Definition
Embodied AI is intelligence that is grounded in a physical form. It moves beyond "brain-only" AI by giving the model a means to sense and act within a physical environment.
The Three Pillars of Embodied AI
- Perception: Using sensors like cameras (Computer Vision), LiDAR, and touch sensors to understand the surroundings.
- Reasoning: Processing sensor data to make a plan of action.
- Action: Executing the plan through motors and actuators (moving arms, walking, etc.).
Why Embodiment Matters
Researchers believe that "true" intelligence requires interaction with the physical world. By touching, moving, and bumping into things, an AI can learn concepts like "up," "heavy," and "flexible" in a way that reading text alone cannot provide.
Current Trends
- Humanoid Robots: Companies like Tesla (Optimus), Figure, and UBTech (Walker S2) are building robots that look like humans to operate in human-designed environments.
- Foundation Models for Robotics: Using Large Language Models to give robots a "common sense" understanding of instructions (e.g., Google's PaLM-E).
- Home Assistants: Advanced robots that can perform household chores like laundry or dishwashing.
Future Outlook
As Embodied AI matures, we will see a shift from robots that follow fixed programs to robots that can learn and adapt on the fly. This will enable applications in elderly care, hazardous environment cleanup, and high-precision manufacturing.