Could AI Robots Take Over the World?
BGU researchers are testing a humanoid robot to better understand the opportunities and challenges of AI.
The question of whether robots might one day take over the world has long captured the public imagination, as well as the attention of researchers, philosophers, and technology leaders. At Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's Robotics and Control Research Laboratory, that question is being explored not through science fiction but through advanced research and one of the world's most sophisticated humanoid robots.
Prof. Amir Shapiro, who heads the laboratory in BGU's Department of Mechanical Engineering, recently addressed the issue in a television interview. While he acknowledged that robots could theoretically "take over the world," he emphasized that humans remain responsible for directing and supervising these systems.
"The risks are real in principle," says Prof. Shapiro, "but they can be managed as long as humans remain in control."
Meet the G1: A New Generation of Humanoid Robots
The question has become even more relevant with the arrival of an impressive new humanoid robot in the laboratory: the G1, manufactured by the Chinese robotics company Unitree. Founded in 2016, Unitree has gained international recognition for developing agile humanoid robots that are now used by universities, research institutes, and technology companies around the world.
The G1 represents the latest generation of humanoid robotics. Its body incorporates dozens of joints, more than are found in the human body, giving it exceptional mobility. The robot can maintain balance, recover from external disturbances, and perform complex movements, including dancing.
Its mechanical sophistication also presents significant challenges for researchers. Unlike simpler robots, the G1 does not operate through a sequence of basic commands. Every movement requires precise coordination among dozens of motors working simultaneously.
As a result, the G1 and similar humanoid robots increasingly rely on artificial intelligence that learns through trial and error, much as humans learn to walk as children. Unlike traditional robots, whose actions are programmed in advance by engineers, humanoid robots are designed to learn through repeated practice and adapt to changing conditions.
Two Brains, One Robot
One of the G1's most intriguing features is its use of two separate "brains" operating simultaneously. The first is responsible for rapid, reflexive responses, helping the robot maintain stability and respond to external forces. The second handles higher-level functions, including interpreting its surroundings, planning routes, and navigating through space.
This division of labor allows the robot to combine quick reactions with deliberate reasoning and long-term planning. A wide range of sensors enables it to interact with its environment, identify obstacles, understand context, and even retrieve and hand objects to people when requested.
Built-in microphones and speakers further enhance these capabilities, allowing the robot to communicate directly with humans. The G1 can receive spoken instructions and verbally report technical malfunctions, making interaction more natural and intuitive.
These AI-powered capabilities strengthen the robot's role as an active partner in human environments—one that can collaborate with people rather than simply being operated remotely.
Powerful Technology, Human Responsibility
Michael Kashi, manager of the Robotics and Control Research Laboratory, notes that "despite their complexity and technological power, the tools required to develop and control these robots are becoming increasingly accessible."
Prof. Shapiro compares the experience of working with the G1 to "getting a remote-controlled Transformer toy."
At the same time, Kashi recalls that the team's first encounter with the robot was accompanied by a degree of apprehension.
"At first, the robot seemed intimidating because of its complexity," he says. "But over time we realized that working with it was not fundamentally different from working with other robots we had previously used. Once we gained confidence working with the system, the pace of our research accelerated significantly."
The research conducted at BGU's Robotics and Control Research Laboratory demonstrates how profound questions about humanity's future can be explored through advanced engineering research.
The arrival of the G1 offers researchers a glimpse of how future robots may learn, move, and interact with people. While today's humanoid robots remain far from autonomous world domination, their rapid evolution highlights the importance of ensuring that human judgment and oversight continue to guide the technologies shaping the future.
Whether robots will ever be capable of taking over the world remains an open question. What is already clear is that they are here to stay, and responsibility for how they are integrated into society remains firmly in human hands.
