FRIDA

The AI-powered robot called FRIDA, which stands for Friendly Robot for Industrial Dual-Arm Assembly, is capable of collaborating with humans to create art. Developed by ABB, a Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation, the robot has a human-like dual-arm design that can mimic the movements of its human co-creators. It is also equipped with machine learning algorithms that enable it to learn and improve its ability to create art.

FRIDA’s art-making abilities were showcased at an event in London in 2019, where it worked with the artist Patrick Tresset to create a collaborative drawing. The robot was programmed to observe Tresset’s drawing movements and then replicate them with its own arms. Tresset also programmed the robot to make its own creative decisions, such as varying the pressure of its drawing tool and changing its drawing style.

The result of their collaboration was a unique drawing that blended Tresset’s human touch with the machine’s precision and ability to iterate quickly. The process also allowed Tresset to see his own drawing style in a new light, as the robot’s movements made him aware of patterns and habits he hadn’t noticed before.

ABB has stated that FRIDA’s abilities extend beyond art and that it is designed to work alongside humans in a variety of industries, such as manufacturing and logistics. The robot is intended to augment human abilities and provide assistance in tasks that are too dangerous or tedious for humans to perform on their own. By collaborating with humans in creative endeavors, FRIDA and other AI-powered robots are helping to expand the possibilities for human-robot collaboration beyond traditional industrial settings.