An army of docile robots controlled by AI

The idea of ​​an army of docile humanoid robots is no longer confined to science fiction: we are entering a phase of technological transition where the fundamental building blocks (AI, actuators, and batteries) are finally coming together to make this scenario credible by 2030-2035.

The Brain: « Embodied » AI

Until recently, AI was a brain without a body (ChatGPT). Today, we are developing embodied AI.

Thanks to transformative neural networks, robots no longer need to be programmed line by line for each movement. They learn through imitation and trial and error in simulations before being deployed in the real world.

Occupancy is ensured by software safety protocols (RLHF – Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback), where the AI ​​is trained to strictly obey human instructions.

Metal Soldiers: Current Models

Several companies are in the race to produce these robots on a large scale:

Tesla (Optimus): Elon Musk aims to produce them by the millions for less than the cost of a car.

Figure (Figure 01/02): Already capable of making coffee or moving parts autonomously thanks to a partnership with OpenAI.

Boston Dynamics (Electric Atlas): The most agile model in the world, capable of movements exceeding human capabilities.

Diverse Deployment Areas

The robot army will not primarily be military, but also industrial and domestic: Moving heavy and repetitive loads (already being tested at BMW and Amazon). Addressing labor shortages in aging countries (Japan, China, Europe) or, in hostile environments, handling demining, nuclear power plants, or space exploration.

Remaining Obstacles

The word « soon » must be qualified by three major obstacles:

Energy Autonomy: Currently, most humanoid robots only last 2 to 4 hours before needing to be recharged.

Fine Dexterity: Manipulating fragile or soft objects (such as textiles) remains a significant challenge for robotic hands.

The cost: A humanoid robot currently costs between $50,000 and $150,000.

For an « army, » this price must drop drastically.