Researchers from ETH Zurich have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), showcasing the world’s first physical application of AI surpassing human capabilities. While AI has previously defeated chess, poker, and go masters, this new achievement takes it to a whole new level by demonstrating prowess in physical skill, coordination, and precision.
The researchers, Thomas Bi and Rafaello D’Andrea from ETH Zurich, developed an AI robot called CyberRunner that utilizes deep learning networks and AI models to learn games at an unprecedented speed. CyberRunner is equipped with two motors that mimic human movements, allowing it to play games with physical elements.
Unlike traditional AI, which relies solely on computational power, CyberRunner learns through experience and exhibits the capacity to plan for the future and make informed decisions about successful behavior. It navigates mazes, continuously improving its game understanding and strategy. The robot collects observations and receives rewards based on its performance, utilizing cameras to capture its surroundings. By storing these experiences in its memory, the AI robot learns from its behaviors and develops strategies that show more promise.
In an astonishing display of its capabilities, CyberRunner surpassed all previous records by completing a maze faster than any other robot, outperforming the previous best time by 6%. The researchers even had to explicitly instruct the robot not to follow the shortcuts it discovered during the learning process.
This breakthrough highlights the fact that AI research is no longer limited to purely code-related advancements. The mastery of physical challenges is now a significant aspect of AI development. Professor D’Andrea emphasizes the significance of this achievement, stating that it enables anyone to engage in cutting-edge AI research at an affordable cost, ushering in a new era of global-scale experiments.
The research conducted by ETH Zurich opens up a multitude of possibilities for AI, with potential applications ranging from game-playing robots to real-world problem-solving in various fields. As AI continues to evolve, it can provide valuable insights and solutions to complex challenges faced by humanity.
With this groundbreaking achievement, AI has once again transformed the boundaries of human capabilities. As the world eagerly awaits further advancements in AI technology, one thing is certain: the future holds endless possibilities for this fascinating and rapidly evolving field.
