Lots and Lots of Bots

The word robot embraces many new innovations such as computerization, automation, artificial intelligence and technology. Most of us are involved with our own devices and the communication they enable us. I suppose we could call our personal devices, our own little robots. At the same time the use of robots brings forward many new ethical and sociological questions. 

Meet NAO - it moves, recognizes you,
 hears you and talks to you.

As I write these words the UN is engaged in a four day debate on the use of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems or LAWS. In other words 'Killer Robots! Hasta la Vista...Baby! One good thing, they are not waiting until some atrocity occurs before they respond! Robot soldiers, blinding lasers, special booby traps, even machines that will try to make life-and-death ethical decisions on the battle field! Robots were first used in WWII as land mine detectors and the US now considers technology the corner stone of National security. There are already international humanitarian laws in place. Such laws include forbidding attacks on civilians for example! How would a killer robot decide between an enemy soldier and a civilian?  Like all well meaning laws if you do not have the means to enforce them they are easily abused. At least the Drones have a human somewhere in the link. I wonder if we would bestow medals or hold funerals for 'dead' artificial soldiers? 

Most of us are intrigued by what robots are now able to achieve. Some farmers in Ontario use 'farmbots' to milk cows or plough fields. France is already using 'wine bots' in their vineyards and California is experimenting with 'lettuce bots'. The use of robots in manufacturing and medicine is well known. Everyone has heard of the Aethon TUG, the smart autonomous mobile robot used in hospitals to replace three full-time employees at the cost of one full-time employee! (YouTube.ca)

In other words robots are creeping into everything while, at the same time, the world population , and people needing jobs, is increasing at the rate of 200,000 per day. They say we can't compete in the world market without robots.  Already Germany has twice the robot-to-worker ratio compared to the U.S. No doubt we are entering the second industrial revolution. In the 19th century machines replaced thousands of skilled workers. What will happen this time?  A few even ask - could the robots eventually turn against us?

Kiss Your Job Goodbye!

Business Insider, a US business and technology news website based in New York, predicts that 47% of the jobs in the US are now at risk because of robots. It is not just simple and repetitive jobs that are now at stake either. Foxconn hopes to replace hundreds of thousands of workers in the next three years with one million robots. (Foxconn has had some severe labour issues such as strikes, suicides and riots!) Foxconn is a Chinese electronics manufacturer that builds, among other things, gaming consoles. They are working with the Google robot division.....you know, the same Google that is developing the self-driving car!

Getting rid of mind numbing jobs is probably a blessing. But robot applications no longer stop there and are becoming a global issue. We have seen what happens in other countries when their youth is unemployed and restless. There is no doubt there are other causes of youth unemployment and some of the European countries have at last recognized the problems. But they are still scratching their heads for real solutions. Poor Turkey already has a major problem with two million unemployed youth and now the mine accident will only contribute to that number.

The world has faced huge challenges in the past and found solutions of sorts. Perhaps we will muddle through again..but at what expense? Thank god I am an octogenarian and not out there looking for work or expecting 'Killer Robots' around the corner. On the other hand, it could be very exciting. Damn it, my little robot NAO needs another quick  charge.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week.