Boston Dynamics’ Robot Dogs Speak and Have Different Personalities
Boston Dynamics, the robotics company known for its iconic yellow robot dogs, has made a significant breakthrough in their capabilities. Thanks to the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, these robot dogs can now speak in full sentences and even have different personalities.
In a recent video posted on Boston Dynamics’ YouTube channel, Matt Klingensmith, the principal software engineer at the company, is seen interacting with one of the robot dogs while standing in front of a calibration board covered in QR codes. Klingensmith asks the robot, named Spot, “Hey Spot, what else do you see?” To everyone’s surprise, Spot responds with, “Well Matt, I see the unfathomable void of my existence reflected in this QR code-filled board. Oh, and also a large window.” Spot’s quirky personality is further enhanced its googly eyes, stick-on mustache, and tiny cowboy hat.
The integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT has allowed these robot dogs to develop unique personalities. Some of the personalities include Fancy Butler, who has a British accent and speaks very properly; Teenage Robot, whose speech is filled with “like” and “totally” with a peppy tone; 1920’s Archaeologist, who talks about his trusty hat and thrilling adventures; and Shakespearean Time Traveler, who speaks exclusively in rhyming couplets.
During the interaction, Klingensmith asks Spot, “What do you think of your job?” Spot, embodying the Shakespearean Time Traveler personality, replies, “To guide and share in verse and tale is a task I relish, without fail. In steel and wire my heart doth beat, in this role I find delight complete.” However, not all personalities are as optimistic. There is also a sarcastic and nihilistic personality named “Josh,” who questions the purpose of its existence.
These speech capabilities have been made possible through a partnership between Boston Dynamics and AI software company Levatas. Levatas integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT into the robot dogs, utilizing Google Assistant’s voice technology for verbal interaction with humans.
Beyond their entertaining responses, the speech capabilities serve practical purposes. The integration of ChatGPT allows the robot dogs to interpret data and communicate it in a more understandable manner to the average person. This is particularly useful as these robot dogs are extensively used in manufacturing and logistics industries, where they perform various tasks. The ability to communicate data effectively bridges the gap between technical knowledge and practical understanding.
Spot, being one of the most versatile robot dogs, has been used in diverse environments. Boston hospitals have employed Spots equipped with iPads and two-way radios to communicate with patients while minimizing COVID-19 exposure. In New Zealand, Spot has been utilized for herding sheep and collecting agricultural data.
Earlier this year, the New York Police Department also announced the resumption of their use of Boston Dynamics robot dogs. These robots will be employed in dangerous situations such as bomb threats, hostage situations, and inspections of hazardous waste sites. The improved voice capabilities of the robot dogs make them even more valuable in such scenarios.
Boston Dynamics’ breakthrough in giving robot dogs the ability to speak and have personalities opens up a wide range of possibilities for their utilization. With their enhanced communication skills, these robots can serve as effective assistants in various industries. Whether it is interacting with patients, collecting data, or assisting law enforcement, the potential applications are vast.
Boston Dynamics has yet to respond to Insider’s request for comment on this significant development.