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Humanoid robots lose out in competition for combat effectiveness with drones — academician

As the expert underlined, reality showed that they cannot replace anybody as they are too unsustainable, low-passable, energy-intensive

ST. PETERSBURG, June 18 /TASS/. Human-like robots, once widely touted, are falling behind in competition with drones tailored to specific tasks, one of the leading Russian and global experts in computer technology told TASS.

"A certain time ago, certain experts <…> actively promoted the idea of building universal human-like robots which, in their thinking, were supposed to replace humans across the board, including on the battlefield," Igor Kalyayev, an academician with the Russian Academy of Sciences, said. "Reality showed that they cannot replace anybody as they are too unsustainable, low-passable, energy-intensive and understealthed, etc. And dedicated robots, like FPV drones, squat and stealth vehicles, uncrewed motorboats, and other unmanned systems are needed to accomplish combat tasks," he said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

This, the academician argued, "shows once again how important it is to develop specialized AI models tasked with solving practical tasks in science, engineering, industrial production, defense, and security."

SPIEF 2025 will take place on June 18-21. This year, the event will be held under the theme "Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World." Thematic zones such as the ‘Territory of Innovations’ and the national brand space ‘Buy Russian!’ will be featured at the Forum.

The program includes the SME Forum, the Creative Industries Forum, the Day of the Future International Youth Economic Forum, the Drug Security Forum, and the Roscongress Urban Hub discussion platform. As part of the cultural program, the Petersburg Seasons festival will be held, and the SPIEF Sports Games will take place.

The Roscongress Foundation is the organizer of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. TASS is its information partner.

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