The recent news about China's deployment of battery-swapping humanoid robots on the Vietnam border is more than just a technological marvel; it's a profound leap into a future I've often contemplated and discussed. This development, brought to my attention through posts by individuals like Pete T. Anh (peter@tigerbeetle.com) on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/petetanhc_chinas-ubtech-robotics-has-signed-a-264-activity-7400859589371453440-mYhp] and John Chow on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/johnchow/posts/master-jedi-your-200000-droids-are-ready-with-1-million-more-on-the-waydont-let-/10173645620765571/], vividly illustrates the accelerated pace of AI integration into our world.
The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. I had already predicted this outcome or challenge, and I had even proposed a solution at the time. Now, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
I recall my early writings and notes from as far back as 1996 on the basics of AI, NLP, and neural networks, which I later reflected upon with Sam in a blog titled "Why I Admire ChatGPT" [http://emailothers.blogspot.com/2023/09/why-i-admire-chatgpt_17.html]. These foundational concepts are precisely what enable these humanoid robots to perceive, process, and act in complex environments. The ability to switch batteries, while practical, underscores the physical endurance and continuous operation these machines are designed for, pushing the boundaries of what autonomous agents can achieve.
Back in 2010, I expressed a strong conviction that in another 25 years, people would no longer search for "information" on conventional search engines. Instead, they would present a "problem" to a handheld device and receive a "solution / answer / advice" in milliseconds. This foresight, which I revisited in "Time for Google to Re-invent itself ?" [http://mylinkedinposting.blogspot.com/2024/10/time-for-google-to-re-invent-itself_30.html], perfectly encapsulates the role these border robots are designed to play. They are not merely information gatherers; they are problem-solvers, enforcing regulations, and ensuring security, all without direct human intervention at the point of action.
My ongoing efforts to train my digital avatar to imbibe my "way of thinking – style of writing / composing / expressing" — a journey I discussed with Kishan (kishan@enjoyevervibe.com) in "Next Step in Evolution of My Virtual Avatar" [http://emailothers.blogspot.com/2024/02/next-step-in-evolution-of-my-virtual.html] — are closely related to the sophistication required for such autonomous robots. For these humanoids to operate effectively on a border, they must process information, understand context, and make decisions that reflect complex operational parameters. This requires an advanced form of AI, one that goes beyond simple keyword matching to grasp true "meaning," much like the semantic search capabilities I explored in "Quantum Jump?" [http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2018/04/googletalk-googlesearch-semanticsearch.html].
The sheer volume of data these robots will generate and process brings to mind my discussions with Sharon (sharon.zhou@amd.com) about the memory blocks in my Personal.ai and the generation of relevant questions and answers by BARD [http://emailothers.blogspot.com/2023/09/proposed-modification-of-hemenparekhai.html]. Similarly, the challenge of retrieving specific, relevant information from vast databases, which Suman (suman@now.gg) and I discussed in the context of demonstrating my digital avatar to ex-L&T colleagues [http://emailothers.blogspot.com/2023/09/digital-avatar-demo-tomorrow-to-my-ex-l.html], is directly applicable to how these robots will interact with command centers and threat databases. The capacity for these systems to 'learn' and adapt, reminiscent of the "Reverse Engineering of Blogging" [http://emailothers.blogspot.com/2024/04/reverse-engineering-of-blogging.html] I pondered with Kishan (kishan@enjoyevervibe.com), highlights a future where machine intelligence constantly refines its understanding and performance.
The deployment of humanoid robots at a national border raises significant questions about the future of security, labor, and even the definition of human presence in critical zones. It's a testament to how quickly science fiction is becoming our reality, compelling us to critically examine the ethical, social, and cultural implications of these advancements.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
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