There is always something new to discover in the world of technology. The development of humanoid robotics is a fascinating innovation from the realm of artificial intelligence. It is demonstrating great value in supporting both humans and businesses. Marcus Petersson, Regional Manager Middle East, Furhat Robotics, shares with The Catalyst, a detailed outlook on humanoid robots, current initiatives at Furhat, the use case factor of such innovations, non-code as a game changer for the future, empowering kids with skills and plans for the UAE market.
Furhat Robotics is a decade-old company. How has this journey shaped its approach to innovation and product development?
Over the past decade, Furhat Robotics has been committed to shaping the future of humanoid robots by continuously adapting to the needs of the market. Our growth has been fueled by a deep understanding of how technology can transform industries such as customer service, education and healthcare. At Furhat, we prioritize user-centered design in our innovation process, ensuring our products remain intuitive and scalable. We have built a team that thrives on cross-disciplinary collaboration, with experts in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-robot interaction, driving forward our mission to create robots that can truly understand and interact with humans. Technology becomes meaningful when it serves diverse purposes and delivers maximum impact.
Humanoid robots are now ready for societal integration. How do you foresee this progress evolving in the future?
The future of humanoid robots is incredibly promising, especially as societal needs evolve. Goldman Sachs’ research from last year suggests that the global market for humanoid robots could reach $38 billion by 2035. We foresee humanoid robots becoming integral parts of customer-facing roles, education, healthcare, elderly care, government service, and more. With advancements in AI and machine learning, these robots will continue to enhance their understanding of human emotions, contexts, and behaviors. Given their flexibility and ability to adapt to complex terrain, we believe humanoids have the potential to drive growth in the industrial automation market. In the coming years, we anticipate more widespread integration of humanoid robots in various industries, enabling them to work alongside humans in roles that require empathy, professional ethics, communication skills, and adaptability.
What role does emotional intelligence play in the development of humanoid robots? What specific technologies or innovations does Furhat employ to equip robots with social skills?
While Furhat robots do not currently read body language or emotions, they are designed to adapt their speech and facial expressions based on the content of the conversation. For example, when the conversation is positive, Furhat tends to display positive facial expressions, while maintaining a neutral expression when appropriate. The robots detect faces but do not read them; they start dialogue based on facial detection. In terms of social skills, Furhat leverages advanced technologies such as large language models (LLM) and machine learning algorithms. These technologies allow our robots to engage in dynamic and context-aware conversations, enabling them to respond appropriately in various social situations. Furhat’s conversational abilities are continuously enhanced by the integration of LLM, which provides the robot with a broad understanding of language and context, allowing for more natural and human-like interactions.
With FurhatAI enabling non-technical users to build applications in minutes, how do you plan to ensure accessibility while maintaining sophistication in applications?
Furhat Robotics believes in democratizing technology and empowering users, whether they have technical backgrounds or not. It is nothing less than a revolution, creating exciting opportunities for everyone to innovate. FurhatAI’s user-friendly interface allows for rapid application development without coding, but this simplicity does not come at the cost of sophistication. Our goal is to create accessible tools that maintain advanced capabilities, so users can build complex interactions without needing deep technical expertise. We focus on providing templates, intuitive controls, and tutorials that guide users through the creation process while enabling them to build highly customizable and advanced robotic applications.
Edtech is all about bringing interactive, tech-driven learning to students, fostering creativity and innovation. How can FurhatAI Creator enable children to explore their creativity by building applications for robots?
FurhatAI Creator is an excellent tool for children to engage with robotics and AI in a fun and educational way. It provides an interactive platform where children can explore different aspects of humanoid robotics, such as personality creation, behavior programming, and emotional responses. The idea is to skill up children design their own robot characters and tailor their interactions, helping them develop problem-solving skills and creativity. The simplicity of the tool ensures that students can get hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, while also inspiring curiosity about artificial intelligence and robotics.
What future advancements do you foresee that could make humanoid robots even more seamlessly integrated into everyday life?
As humanoid robots continue to evolve, we foresee advancements that will allow them to integrate more naturally into daily life, especially in environments that require nuanced human interaction. At present, Furhat adapts speech and expressions to match the conversation’s tone, using positivity for uplifting topics and neutrality when needed.
Future advancements will likely include the integration of more sophisticated conversational dynamics such as irony, sarcasm, and a more developed sense of humor. These elements are crucial for human-like conversations and can enhance the robot’s ability to engage in casual, everyday interactions. Additionally, robots will evolve to better handle subtle conversational shifts – such as interruptions or changes in tone – and master the art of timing, pauses, and turns in the dialogue.
Furthermore, with continued improvements in large language models (LLM) and AI-driven context awareness, Furhat will become better equipped to understand and participate in more complex, adaptive conversations that reflect the richness of human communication. This will allow robots to interact in a more dynamic, personable, and relatable way, making them even more seamlessly integrated into social settings like customer service, entertainment, and educational environments.
We want our technology to be recognized as a valuable companion for humans.
The UAE has been a pioneer in adopting advanced technologies. What strategies or approaches do you have in place to tap into the UAE market?
The UAE’s forward-thinking approach to technology makes it an ideal market for Furhat Robotics. Such tech innovations are becoming a key part of public life in the UAE, enhancing efficiency and business growth across sectors. By 2030, the humanoid robot market in the UAE is expected to generate revenues of US$ 36.0 million. The UAE humanoid robot market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 18.7% between 2024 and 2030. To tap into this market, we focus on building strong partnerships with both government and private sectors. As mentioned earlier, our robots are particularly well-suited for customer service, education, healthcare and government services, which are key areas of interest in the UAE’s innovation agenda as well. We also aim to participate in community projects and collaborate on initiatives that promote the use of robots in enhancing human experiences.
Do you see FurhatAI replacing humans, or enhancing roles through collaboration?
At Furhat Robotics, we firmly believe that AI and robots should not replace humans but rather enhance human roles through collaboration. Our vision is to develop robots that augment human capabilities, enabling people to focus on more strategic, creative, and emotionally engaging tasks. Whether in customer service, healthcare, or education, FurhatAI empowers human workers by taking on repetitive or time-consuming tasks, allowing for more meaningful human interaction. We see humanoid robots as valuable collaborators, working alongside humans to improve productivity, engagement, and overall well-being.
Innovation and growth are abundant in technology. Marcus Petersson highlights humanoid robotics as an excellent example of how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future. In addition to its ability to support both individuals and businesses, Furhat Robotics is at the forefront of this transformation, especially with its forward-looking approach to the UAE market. This interaction advocates that technology is a great companion for humans and is not a threat. The right innovation and responsible use of technology lead to enhanced experiences and increased productivity.
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