HANOI – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 March 2025 – As Artificial Intelligence and Robotics have increasingly reshaped societies and industries, promising to be a multi-billion-dollar opportunity over the next decade, VinFuture Prize has committed to recognizing pioneers who are The Prize Council has welcomed Professor Daniela Rus as its newest member. She is the Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT.

Professor Rus shares her experience in a field that was long perceived as male dominated. She also shares how AI is playing a key role in shaping the future robotics.

From AI to robots

With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligent, robotics has significant opportunities to drive industrial revolution. AI models are surprisingly similar to humans in their ability process text, video images and other data. Professor Rus, however, pointed out that these algorithms are largely restricted to the digital realm, and not the real one. Robots are excellent in the physical realm, but lack intelligence. They rely on pre-programmed commands.

In the next decade, AI will finally make its way from the digital to the physical world. Professor Rus believes that integrating AI with robotics will bridge this gap and make physical machines intelligent. She said, “These machines can be robots or other machines such as power grids, satellites, sensors and satellites. Basically, anything you want to do in the physical world.“

To achieve this vision, Professor Rus says that “physical AI” is needed. This means developing AI models which not only process data but also understand real-world physics, she explained. This requires overcoming current statistical AI’s limitations, which lack a deep understanding real-world physics.

Professor Rus stressed the importance of developing AI solutions that are physics aware, causal, error free, compact, and integrated into physical system. She predicts that industries will undergo a complete revolution in the next decade, as many researchers and scientists are actively pursuing these advances.

In the healthcare industry, AI-driven diagnosis tools can improve monitoring of disease and disease detection. Autonomous systems promise safer roads and a reduction in fatalities. They will also make our transportation system more efficient and effective. She clarified that real-time translation can facilitate seamless global communication.

AI and robotics together could free humans from mundane, routine tasks and allow them to devote their time to higher-level activities, such as strategic thinking and problem-solving. Professor Rus also stressed the importance of acknowledging current limitations in machine learning, and warned against over-reliance on robots as a solution.

Welcome the AI era.

Professor Rus, who is aware of the profound impact AI has on industries and society, expressed her gratitude for the VinFuture Prize, which recognized the pioneers behind this transformation. The prize acknowledged contributions from all three core components of AI revolution, including machine-learning (Professors Yoshua Benjamin, Geoffrey Hinton, and Yann LeCun), data (Professor Fei Fei Li), and hardware (Mr. Jens

She said, “This prize highlights how far AI has come from its scientific foundations to the point that it can have such a profound impact on our lives and contribute to a better society,” she exclaimed. She expressed her excitement for a productive partnership, aligned to the Council’s goals: “VinFuture Prize is remarkable and it is wonderful that AI researchers and advances are receiving this level recognition. I expect that this collaboration will be focused on identifying and recognizing groundbreaking achievements and people that have made contributions that have the ability to transform industries and improve life.” She stressed the importance of digital literacy in order to adapt to this inevitable technological shift. This can be achieved through formal education, corporate-led initiatives, or community-led initiatives. She stressed that “it’s important to realize that these tools are not inherently good or bad: their impact is dependent on how we use them“, she said. Professor Rus, who is the VinFuture Prize’s advocate for the constant development AI, was confident that the VinFuture Prize would serve as an inspiration to more young researchers and developers around the world to push the limits of AI and robotics across borders.

AI is at a pivotal point in the world, where it is beginning to have a profound effect. The prize will encourage the younger generation to learn, participate, and contribute. She said that the more young scientists and engineers are involved in AI and robotics, then we will see more meaningful advancements which create a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone.

“The path is never straight”

Professor Rus credits her passion for AI and robotics to an early fascination with sci-fi. Her subsequent studies in astronomy, mathematics, and computer science laid the foundation for her academic career, which was further shaped with the guidance of her PhD advisor. She was deeply inspired by her advisor to explore the potential of computing to interact with the physical universe. “I realized that this was a turning-point for me. I saw the opportunity to work on a groundbreakingproject,” she said.

When examining the state-ofthe-art of that time, robots were characterized as humanoid, with robotic arms or wheeled machines in a box-like form. These industrial robots were not practical for factory assistance because of their weight, bulk, and inherent safety hazards.

Professor Rus took a different approach to this challenge. “As I became more aware of the diversity of forms and materials in nature, I began to explore ways to expand the definitions of robots to include these. In my lab, I pioneered the early work in soft robots, and we investigated using silicone, food, and paper as the basis for new robots.“

Her research led her to pursue machines with both physical and cognitive capabilities. She aimed to optimize the synergy of structural design and intelligent controls, motivating machines for purpose and adaptability. “By combining smarter AI with innovative designs and materials, we can push boundaries of what robots are capable of,” she explained.

Professor Rus has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the advancement of science and engineering in intelligence throughout her remarkable journey. She is a tireless worker who has a strong commitment to the field. She strives for a future in which machines are seamlessly integrated into human lives and support people in both cognitive and physical tasks.

There will always be challenges, and the road is never straight. Professor Rus said, “you have to adapt to where science and engineering can lead you.” The study of these machines taught me that there is so much more to learn about machines and ourselves . The VinFuture Foundation’s main activity is to award the annual VinFuture Prize. This prize recognizes transformative technological and scientific innovations that can make a significant positive change in the lives millions of people around the world.