Robotics.
So, I'd like to close of my GNR blog posts series with the topic I'm most interested in - the field of robotics. From childhood to adulthood I've always had a strong vested interest in the automation of things and machines that look and act like humans. It's only recently that I've taken interest in robots as a possible future career because I strongly believe that this coming decade will see the rise of the artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of labour will depend heavily on strong AI. Robotics will have a deep impact on society on all levels -if not already. I could talk about this stuff all day long, but I'll spare everyone superfluous digressions on the subject and maybe just focus on key things to keep an eye out for.
In a recent TED Talk, economist and MIT professor Andrew Mcafee described a curious case of economic disruption taking place in America today. He noted that despite having recovered from the "Great Recession", the average minimum salary and unemployment rate has arguably not progressed meanwhile corporate profits are continuing to scale up. Mcafee believes that this may be due to the advancement of information technology and automation across a wide rage of industries such as manufacturing and services. Automation in the form of smarter software and advanced machines are taking peoples jobs away. For example, Kiva robots that pick up and move inventory at warehouses for companies like Amazon or Staples have now almost completely wiped out the forklifter and general labour employee.
That's but one example of automation; if you look around today, you will see early forms of robotics in the guise automated bank tellers, grocery cashiers, and even coffee baristas - this is just the beginning; just imagine what they'd be like ten years from today. With the accelerated progression of faster microprocessors, sophisticated machine learning algorithms, and the continual business need to improve cost efficiencies, we are going to see robots being used ubiquitously the same way we use the modern day desktop computer in everyday life. "We are going to see more and more things that look like science fiction, and less things that looks like jobs ... you ain't seen nothing yet."
Within the past week Google placed Andy Rubins the "brain" behind the Android smartphone to begin a moonshot venture into robotics. The internet giant acquired a total of EIGHT robotics companies to pursue development of advanced robots used initially for manufacturing and improved supply chain logistics. There have been talks that this plan is meant for short-terms goals of the company, but the long term plan is rumored is to eventually have robots working and living side by side humans for common daily purposes. Think of your phone but with mechanical arms and legs.
Time magazine believes this is very good move for Google and the advancement of the robotics sector. I personally feel this a huge win for the technology as it not only brings public attention and discussion into the matter, but incredibly strong resources and infinite possibilities in advancement of the new paradigm. The future is looking bright and robotics is its shining beacon.
In a recent TED Talk, economist and MIT professor Andrew Mcafee described a curious case of economic disruption taking place in America today. He noted that despite having recovered from the "Great Recession", the average minimum salary and unemployment rate has arguably not progressed meanwhile corporate profits are continuing to scale up. Mcafee believes that this may be due to the advancement of information technology and automation across a wide rage of industries such as manufacturing and services. Automation in the form of smarter software and advanced machines are taking peoples jobs away. For example, Kiva robots that pick up and move inventory at warehouses for companies like Amazon or Staples have now almost completely wiped out the forklifter and general labour employee.
That's but one example of automation; if you look around today, you will see early forms of robotics in the guise automated bank tellers, grocery cashiers, and even coffee baristas - this is just the beginning; just imagine what they'd be like ten years from today. With the accelerated progression of faster microprocessors, sophisticated machine learning algorithms, and the continual business need to improve cost efficiencies, we are going to see robots being used ubiquitously the same way we use the modern day desktop computer in everyday life. "We are going to see more and more things that look like science fiction, and less things that looks like jobs ... you ain't seen nothing yet."
Within the past week Google placed Andy Rubins the "brain" behind the Android smartphone to begin a moonshot venture into robotics. The internet giant acquired a total of EIGHT robotics companies to pursue development of advanced robots used initially for manufacturing and improved supply chain logistics. There have been talks that this plan is meant for short-terms goals of the company, but the long term plan is rumored is to eventually have robots working and living side by side humans for common daily purposes. Think of your phone but with mechanical arms and legs.
Time magazine believes this is very good move for Google and the advancement of the robotics sector. I personally feel this a huge win for the technology as it not only brings public attention and discussion into the matter, but incredibly strong resources and infinite possibilities in advancement of the new paradigm. The future is looking bright and robotics is its shining beacon.
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