The Heart and the Chip

January 22, 2024
Rus, a computer science professor at MIT, teams up with former Popular Science editor Mone (Sea of Gold) for an optimistic exploration of how advanced robots might help humans in the near future. Envisioning smart fridges capable of detecting and automatically disposing of expired food, exoskeleton suits “equipped with motorized joints that enhance or augment the strength of the individuals using them,” and a “two-armed, wheeled robot” capable of performing yard work, the authors argue that offloading daily drudgeries to droids will allow humans “to focus on higher-level work and interactions.” Taking note of the advances needed to realize such technologies, the authors explain that roboticists are still struggling to develop hand-like sensors to make robots more dexterous. Though Rus and Mone are bullish on technology’s promise, they emphasize the need to keep in mind ethical and environmental considerations, citing a 2019 study that found the electricity expended training the average deep learning model adds as much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as the “lifetime emissions of five cars.” Unfortunately, the authors provide more speculation than actual science, and recommendations “to encourage developers... to draw power only from renewable resources” and to take a variant of the Hippocratic oath feel inadequate to the challenges at hand. Readers might not share the authors’ rosy outlook, but this still offers a stimulating glimpse into what the future might hold.