There are more and more companies in the tech world looking to make robots "smart," and X-Square is no exception. But if you thought that this would be another robot that would help you with cleaning or serve you coffee, then I hasten to disappoint you. This startup is clearly not for those who were waiting for the "Robot Vacuum Cleaner 2.0". No, everything is much more interesting.

X-Square has just debuted a new technology that looks like a breakthrough in the world of "volumetric" artificial intelligence. Let's find out what this means and why, according to experts, it's worth paying attention to.

What makes X-Square special?

They don't just make robots. No, that would be too easy. Instead, they are developing something called Foundation Model Embedded AI. This, of course, sounds like a name for a new scientific term, but in fact everything is much simpler. Unlike most companies that create robots that teach them only basic functions, X-Square decided to take on the task of building an intelligence that can process and adapt knowledge by analogy with human thinking. In fact, they are developing not just robots, but robots that can learn and adapt, just like you and me.

And then there's $100 million.

And so, when you're already sitting in deep thought, realizing that robots with such abilities can only be controlled by the greatest minds, the news comes out that X-Square has raised $100 million for another round of funding. Moreover, investors, apparently, not only fell in love with the beautiful terminology, but really believe that the company will be able to realize its ambitious plans.

So, what will this $100 million do? Oh, not just for the company to buy itself some new coffee machines (although who knows). The money will be used to develop their unique platform, which, in fact, will build the foundation for "educated" robots capable of solving much more complex tasks than the same courier robots. X-Square is not just looking for the opportunity to make smart robots for the warehouse, they want to create artificial intelligence that will be much more flexible and adaptive.

Sarcasm in action: so now robots will think for us?

Now let's imagine for a second a future where robots don't just follow commands, but start thinking. Yes, yes, we are talking about the very future where artificial intelligence will solve tasks that require "flexibility". Well, it's probably just around the corner.

The company plans to use its developments to create robots that can not only perform simple tasks like folding boxes, but also make decisions in conditions of uncertainty. It sounds like the beginning of a movie about the rise of the machines, but let's not panic until we see how they behave in real life.

"Volumetric" AI — what is it and how does it work?

So, what is this very Foundation Model Embedded AI? The bottom line is that the model will work not only with textual and visual information, but also "understand" the physical world around it. This means that robots will be able not only to recognize objects, but also to manipulate them. A typical example is a robot that can take a cup and put it on a shelf. And this is not just a trick, but a serious development in the field of perception and decision-making.

But, to be honest, so far robots can only "think" in a very limited set of tasks. X-Square, on the other hand, intends to go beyond banal robotics and "implement" more complex forms of intelligence. Of course, they will face many technical and ethical challenges along the way, but they are confident that they will be able to overcome them.

Why is this important?

Apart from all the philosophical and theoretical arguments about what we will get if robots start to "think", there is also a practical side.

The problems that X-Square is trying to solve relate to areas such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and even education. And, if their claims are to be believed, their technologies will be able to solve the real problems faced by companies by using robots for complex but necessary tasks.
But, of course, this does not mean that robots will immediately replace humans. Rather, it will be a step towards closer cooperation between man and machine. Of course, this is unless machines decide that humans are the main obstacle to their improvement.

Finally, don't expect robots to replace you anytime soon.

Although X-Square does not hide its ambitious goals, we should not expect that in the next five years all robots will be as smart as we are. And, to be honest, it's not a fact that we want it. The idea that an artificial intelligence will take the place of a human and take control is still a fantasy. But the fact that X-Square is doing something that could lead us to a "new generation" of robots is already an impressive step forward.

So, don't worry, we're still safe for now. But be prepared for something more. Who knows, maybe in the next robot movie, the main role won't be played by a human character, but... well, let's say a robot with feelings.