Autonomous Robot Learns New Skills Through Practice And Planning - 1

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Autonomous Robot Learns New Skills Through Practice And Planning

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Yesterday, MIT News published a story outlining one of their new research project involving robotics. Specifically, researchers at MIT have developed a system that allows robots to independently learn and improve their skills through practice.

This system, known as Estimate, Extrapolate, and Situate ( EES ), enables robots to autonomously decide which skills to practice, how to practice them, and how to enhance their overall performance.

The EES approach involves three key steps . First, the robot estimates the competence of each skill, determining how likely it is that the skill will achieve its intended effects. Next, it extrapolates this competence by predicting how much practice will improve the skill.

Finally, the robot situates this improved competence within the broader context of its tasks, evaluating how practicing a particular skill will benefit its overall performance. This method allows the robot to plan and practice skills autonomously, without any need for environmental resets or human intervention.

Tests in simulated environments have shown that EES significantly outperforms other methods in terms of sample efficiency. This means that it requires fewer practice attempts to achieve the same level of proficiency.

The approach has also been successfully implemented in real-world scenarios. In these tests, the robot demonstrated an ability to handle noisy data and improve its performance over time, despite facing challenges such as perception errors and skill execution failures.

However, the system is not without limitations. The robot occasionally encounters dead-end states where it cannot achieve its goals due to unforeseen circumstances, such as objects becoming inaccessible or errors in perception.

Additionally, some skills are prone to failures that cannot be completely resolved through practice alone. These issues highlight the need for ongoing refinement and development in autonomous robot systems.

Overall, the EES approach represents a significant advancement in robotic learning and adaptability, paving the way for more sophisticated and capable autonomous systems. As researchers continue to address its limitations, the potential for robots to perform complex tasks with minimal human intervention becomes increasingly realistic.

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TikTok Introduces Spotlight: A New Feature to Boost Movie and TV Show Marketing

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

TikTok has introduced TikTok Spotlight, a new feature designed to enhance marketing efforts for movies and TV shows on the platform. This feature aims to make it easier for users to discover more about movies and TV shows while engaging with fan-created content on the platform.

TikTok Spotlight will automatically add links to selected videos that are related to specific movies or TV shows. These pages offer users detailed information about the content, including synopses, cast details, and related creator content. Users can access streaming options or purchase tickets directly from these pages. According to The Verge , these links will appear in the bottom-left corner of videos and lead to dedicated landing pages.

The tool also focuses on leveraging TikTok’s creator community. It helps studios collaborate with influencers to generate content around specific titles, thereby increasing visibility and engagement. This approach aims to foster genuine interactions and discussions about the content.

Additionally, TikTok Spotlight features an analytics dashboard that provides studios with insights into performance metrics and audience engagement. This data helps studios make informed decisions about their marketing strategies and manage their intellectual property.

James Stafford, Global Head of Publishers at TikTok, emphasized the tool’s role in modern marketing, stating, “With TikTok Spotlight, we are harnessing the ‘water cooler effect’, offering a full-service marketing platform that is supercharging our organic ecosystem, driving community and business results for entertainment marketers.”

Cameron Curtis, EVP of Digital Marketing at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, highlighted the tool’s effectiveness, noting, “By leveraging TikTok Spotlight, we’ve been able to organically amplify our reach, engage with a diverse audience, and create authentic connections around our films, generating dynamic conversations and user-generated content that elevate the social buzz around our movies.”

Early implementations of TikTok Spotlight, including campaigns for Dune: Part Two and HBO’s House of the Dragon, have shown promising results. According to TechCrunch , this led to over 260,000 fan-created posts in the two weeks before the movie’s premiere.

Overall, TikTok Spotlight represents a strategic enhancement to the app’s promotional capabilities. Is set to offer both users and entertainment companies a more integrated and interactive way to engage with content.