The best robot photos of 2023, from fashion shows to Hollywood strikes
This year, robots could be seen making drinks in cafes, performing at Paris Fashion Week and even joining screenwriters on the Hollywood picket line
By Alex Wilkins
23 December 2023
Spot the robot dog performs with a model at Paris Fashion Week
Francois Durand/Getty Images
The vast majority of robots have never made it out of their laboratories, but there were plenty of signs in 2023 that robots are beginning to have their moment in the sun. These photos showcase some of the most eye-catching machines from the past year, and also tell the story of a class of technology that is becoming increasingly visible in everyday life.
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Spot takes to the catwalk
Boston Dynamics’ robot dog Spot, first seen in 2016, may seem old hat, but its real-world applications have grown since it became commercially available in 2019. The New York Police Department has bought two Spot robots, to be deployed in situations that present a high danger to humans, while e-commerce giant Otto Group has employed the robots in its warehouses for equipment inspections. This year, Spot could also be seen removing a model’s jacket as part of a Paris Fashion Week show.
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Robot dog Gato joins striking writers and actors at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Actors and writers (and robots) unite in strike against artificial intelligence
This robot dog, called Gato, didn’t have a say in whether it joined a demonstration outside Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, as part of the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strike. But future robots might, if artificial intelligence gets sufficiently advanced. Advanced AI was one of the motivating factors for the Hollywood strike, with actors and writers worried they would be replaced with AI-generated scripts and virtual performers. The unions reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in November.
Adam, a robot barista and bartender, makes drinks at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Steve Marcus/Reuters
