In a time where AI is being used in everything from sneakers to music and movies, it’s sort of interesting, perhaps even surprising, to see it tackle some of the less glamorous tasks, such as cleaning toilets.
From New York’s backstreets comes Somatic’s autonomous toilet-cleaning robot, revealing that, yes, robots too can roll up their metaphorical sleeves for the less coveted gigs.
Reimagining restroom maintenance
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Virtual training for real-world cleaning
The intriguing part isn’t just the fact that it tirelessly cleans bathrooms but also its initial setup. The robot is equipped with sensors that pave the way to maneuver spaces, mapping the building’s intricacies through video and 3D depth data.
Think of setting your “space” when wearing VR goggles. Since most restrooms generally have a similar layout, the set-up is a one-time intensive process where the bot is essentially trained to do its job. Then it retreats to recharge or refill its cleaning arsenal.
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Credit: Somatic
Human-AI collaboration in janitorial work
Somatic’s brainchild isn’t out to replace the janitorial workforce. Instead, it focuses on regular sanitation tasks. What happens when the robot encounters a mess so big it’s beyond its skillset? The robot smartly sends photographic evidence to the human janitors and continues its cleaning journey elsewhere.
The company sees this as a great option for airports, casinos, office spaces, and more. This robotic janitor is already in action with the hope one day, a mini version will be available to consumers.
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Credit: Somatic
The ethical and social implications of an AI toilet-cleaning robot
While Somatic’s autonomous toilet-cleaning robot may see the impact of AI on human labor and dignity.
How will human janitors feel about working alongside machines that can perform their tasks faster and cheaper? Will they be able to retain their sense of pride and purpose in their work?
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Credit: Somatic
Kurt’s key takeaways
With AI popping up everywhere, where do you think it’ll show up next? If you could get a robot to do one thing for you, what would it be? Let us know your ultimate robot wishes below.
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