Get you up to speed: Factory worker defeats robot in package-sorting challenge at Figure AI
Aimé G, a visualisation specialist at Figure AI, competed against Bob the bot in a package sorting challenge lasting 10 hours. Aimé sorted 12,924 parcels, surpassing the robot’s total of 12,732 by fewer than 200 packages.
Aimé G, a visualisation specialist at Figure AI, sorted 12,924 packages, narrowly defeating the robot, which sorted 12,732, during a live challenge. Brett Adcock, CEO of Figure AI, remarked that “this is the last time a human will ever win,” highlighting the close nature of the competition.
Aimé G sorted 12,924 packages, narrowly defeating Bob the bot, which sorted 12,732 packages. Brett Adcock warned that “this is the last time a human will ever win,” suggesting future competitions may favour automation.
Factory worker shows there’s hope for humanity after beating robot | News World
This is the moment a factory worker took on a robot to see if he could still do his job faster – and won.
Aimé G, a visualisation specialist at Figure AI, went head-to-head with Bob the bot live on social media to see if man or machine could sort more packages in 10 hours, and proved – at least for now – that mankind still has the edge.
In a post to X, the start-up’s CEO, Brett Adcock, said: ‘We got bored. Time for Man vs. Machine.’
Adcock went on to share the rules of engagement. The rules were simple: whoever sorted the most packages in the allotted time won.
The competition adhered to labour laws in California, where the showdown took place, meaning Aimé was given both paid breaks and time to eat over the course of the 10 hours.
Aimé, wearing a helpful shirt to remind viewers he’s the human, stops for what appears to be a beer break (Picture: Figure)
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Meanwhile, the bot was 100% automated and was not being remotely controlled by another human, Adcock said.
‘For background – the task is small package sorting,’ the tech boss added. ‘You must detect the barcode, pick up the package, and reorient it barcode face-down onto the conveyor.
‘Our bet? The human is faster, but fatigue and breaks may slow him down. Also – tortoise and the hare situation.
‘Nobody told the intern to let the robots win. Honestly, it’s anyone’s guess who wins.’
In welcome news for humanity, Aimé did indeed sort the most packages – but it was a close call.
With 12,924 parcels processed versus the robot’s 12,732, there were fewer than 200 packages in it.
In an ominous warning, Adcock said: ‘This is the last time a human will ever win.’
The AI tycoon also joked Aimé’s ‘left forearm is basically broken’ and his fingers were covered in blisters at the end of the challenge.
People were quick to comment on the challenge, with one person writing: ‘I was skeptical of your robot at first, but this stream has proven beyond a doubt it is capable of doing actual work.
‘This kind of AI will unlock so much human potential. That said, I’m still pulling for the human to win the competition.’
Another warned: ‘The human winning by 192 packages out of 12k+ is already a moral victory for the robots. Next year this won’t even be close.’
But someone else who watched the live stream disagreed: ‘Robot dropped 4x more packages. And can’t pick them up. It failed to flip square boxes and damaged 3x more labels.
‘We’re at least a year away from this being useful, imo [in my opinion].’
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