In the future, robots could replace around 800 million jobs worldwide, rendering about 30% of all occupations obsolete. Only 7% of businesses are not using AI now, but they consider it. These stats make people believe that AI and robots are the same things. Instead, governments and businesses use robotics-based apps that can be described as a combination of AI and robots. Contrary to what you see in dystopian sci-fi books and movies, not all robots can be described as intelligent. Artificially intelligent robots are a combination of AI and standard automation robots. They are one type of robot. These robots employ AI algorithms and models to perform more than a repetitive sequence of movements and increase their autonomy. But more will be discussed later. These robots can be used by themselves or when combined with other technologies.
Although there are many differences between AI and robots, the following three factors will help people understand them.
1) Robotics and AI: Conceptual differences
AI is a system that allows machines to make complex decisions independently. This is the basic definition of AI. AI-based hardware and software tools can solve complex real-world problems by analyzing large amounts of data and finding patterns that are not obvious to humans. These applications are fine-tuned over time by machine learning and reinforcement learning. As a result, AI-based applications have an unlimited capacity to improve their tasks.
Consider an app like TikTok. TikTok, like most social media apps, also uses a "social grid" to make recommendations to users based on the pages and videos they enjoy. However, TikTok's machine-learning algorithms go further than most social media apps. They also use an "interest graph--using video viewing time numbers to make suggestions to users. These suggestions will include videos and creators similar to those that users viewed for the longest time. TikTok's algorithm will redirect more videos about cats and other feline animals to the user's personalized video feed. This is to get them hooked on the app. TikTok videos last for less than one minute, so they can quickly collect large amounts of data and achieve peak personalization.
This is how AI works: it uses different types of data to improve its work overtime. The larger the dataset, operational speed, and accuracy, the more efficient an AI-based tool.
Robotics is a branch of technology that deals with developing, designing, and constructing robots. These robots can be programmed and can interact with humans or other devices via actuators and data collection sensors. Robots can perform semi-autonomous or autonomous tasks. Some robots, such as telerobots, are completely non-autonomous because human operators must control their operations. Rule-based robots don't "think" or make decisions.
AI and robots allow businesses to work together towards an end goal: AI-driven automation.
2) Robotics and AI: Different degrees of automation
The most influential people in an organization need to know what technology is required for their business operations. Not technology-savvy people may not be able to distinguish between robotics and automation.
Plain automation combines software, devices, and sensors with other technologies to perform tasks that would typically require a single worker or group of workers. The automated type of operation will determine the complexity of the combination of devices. There are two types of automation: software automation and industrial automation.
Software automation is a system that automates repetitive tasks using logic and maths.
Software automation may include Graphic User Interface automation, which is used to test computer programs. This software automation allows you to capture the user's actions while interacting with the GUI. It is also helpful in making changes to the underlying program.
Software automation can also include Business Process Automation (BPA), which uses standard automation tools to increase customer service quality and reduce costs. BPA integrates software applications with personnel and hardware tools to improve business operations. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a system that uses software robots or bots to create computer programs similar to human programmers. RPA is based on scripted scripts. Intelligent Process Automation (IPA), which uses AI to make the software more intuitive and human-like, involves bots using past data to perform intelligent actions. This contrasts with software automation devices that use a script-based or rule-based working method.
Industrial automation uses robots to manage and control heavy industrial operations, such as product packaging, warehouse management, and manufacturing.
Robotics can also be automated, but it can also combine with other fields, such as mechanical engineering, computer science, and, in some cases, AI. Machine learning algorithms allow AI-driven robots to perform tasks and functions that they are expected to do autonomously. AI robots can also be described as intelligent automation applications, in which robotics supplies the body and AI supplies the mind. Other technologies, such as NLP and computer vision, are also used in industrial automation, AI, and robots. AI robots can perform many tasks, including spotting objects on the floor and placing them where they belong.
Standard automation robots can be used for many types of business tasks. However, robots that autonomously work with AI algorithms will improve the future of organization operations.
3) AI and Robotics - Differences in Adaptability
AI has opened up new possibilities for robotics, like the concept of self-aware robotics. Robots are essentially machines made of metal, sensors, and cables. Robots do not have the sixth sense that humans have when they are approached. Combining AI, robotics, machine learning, and sensory tech allows for the creation of situationally aware robots that can sense humans' presence. These robots can feel smell and spatial proximity and respond to stimuli. AI can also be used to make robots as intelligent as humans. Robotics developers can also use AI to create concepts like Sophia, one of the most well-known social robots in the world. Sophia can interact with people in human-like, interactive conversations and think autonomously and make decisions.
Robots are designed to perform tasks that humans shouldn't have. Robots are designed to automate tasks, allowing humans to concentrate on tasks that require intelligence. Standard automation robots don't need to learn, make decisions, or analyze data during the design, development, manufacturing, or performance of the tasks they are being built. For example, robots can only be used for cleaning, moving packages, and mowing lawns.
AI is about humanizing technology. AI models are integral to CRM, personal assistants, and ERP systems. These tasks require complex data analysis and decision-making abilities. Decisions must be made considering a variety of factors and thousands upon thousands of terabytes. An AI-based procurement management system, for example, will consider factors such as past material purchases, operational hours of vendors, and the time it takes for materials to arrive at each vendor-route combination. These models are constantly "learning" and improving with each passing day. Their decision-making and data analysis are just enhanced as humans get more experience. Combining AI and robotics combines the robot-assisted learning and cognitive aspects of AI models with the automation aspect.
Combining AI and robotics can make a powerful combination for businesses, intelligent communities, and other areas. Robotic automation can improve and perform complicated business operations with no error, thanks to AI.