What is Physical AI? Pros and Cons of AI’s Integration With Robotics
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Artificial intelligence has been integrated into our personal and professional lives in a variety of forms. Generative AI helps to create content such as text, images, and code based on specific prompts entered by the user; GenAI has boosted efficiency and productivity for many employees in different industries, becoming one of the most used forms of AI each day. There is also agentic AI, an autonomous form of AI that can carry out tasks and projects without human oversight, enabling more efficient strategies for conducting unique operations.
These types of AI have advanced and evolved, making way for even more groundbreaking technologies to emerge. As robotics and AI converge, companies are beginning to shift their focus to physical AI—a concept that would have seemed improbable a decade ago. Forming robots that are powered by AI may have been only considered in different types of media, where such technologies are able to carry out any task and interact with human beings easily. Now, in reality, this idea is not too far off from becoming available.
What is Physical AI?
Physical AI is the combination of artificial intelligence with physical devices, whether it be robots, drones, or self-driving vehicles—in other words, it is AI that shifts beyond the digital screen to be able to interact with the real world and the environment surrounding it.
According to the International Federation of Robotics, there were 4,664,000 industrial robots in operational use worldwide in 2024, and this number increases by at least 500,000 each year. These traditional robots have typically been built and programmed to conduct specific, simpler tasks repeatedly, and generally unable to move from a fixed position. However, now companies are making progress in combining robotic technology with AI—changing the future of robotics immensely.
Physical AI utilizes sensors to perceive its surroundings, allowing it to interact with objects and move itself to a new location. It will be able to adapt to a changing environment, using improved decision-making to adjust to new situations. Having physical AI widely available remains in the hypothetical stages, however, several companies around the world have already begun utilizing robots powered by AI in warehouses, healthcare settings, and more.
Automotive company Tesla is among those that is exploring physical AI, shifting their focus from producing vehicles to AI-powered robots. Tesla plans to utilize its manufacturing plant in California that previously made cars to produce its line of humanoid robots, which will be known as Optimus.
A robotics company in China, DroidUp, has even recently developed the world's first fully biomimetic embodied intelligent robot named Moya. Its ability to walk like a human while making eye contact and displaying facial expressions has significantly changed the game for physical AI, leading other companies to attempt to follow suit. Its intended uses span across healthcare, education, and other commercial environments.
Feats of technology like these present a whole world of questions and concerns, leading to a discussion of the pros and cons of AI’s integration with robotics.
Benefits of Physical AI
As with different types of advanced technology, there are several benefits that come with the introduction and experimentation of physical AI. These advancements allow for further innovation and efficiency in the way we conduct various facets of day to day work.
The Ability to Adapt: AI-enabled robots can adapt to their environments, even when those environments are changing. Built-in cameras and sensors allow information to be received and stored, and it can learn to switch gears similarly to a human.
Advanced Learning Capabilities: As stated in the first bullet, these robots can learn from their environments, and they will store that information for future use. When these robots become more widespread and advanced, they will even be able to learn just by watching humans perform tasks, or simply by watching videos.
Enhanced Efficiency: With physical AI, even more tasks will be able to be automated, especially when it comes to manufacturing and logistics. These robots can learn a variety of more complex tasks faster than any traditional robotic unit might be able to.
Collaboration with Human Workers: Physical AI is built to be intelligent, meaning it will be able to seamlessly integrate into human teams in order to work alongside them. This leads to enhanced work that strengthens human capabilities instead of replacing them.
Challenges of Physical AI
Advanced technology is always bound to have several different challenges to be aware of in development and deployment. These can mostly be mitigated through thoughtful planning and strategy, and patience is key in safely and responsibly implementing AI.
Cost: The financial side of developing advanced tech is always a challenge, especially for smaller or medium-sized companies. Working with larger partners is a strategic way to develop physical AI with lower amounts of funds.
Trustworthiness & Safety: This is an important factor to take into account when experimenting with physical AI, as even the smallest error can lead to defects or safety incidents within its environment. It is critical to to integrate regulatory compliance and risk assessments within safety strategies, and always ensure human oversight is set as a priority.
Need for Extensive High-Quality Data: Training physical AI requires vast amounts of data that represents different factors within specific environments, which is needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety. This leads to the development of strategies for data security, which can prove to take a lot of time and resources.
Potential Cybersecurity Risks: Having physical AI presents new points of attack for those that wish to compromise sensitive data and systems. This technology could lead to vulnerabilities and even malicious control of the robots, which could impact their safety and effectiveness.
AI’s capabilities are continuing to evolve, and the possibility of widespread physical AI is seeming like more of a possibility with each new advancement. Its existence could bring a variety of benefits to innovation, allowing for further automation of time-consuming or even dangerous tasks. There is much to question when it comes to the future of AI, and it may not be many years before we receive the answers.
“Robotics is not about making machines to serve us. It’s about creating machines that can be our partners.”
– Cynthia Breazeal, AI Scientist & Entrepreneur
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