Amazon has recently made news with the unveiling of its ‘Astro’ home robot. This innovative device is designed to aid customers in a variety of tasks, such as home monitoring and connecting with family. However, this development has sparked concerns among civil society regarding issues of privacy related to constant surveillance.
Introducing Astro: Amazon’s New Home Robot
Astro is primarily a home security device. Designed to roam within the home, it keeps an eye on pets and identifies any unusual activity in the owner’s absence. The robot features a “periscope” camera that surfaces from its head, providing a way to supervise the home.
Astro can be described as a hybrid of the Echo Show (a smart speaker) and a high-tech Ring security camera, combined into a single apparatus. It is capable of recording live videos, recognizing faces, playing music or video clips, and even fetching a beer within the house. It scrutinizes the faces of people until it identifies whether they are family members or strangers.
Concerns over Privacy
The amount of data that Amazon can gather using Astro, granting the company unrestricted access to households, has aroused concern within civil society. This is a step beyond Alexa, which previously only had access to voices and sounds.
Amazon has assured users that Astro stores face data locally rather than on the cloud. However, as with all internet-connected devices, privacy concerns persist. Fears exist about theft or hacking of the device. In such cases, the offender could gain access to the digital layout of the home that the robot creates. Long-term, this could lead to wider public acceptance of AI-based surveillance.
Earlier instances of hackers gaining access to Ring cameras, used in Amazon devices, contribute to these worries.
Recent Developments in Robotics
Other recent innovations in the field of robotics include Softbank’s “suspension” of production for Pepper, one of the first humanoid robots capable of perceiving emotions. Additionally, Jibo has initiated an Indiegogo project aiming to develop the world’s first social robot for homes.
Understanding Robotics
Robotics is an engineering discipline that encompasses the ideation, design, production, and operation of robots. Robots are automated machines designed to replace human labour. The ultimate goal of robotics is to create intelligent machines to assist humans in diverse ways.
Pros and Cons of Robotics
Robots can enhance productivity, efficiency, and the quality and consistency of products in many scenarios. They can operate in environments that are hazardous for humans and are equipped with sensors and actuators more sophisticated than humans possess. They also don’t get bored or fatigued, can offer exceptional accuracy and precision, and unlike humans, they can repeatedly perform tasks until they wear out.
On the flip side, robotics could lead to economic problems if robots end up replacing human jobs. Robots can only execute programmed instructions and hence cannot think on their feet or improvise. They require safety protocols to protect both humans and other robots. Also, despite outperforming humans in certain aspects, they lack dexterity and emotional intelligence, crucial in high-intensity situations. The initial cost, maintenance, additional components, and programming make robots expensive. Surveillance risks associated with robotics can potentially lead to privacy nightmares.