Classrooms where routine tasks are handled by a humanoid robot could soon be a reality. With 44% of K-12 teachers in the U.S. feeling burned out “often” or “always,” advanced AI robots could offer much-needed support.
Here me out!
At Tesla’s “We, Robot” event on October 10, while showcasing breakthroughs in autonomous taxi vehicles, tech billionaire Elon Musk unveiled the latest advancements of their AI-powered humanoid robot Optimus. Musk made a bold proclamation: “The Optimus will walk amongst you.” These robots, along with similar technologies, have the potential to integrate into various aspects of daily life, including educational settings, potentially revolutionizing how we approach tasks and combat issues such as teacher burnout.
The Optimus
Currently, Optimus stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs approximately 125 pounds and operates for up to 8 hours on a single charge. Equipped with advanced AI, machine learning and sensors like LIDAR and computer vision, Optimus interacts smoothly in dynamic environments. Musk explained, “Everything we’ve developed for our cars—the batteries, power, electronics, the advanced motors, gearboxes, the software, the ion first computer. It all actually applies to a humanoid robot… It’s the same techniques. It’s just a robot with arms and legs instead of wheels.”
Musk projected the Optimus to be priced between $20,000 and $30,000. This could make it an affordable option for many organizations and even households. Musk announced that “It’ll basically do anything you want. So it can be a teacher or babysit your kids. It can walk your dog, mow your lawn, get the groceries, just be your friend, serve drinks, whatever you can think of, it will do.”
Optimus For Education
Could Optimus change how classrooms operate? As a teaching assistant, it could handle tasks like preparing materials and supervising students during activities. This could reduce the administrative burden on teachers, allowing them to engage more with students. In special needs education, Optimus could provide personalized instruction and physical assistance, improving the learning experience for students requiring extra support.
Sounds unrealistic, right? Think again. A school I recently worked with in Sacramento, California, has already secured the funds to purchase an Optimus as soon as they go on sale. However, it’s important to note that the actual implementation of Optimus in classrooms is still theoretical at this point.
On LinkedIn this week, Donald Clark, a renowned learning expert and AI researcher from the UK, wrote, “I can’t help but conclude that at some point, probably sooner than we think, these robots will be commonplace. As teaching and learning are still largely ‘one to many,’ why shouldn’t they be introduced to pay more attention to individual needs. They could be aware of learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, that an individual learner may have, be sensitive to their personality, know where they are in terms of competence on different subjects.” Bartlomiej Polakowski, a learning technologies expert from Poland, replied, “It sounds so natural. Unbelievable.”
Issues like data privacy and over-reliance on technology are significant. Child development experts worry about these potential drawbacks. Many schools around the world are already implementing AI policies and guidelines to balance technology use. For instance, some districts are developing frameworks for responsible AI use, including data protection protocols and guidelines for AI-assisted instruction. Will they soon have to add a section for AI robots?
A Vision for the Next Generation
In my keynote addresses to educators and businesses worldwide, I regularly showcase the advanced capabilities of robots like Tesla’s Optimus and Figure 02. I believe that we should be prepared for many more moments in the coming months and years when we are shocked at how advanced technology has become, just like when ChatGPT was first released. Advanced humanoid robotics will deliver such a shock when they reach mainstream awareness.
These robots could significantly alter how we educate our children in the next decade or two. They could support teachers and provide personalized learning experiences, potentially leading to higher success rates and improved student well-being. Learning to live and work in collaboration with such technology will be an essential skill and introducing this at school could better prepare younger generations.
Educators, policymakers and tech developers need to collaborate to thoughtfully integrate robots like Optimus into educational frameworks. As this technology advances, the question remains: Are we ready to embrace a classroom where robots and teachers work together to inspire the next generation? What do you think about the potential of robots like Optimus in education? Are we ready for this next technological leap in our classrooms?
