Dan Primack of Axios reports that several AI startups are raising billions of dollars to build “robotic brains” for use across industries, from oil rigs to construction sites, significantly disrupt blue-collar jobs.
Primack explains that these robots may be able to understand physics and real-world conditions, allowing them to adapt as environments change. In practice, they could handle a wide range of tasks, including plumbing, electrical work, welding, roofing, car repairs, and even meal preparation, much like the sci-fi robots C-3PO and R2-D2.
According to Primack, there is no consensus on the best way to apply AI to robotics. Some companies use real-world data models where as others are opting for cheaper simulated physical “world models” and championed by Meta AI scientist Yann LeCun.
Primack points out that Waabi, a Toronto-based startup, has raised up to $1 billion to develop robo-taxis and self-driving technology. Another startup, Pittsburgh-based Skild AI, reportedly raised $1.4 billion at a $14 billion valuation, with the motto, “Any robot. Any task. One brain.” Similarly, FieldAI has reportedly raised $400 million to build software for robots used in industries such as data centers, energy, and logistics, potentially pushing human labor to the sidelines.
Primack also stresses that the impact of AI on blue-collar jobs remains uncertain, as cost-effectiveness compared with human workers is still a key question. While AI optimists argue that new technologies will create new kinds of jobs, critics caution that AI’s pace and scale of change may be very different from past technological shifts.
For additional details, refer to the original article in Axios.