscles, and technologies that mimic biological systems such as neural networks. The main features are that they are easily deformed and soft, so they are flexible and shock-resistant, soft and safe even when in direct contact with humans, adaptable to various environments and shapes, and lightweight, consuming little energy. The material components are silicone, polyurethane, soft rubber, skin, ligaments, and muscles, and they respond to temperature, electricity, and magnetic fields in a smart way. The drive mechanism is a polymer material that contracts with an electrical signal for the movement of the artificial muscles, pneumatic artificial muscles, hydraulics, etc. Soft moving axes control internal pressure for smooth movement, and sensors include flexible sensors and elastic pressure, touch, deformation sensors, and biomimetic sensors that enable tactile and temperature detection like skin. Applications include rehabilitation robots for medical and rehabilitation applications, exoskeletons worn directly on the body, artificial skin and tactile motion, and emotional robots capable of natural human interaction (HRI) with soft surfaces and movements. Hybrid humanoids combine hard and soft elements, attaching soft skin, joints, and sensors to a hard structure (skeleton) to achieve precise control and smooth human interaction.
Automated guided systems (AGI) with human-level intelligence are expected to emerge around 2029. The human musculoskeletal system, biomechanically composed of over 600 muscles, 200 bones, and thousands of tendons and ligaments, not simply act but utilize elasticity, friction, resistance, and reaction forces to create efficient movement. For example, walking or running involves elastic energy return. Robots struggle to effectively implement this passive energy transfer mechanism. Human movement is not simply the result of mechanical joint movements, but rather the integrated result of physical and biological systems. Movement is not simply repetition; it's an expression of intent. Human movement isn't simply the lifting of an arm like a motor. Each movement responds to purpose and context. For example, hand movements when waving and grasping an object are completely different. Even with the same arm path, the speed and intensity of a swing when angry versus a playful gesture differ subtly in timing. Human movement is a high-level expression that reflects emotions, intentions, environmental, and social context.
The term "humanoid AGI" refers to the ultimate goal of AI development: a robot with a human-like form (humanoid) that is at the human level. This refers to AI robots with a human-level body and brain that have evolved to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI). The industrial innovation of the AGI era represents a fundamental shift beyond existing digital innovations. AGI is not limited to specific tasks, but rather AI capable of performing a wide range of intellectual tasks like humans, and will thus trigger a paradigm shift across all industries. In particular, the manufacturing base will shift toward fully automated and optimized factories, and AGI-based smart factories will be equipped with machine design, process, and other capabilities. AGI will analyze quality control and other factors in real time, enabling autonomous operations from production planning to maintenance in unmanned factories without human intervention.
In particular, healthcare will see personalized treatment become routine, with AGI-led diagnosis and treatment planning, early diagnosis and optimal treatment based on tens of millions of data points. Genetic testing will analyze an individual's DNA to identify key genetic changes that can cause disease. This, along with the analysis of complex genomic data, will enable precision medicine. Innovation in the AGI era will be the widespread adoption of autonomy, enabling systems that operate independently without human intervention yet remain physically controllable. Indeed, the creative role of AGI and the restructuring of social systems driven by AGI are ushering in a world beyond imagination. At this juncture, the peace and safety of humanity are paramount, and it is crucial to place all aspects under human control within a human-centered system. In this column, I have emphasized the need for AI ethics and morality to be managed within a human-centered framework. This is because the peace and safety of humanity will remain a priority even in the coming AGI era.
