Silicon Valley races to train robots, starting with laundry-folding
Buzzy robotics startups are raising billions to teach humanoid robots how to fold laundry as a stepping stone to entering consumers' homes.Summary
Silicon Valley robotics startups like Figure AI, Sunday Robotics, and Weave Robotics are racing to develop humanoid robots, using laundry-folding as an ideal entry task into the home market. Handling deformable objects like clothing showcases a robot's dexterity and intelligence safely, since failure carries low consequences. While previous attempts at laundry-folding robots failed due to high costs and poor reliability, modern advancements in AI and hardware are fueling renewed optimism. However, high price points and limited versatility mean these machines must expand to other chores, such as vacuuming and tidying, to justify their costs to consumers. Additionally, deploying these robots allows companies to collect crucial real-world data needed to train future physical AI models.
(Source：Business Insider)