Helping robots fit into the human workplace

Robots are often feared for replacing human workers, but experts say there are still vital tasks humans excel at. Robust AI, a startup founded by former MIT professors Rodney Brooks and Anthony Jules, creates robots to work alongside humans in dynamic warehouse and factory settings. Their mobile robot, Carter, is a utility cart on wheels with an AI vision system and force-sensitive controls that allow humans to steer, stop, and direct it.

Carter can be used to help humans pick and stock shelves or move items around the facility autonomously. Companies like Robust AI aim to integrate robots into workplaces where they can complement human abilities, rather than fully replace them. The founders recognize that the key to success is balancing the work between robots, humans, and backend systems.

They emphasize the importance of giving employees agency and decision-making power in the process. While some robots have been found to hinder human workers' efficiency, Robust AI's robots are designed to assist and not interfere. The company's approach is to deeply understand the primary tasks of workers and then build features that enhance those tasks, whether performed by humans or machines.