Amazon Alexa Can Control Robot Exoskeletons, That’s Not Ominous At All

In a world where computers are fast taking over some of the most mundane aspects of human lives, it was only a matter of time before artificial intelligence does something really disturbing. In a recent demonstration, for example, engineers managed to control a bipedal exoskeleton with the help of Amazon’s Alexa. That’s right, Alexa can control robots.

This rather remarkable and astonishing development is courtesy of Bionik Laboratories, which is a robotics firm based in Canada. Engineers demonstrated how Alexa can be paired with an exoskeleton called Arke, where users can basically issue a verbal command in order to perform certain actions, The Verge reports.

If the patient wearing Arke says “Alexa, I’m ready to stand,” for example, the exoskeleton would initiate the proper command and comply. The same goes for when the users say the appropriate command phrases for walking or sitting.

The idea behind the demo is simple. It shows how digital assistants like Alexa can help those who are physically impaired by making it easier to use mobile supplements like the Arke. After all, there are patients who are completely paralyzed from the neck down, which would make moving things with their digits quite the challenge.

For those who are only partially impaired, however, the Arke is usually responsive to controls and natural movement. Users will be able to tell the exoskeleton exactly what to do via a tablet, but the voice command feature will still be available, Futurism reports.

Now, it’s worth noting that advancements in this field are still quite limited and Alexa still has a long way to go before it can control exoskeletons like the Arke en masse. Even so, the very idea of a smart assistant being able to control robots and someone or something being able to control smart assistants is enough to send shivers down one’s spine.