Automate 2024 is underway in the US, showcasing both the cutting-edge of robotics and why a sci-fi future could be a lot closer than most of us think.
But technology experts here say the rapid pace of development for robotics and AI (artificial intelligence) could lead to the collapse of some industries.
"We've seen years and years of innovation now starting to come to fruition, so the idea of humanoid robots and a range of other robots, will very quickly become mainstream," Gorilla Tech CEO Paul Spain told Newshub.
"So very soon, we are just going to find robots around us as just normal, everyday life."
While building advanced robots has been possible for decades, the AI boom of the past two years has unlocked a new frontier.
"[There are] three things that are different about robotics," Spain said.
"The cost of producing robots has come down dramatically; where we're at with AI, which really enables robotics, has changed; and basically we've actually reached the point where most of the technology is available - and it's really just joining up the dots and turning it on and starting using it," he added.
Intrinsic, an AI company owned by Google, is pairing up with the world's leading AI computer chip manufacturer - NVIDIA - for their next generation of machines.
However, experts here warn the pace of progress in both AI and robotics mean large-scale job disruption is inevitable and we need to start planning.
"We in New Zealand need to start thinking about what sort of society we want to have where we have these very capable machines," warns Professor Michael Witbrock, head of the Strong Artificial Intelligence Lab at the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau.
"We've never had a technology before that has the potential to do, well, practically everything, right?" Prof Witbrock told Newshub.
"That's just true about the combination of AI and robotics and there may be missteps, there may be slow downs. But there are no obvious reasons why we're not on a path to very general capabilities at the moment."
Automate 2024 runs until Thursday in Chicago.
