The day is coming when general-purpose humanoid robots will be able to do all the physical work any human can do. The only question is when. Looking at this demo, you’ve got to wonder - is that day sooner than we might think?
In the Western world a typical annual minimum wage job is in the range of $30,000 per year. Robots like this will be expensive to start with, but even if they cost $60K, they’ll pay for themselves in 2 years if they are replacing a human worker. No doubt China will quickly get on the case making them even cheaper.
It’s harder to steal wages from an expensive robot you already own or lease than a single mom. Costs a lot more to replace if there is a workplace accident, too
Edit: negativity aside, this is incredibly cool. I just want to see innovation that reduces how much people have to work :(
This is… yeah… ugh. This is awesome and an amazing feat of engineering. Im so anxious about what impacts this will have on society moving forward. Can’t really avoid it though.
Either massive social safety nets ala UBI, or worldwide poverty. Countries turning into impoverished wastelands with just enough government assistance most people starve slowly. Crime at an astronomical level while the rich owner class run around in protected enclaves. Eventually wages would drop so low humans can be employed again for functional slave labor. Get ready for signing a contract that indebts your for life, and potentially your children’s lives in the mines.
For fictional examples see: The Expanse book and TV series, notably belters and earth. Also the Muderbot series in the corporate rim.
Either massive social safety nets ala UBI, or worldwide poverty.
Let’s work towards the former. The future could be awesome if we play our cards right.
