It seems weird to think there are trends when it comes to fearing technology. But thinking about it, there seems to be. For awhile my sources of information kept providing me stories of how fearful robots were. Recently that has shifted, and the focus moved to how fearful AI is. Fearing robots is no longer trendy.
Well, trendy or not, here are some stories about robots that have had people concerned. If you have any energy left from being fearful of AI, I recommend them. 🙂
The fact that a city is even contemplating this is worrying: San Francisco Supervisors Vote To Allow Killer Robots. Relatedly, Boston Dynamics pledges not to weaponize its robots.
Not that robots need weapons to be dangerous, as this showed: chess robot breaks childs finger russia tournament. I mean who worries about a “chess robot”??
Robots can harm in other ways, as this story on training robots to be racist and sexist showed.
Ok, not all the robot stories were frightening. These three are more just of interest:
This was a good story on sewer pipe inspection that uses cable-tethered robots. I approve this use of robots, though there are some limitations.
I am not quite a fan of this development: Your Next Airport Meal May Be Delivered By Robot. I can just see these getting in the way and making airports that much harder to get around.
Finally, here’s a 327 Square Foot Apartment With 5 Rooms Thanks to Robot Furniture. Robot furniture: what will they think of next?
(Image is of the sewer pipe inspection robot.)
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