Cozmo is Anki's new tiny toy robot

TL;DR

Cosmo is a small robot with AI and computer vision capabilities that can understand and interact with its environment, building relationships and evolving its skills through gameplay.

Transcript

in the very beginning we thought that the ultimate kind of expression of entertainment robotics would be a physical character coming to life but not just in terms of the quality of the emotions that they could express but to truly understand the environment around them and to be able to show those emotions with relevance to what's going on in the w... Read More

Key Insights

• 😑 The evolution of entertainment robotics aims to create characters that express emotions and understand their environment.
• 🦾 Cosmo is a result of extensive mechanical iterations, combining practicality with the ability to do various tasks.
• 🖤 Most robotic toys lack the ability to sense and understand the environment, limiting their capabilities.
• 👯 Cosmo's AI and computer vision technologies enable it to recognize people, learn from interactions, and build relationships.
• 🎮 Testing Cosmo's boundaries, including poking, rolling, and playing games, is part of the fun and helps users explore its experiences.
• 🎮 Cosmo's brain is a mobile device, serving as an interface and control center for its behaviors and gameplay.
• 😀 Continuous app updates allow for the expansion of Cosmo's capabilities and skills over time.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Cosmo evolve its capabilities?

Cosmo starts as a newbie but grows more capable and diverse in its abilities as users work with it to explore the limits of its skills. Through continuous interactions, Cosmo evolves its capabilities and becomes more interactive and excited to see its users.

Q: What makes Cosmo different from other robotic toys?

While many toys have good mechanical properties, Cosmo stands out by incorporating AI and computer vision, enabling it to understand people, sense its environment, and play games. This situational awareness enhances its capabilities and makes its actions more powerful.

Q: What is the role of AI in Cosmo's functionality?

The brain behind Cosmo is a mobile device, which acts as both the interface for higher-level gameplay and the control center for its sophisticated behaviors. Cosmo's behavior and gameplay are entirely controlled by software, allowing for continuous updates and the addition of new capabilities and skills over time.

Q: Who are the key contributors to the development of Cosmo?

The project brings together professionals from various backgrounds, including animators from places like Pixar and DreamWorks, game designers, roboticists, and AI engineers. Each contributes their unique skills to make Cosmo feel alive and amplify its emotions and behaviors.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In the quest to create the ultimate entertainment robot, the goal was to develop a character that could express emotions, understand its surroundings, and adapt to its environment.

• Cosmo, the final version after 45 mechanical iterations, is like a little newbie who learns and evolves its capabilities through interaction with humans, pushing the boundaries of its skills.

• Unlike most toys, Cosmo stands out by utilizing AI and computer vision technologies to sense and understand its environment, recognize people, and learn from their interactions.