The number one article at today’s Global Times is “Humanoid robot rentals emerge, signaling a future where ‘every household could own a humanoid robot’: observers.” As I read the article, recollections of Asimov’s Robot and Foundation Series of stories were immediate and also melded with the recent Technology Forum held in Moscow.
Until the robots can play music with me , which I don't foresee, I can't understand their usefulness.
Then again, I hope I ain't limited to playing music with robots, as this is a sad day for Womanity if so.
Then again, the dammm Job is killing me, barely pays for ten of twelve hours days they force me to do lately.
The job I do requires me to be a human member of Womanity yet they barely pay me slave wages and walk all over me without considering that I am even alive.
Literally yesterday they forced me to spend no less than an hour to drive to a building that don't exist, 503 Parnassus. No matter I kept saying bad address, which they later said was in Alameda, not San Francisco. I told them to send some one else so I don't have to sleep in the parking lot again like last night they did me a damn twelve hour they barely pay ten, they abuse me and treat me like my life is of zero value, and they refuse to say thank you.
Am I not a robot to them already?
Every time they give me overtime I want to kill myself. Although obviously I do not do that, as I believe God wants me to play music for you....will the job ever let that occur anymore? Unlikely till I find another , God help me
We unexpectedly experienced a robotic "waiter" in a restaurant. It was programmed to come to our table, greet us, take our order then in due course deliver our plates to the table. It was ugly! I refused to use it and requested (politely) for a real waitress to attend to us. The manager came out and was a bit miffed but assigned a waitress to our table. All went well after that and I left an appreciative and generous tip for her service. I think that some restaurants will employ robots as an attraction and as an amusement for customers, however, I think this is just another scam to reduce labour costs and add to the totals in the unemployment queues. We will avoid all contact with "service" robots from now on. (I am still thinking about the justifiable and ethical use of AI.)
Not sure how a robot will "... reduce labour costs ...". Automation, as far as I know, increases the production rates of human workers. A machine's cost is measured in terms of its 'lifetime' minus cost to maintain during that time period. It is a fixed cost. The profit is still a consequence of the 'added value' that is derived from the difference between what a worker receives when compared to the 'production rate' of that worker during their shift.
I suppose 'battery life' will become an economics term vis-a-vis profit margins.
Asimov’s robots were powered by “atomics” that allowed for very long lifespans, so the energy cost portion was never investigated in his stories, so your realistic point is well taken. Note that the article says nothing about operating costs, although it does mention the short lifespan of batteries.
“You will own nothing and be happy”. Everything will be leased. Personally I can’t see any smart tech happening with the energy markets as they are. We are far more likely to be impoverished to standards lower than our grandparents if the decline in western civilisation continues.
Whole system supply chains, resources, and energy inputs are never going to be performed and fulfilled by robots on their own, in other words they can't build (reproduce) themselves - unlike flesh and blood humans who can and do, and who in any future predictions anyone cares to wave a stick at, will always be needed to build / maintain / recycle / hire / pay for the alleged robots that will supposedly be taking over human's roles.
Yes, some smallish scale humanoid robot penetration here and there, but since we're close to peak (fossil fuel) energy resource supply, which is required to build everything including all electricity generating (including so-called renewables in 2004 supplying ~8% of global energy) distribution & storage infrastructure, the suggestion that humanoid robot penetration could scale up an order of magnitude or more (everyone will have them) is preposterous.
Maybe I’m an exception but I would definitely welcome a personal home assistant robot
If a basic income were introduced maybe there would be less resistance from some people?
IMO. A home robot with advanced capabilities could be really useful in so many ways like providing first aid in case of a heart attack or allergic reaction administering medications or injections checking vital signs and offering health advice. helping in elderly care. education and hazardous jobs, where there’s a lack of workers, cooking, grocery, shopping, cleaning, organizing, helping with kids, acting as a babysitter, or just offering companionship for people who feel lonely. For exterminating neoliberal parasites, of course! :)
In the first year after Ed Snowden accidentally became a refugee in Russia, he was able to attend a couple of computer geek conferences as a robot. That seemed to me a good application of robotics. Replacement of waitresses and waiters, however, should not be tolerated.
I recall watching The Jetsons as a child and accepting the presence of the robot maid and the robot football players. But after outgrowing cartoons I never gave much thought to them until I returned to reading Asimov.
Industrial use, and hazardous environments, rescue operations, all much more useful than the DARPA use as killer robots (clearly didn't read "I, Robot"). Now to use them as tutors in avoiding neoliberalism.
The book, “I Robot,” doesn’t match what the movie portrayed—it was a combination of 5-6 different Asimov Robot stories. Asimov’s key predictions are within the Foundation series where the two prequels are key.
If our socio-economic systems weren’t so class war driven, my attitude toward humanoid robots would likely be different. IMO, that’s the reason why Chinese don’t see them as a threat as they’re convinced their socio-economic system will continue to keep them prosperous.
The movie did generate some discussion, but it died out rather quickly. That will change when real robots are in your face. Chinese seem to see them as friendly and not a threat. As usual, time will tell.
Until the robots can play music with me , which I don't foresee, I can't understand their usefulness.
Then again, I hope I ain't limited to playing music with robots, as this is a sad day for Womanity if so.
Then again, the dammm Job is killing me, barely pays for ten of twelve hours days they force me to do lately.
The job I do requires me to be a human member of Womanity yet they barely pay me slave wages and walk all over me without considering that I am even alive.
Literally yesterday they forced me to spend no less than an hour to drive to a building that don't exist, 503 Parnassus. No matter I kept saying bad address, which they later said was in Alameda, not San Francisco. I told them to send some one else so I don't have to sleep in the parking lot again like last night they did me a damn twelve hour they barely pay ten, they abuse me and treat me like my life is of zero value, and they refuse to say thank you.
Am I not a robot to them already?
Every time they give me overtime I want to kill myself. Although obviously I do not do that, as I believe God wants me to play music for you....will the job ever let that occur anymore? Unlikely till I find another , God help me
Yes, being treated as an automaton isn’t welcomed at all.
"Am I not a robot to them already?"
Yes. Welcome to the club/cell.
;o)
We unexpectedly experienced a robotic "waiter" in a restaurant. It was programmed to come to our table, greet us, take our order then in due course deliver our plates to the table. It was ugly! I refused to use it and requested (politely) for a real waitress to attend to us. The manager came out and was a bit miffed but assigned a waitress to our table. All went well after that and I left an appreciative and generous tip for her service. I think that some restaurants will employ robots as an attraction and as an amusement for customers, however, I think this is just another scam to reduce labour costs and add to the totals in the unemployment queues. We will avoid all contact with "service" robots from now on. (I am still thinking about the justifiable and ethical use of AI.)
Perhaps being served by a human will be extra, and maybe there's a market for the "Fawlty Towers" experience.
China town comes to mind. That was often a fawlty towers service experience.
Not sure how a robot will "... reduce labour costs ...". Automation, as far as I know, increases the production rates of human workers. A machine's cost is measured in terms of its 'lifetime' minus cost to maintain during that time period. It is a fixed cost. The profit is still a consequence of the 'added value' that is derived from the difference between what a worker receives when compared to the 'production rate' of that worker during their shift.
I suppose 'battery life' will become an economics term vis-a-vis profit margins.
As for a household robot; no thanks.
Asimov’s robots were powered by “atomics” that allowed for very long lifespans, so the energy cost portion was never investigated in his stories, so your realistic point is well taken. Note that the article says nothing about operating costs, although it does mention the short lifespan of batteries.
“You will own nothing and be happy”. Everything will be leased. Personally I can’t see any smart tech happening with the energy markets as they are. We are far more likely to be impoverished to standards lower than our grandparents if the decline in western civilisation continues.
As you report, it’s happening already. Where did your experience happen?
Whole system supply chains, resources, and energy inputs are never going to be performed and fulfilled by robots on their own, in other words they can't build (reproduce) themselves - unlike flesh and blood humans who can and do, and who in any future predictions anyone cares to wave a stick at, will always be needed to build / maintain / recycle / hire / pay for the alleged robots that will supposedly be taking over human's roles.
Yes, some smallish scale humanoid robot penetration here and there, but since we're close to peak (fossil fuel) energy resource supply, which is required to build everything including all electricity generating (including so-called renewables in 2004 supplying ~8% of global energy) distribution & storage infrastructure, the suggestion that humanoid robot penetration could scale up an order of magnitude or more (everyone will have them) is preposterous.
Personally, I question their utility outside of industrial and other very specialized processes.
As do I, and Big thanks for all your writing Karl, much appreciated :-)
Flipping burgers was the first thing coming to mind. Pumping gas, the second.
Maybe I’m an exception but I would definitely welcome a personal home assistant robot
If a basic income were introduced maybe there would be less resistance from some people?
IMO. A home robot with advanced capabilities could be really useful in so many ways like providing first aid in case of a heart attack or allergic reaction administering medications or injections checking vital signs and offering health advice. helping in elderly care. education and hazardous jobs, where there’s a lack of workers, cooking, grocery, shopping, cleaning, organizing, helping with kids, acting as a babysitter, or just offering companionship for people who feel lonely. For exterminating neoliberal parasites, of course! :)
A pet robot. I just mentioned the maid in The Jetsons cartoon. I do see some specialized applications, but the Dark Side is there to see as well.
In the first year after Ed Snowden accidentally became a refugee in Russia, he was able to attend a couple of computer geek conferences as a robot. That seemed to me a good application of robotics. Replacement of waitresses and waiters, however, should not be tolerated.
I recall watching The Jetsons as a child and accepting the presence of the robot maid and the robot football players. But after outgrowing cartoons I never gave much thought to them until I returned to reading Asimov.
Industrial use, and hazardous environments, rescue operations, all much more useful than the DARPA use as killer robots (clearly didn't read "I, Robot"). Now to use them as tutors in avoiding neoliberalism.
The book, “I Robot,” doesn’t match what the movie portrayed—it was a combination of 5-6 different Asimov Robot stories. Asimov’s key predictions are within the Foundation series where the two prequels are key.
If our socio-economic systems weren’t so class war driven, my attitude toward humanoid robots would likely be different. IMO, that’s the reason why Chinese don’t see them as a threat as they’re convinced their socio-economic system will continue to keep them prosperous.
The current leadership has the mandate of heaven, so it's best to enjoy it while it lasts.
A robot in the home... well human beings arn't going to be any happier ... its through the human touch a home is created....
The movie I Robot comes to mind. I think I'll past on this.
The movie did generate some discussion, but it died out rather quickly. That will change when real robots are in your face. Chinese seem to see them as friendly and not a threat. As usual, time will tell.
I think it's bullshit, more hype from the Big Five techies.
Bill, this is happening in China where the big 5 aren’t.
Robots in every home? What a depressing thought.