May 15, 2017

In a changing world, every dream about the future immediately becomes a source of inspiration. December 1989, Marty McFly travels to the future and explores the year 2015. He showed us a world where cars fly and where techno is ubiquitous. Almost 30 years have passed since and—although the hover board has yet to come out— the fantasies of yesterday have become the realities of today. In other words, we have made real and tangible progress. Intelligent objects and other robots assist us in our everyday life and Artificial Intelligence and Data Science has a true social impact. Let us walk you through a world full of promises...

Hello, how can I help you?Today, innovative companies rely on conversational agents in the service sector to quickly identify and respond effectively to customer needs. The enthusiasm is so strong that a report published by TMR (Transparency Market Research) forecasts an annual growth of 28% in the next seven years for interactive chatbots; A boon for those who dream of talking with R2D2. But service robotics, especially when it comes to Artificial Intelligence and data collection, is already growing beyond this technology. It is something that is already happening with connected objects for instance.

Intelligent objects that make life easier

Also called Intelligent Robots, these connected objects optimize the daily life of a user who can now receive assistance for the simplest tasks. It is now possible to adjust your heating from your smartphone, to make sure that you are safe wherever you are, or to be helped in the management of household tasks. BNP Paribas Cardif has implemented this "Smart Home" principle in Italy thanks to its H @ bitat Domotic Box. The box watches over the house thanks to its sensors that detect water leaks, power cuts, smoke; And, if necessary, issues a warning to trigger an intervention. This form of "new generation" insurance helps to prevent risks and limit damage.

From the intelligent object to the "socio - friendly" robot

By gradually integrating natural language, robots become more social and capable of supporting people in situations of fragility. Children around the world learn about interactive and educational robots. The "Leka" robot, specialized in interacting with children with autism, has proven to be an agile and playful support that pleases kids and provides adults with the extra help they need. This positive impact on society encourages robotics professionals to continue to make headway in the industry; And many companies around the world are already offering technological solutions to provide services to the elderly, enhancing the social impact of robotics. Tele-presence or assistance robots, that are permanently available, complement the work of individuals without ever claiming to replace it. In the same spirit, new technologies also seek to support the medical sector.

Robotics are pushing the frontiers of science

These connected / intelligent objects have become more accessible to offer everyone a personalized follow-up in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Much more than a trend, the market for so-called "wearable" technologies, such as watches, belts or other jewelry for the analysis of data related to the body, is estimated to be worth 5.45 billion euros in 2018 … And this only concerns a tiny part of medical robotics! A year ago, the robot "STAR", created in the United Arab Emirates, operated on soft tissue for the very first time, without any human assistance. Other solutions provide muscular support for legs while walking, or can even replace body parts, like exoskeletons. But other forms of robotics are looking into the world of the infinitely small. This is the case of nanorobots. Some are even already capable of detecting early traces of Alzheimer's disease...

Moving toward a new world…

Call it a right-hand man, a friend, a personal assistant, robots are increasingly becoming indispensable to Humanity at large. But the future of robots is also intertwined with the fate of the earth. From "Naio," a small robot used as a substitute for chemicals, to automated green farms, we are eager to see the impact of such technologies on our daily life, and how ultimately, AI and Data Science will open the way to a smarter and cleaner planet.