The recognition is for Phoenix™, the only humanoid general-purpose robot on the list, and comes just weeks after being recognized as a LinkedIn Top Startup
VANCOUVER, BC, Tuesday, October 24, 2023 — Sanctuary AI, a company on a mission to create the world's-first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots, has been named on the annual TIME’s Best Inventions list for 2023, which features 200 extraordinary innovations changing our lives. Sanctuary AI has been recognized for its sixth-generation general-purpose robots, Phoenix™, which features human-like intelligence and a humanoid physical form that is specifically designed to perform work tasks. Phoenix is the only humanoid general-purpose robot on the list, and the only Canadian company recognized in the highly competitive Robotics category. Sanctuary AI is helping address the growing labor shortage organizations are facing as birth rates decline and a significant portion of the population ages into retirement by offering an autonomous labor solution that can learn physical work tasks and operate in dynamic environments.
While many of the popular and successful robots of the last several years have been on the special-purpose end of the spectrum, what sets Sanctuary AI apart from others in the industry is its literal take on “general-purpose.” Powered by Carbon™, a pioneering and unique AI control system, Phoenix stands at 5’7”, weighs 155 lbs, and has industry-leading robotic hands with increased degrees of freedom (20 in total) that rival human hand dexterity and fine manipulation. Integrating modern AI technologies to translate natural language into action in the real world, Carbon features reasoning, task, and motion plans that are both explainable and auditable, providing Phoenix robots with the ability to think and then act to complete work tasks just like a person.
“We’re incredibly honored that our mission and work have been recognized by TIME. As birth rates continue to decline and nearly 10 million jobs remain unfilled in the United States alone, current labor challenges will only get worse as time goes on without a technology-based solution, like Phoenix,” said Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO, Sanctuary AI. “With industry-leading robotic hands that feature human-like dexterity, fine manipulation, and a sense of touch, as our early adopting customers are already witnessing, Phoenix is uniquely suited to perform work. Sanctuary technology has already successfully deployed to commercial sites which proved our proprietary AI training process is effective and that the technology is commercially viable. We remain relentlessly committed and optimistic in our pursuit to creating a future where everyone can work more safely, efficiently, and sustainably.”
To compile their Best Inventions list, TIME solicits nominations from TIME’s editors and correspondents around the world, and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields—such as AI, green energy, and sustainability. They then evaluate each contender on a number of key factors, including originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.
Of the new list, TIME’s editors write, “The result is a list of 200 groundbreaking inventions (and 50 special mention inventions)—including the world's most powerful supercomputer, a game-changing entertainment venue, and a new shape—that are changing how we live, work, play, and think about what’s possible.”
This achievement is the latest milestone in a momentous year for Sanctuary AI. At the beginning of the year, Sanctuary AI completed the first two customer deployments of its general-purpose robots. The company also unveiled its ecosystem of technology partners, including companies such as Apptronik, Cycorp, Exonetik, and HaptX. The growing Sanctuary AI team recently moved into a state-of-the-art office and lab space and the company was recognized by LinkedIn as a Top Startup of 2023.
To learn more about Sanctuary AI’s mission, Phoenix, and the team — which includes world-renowned experts in AI, machine learning, and robotics — visit the official company website: https://sanctuary.ai
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Founded in 2018, Sanctuary AI is a multi-award winning company based in Vancouver, Canada. Sanctuary AI is on a mission to create the world's first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots that will help us work more safely, efficiently, and sustainably, helping to address the labor challenges facing many organizations today. Sanctuary AI's growing list of customers and investors represents a wide variety of industries across Canada, the US, and other countries around the world.
Members of the Sanctuary team founded D-Wave (a pioneer in the quantum computing industry), Kindred (first use of reinforcement learning in a production robot), and the Creative Destruction Lab (pioneered a revolutionary method for the commercialization of science for the betterment of humankind). With experience at startups and technology leaders such as Amazon, HP, IBM, Microsoft, and Samsung, the team has experience launching market-defining innovations rooted in previously unsolved and deep scientific problems.
