Google robot is 'the end of manual labor': VC

cnbc.com ^ | February 24, 2016 | Fred Imbert

[grundle]

Boston Dynamics' new "Atlas" robot is a game changer, not just for companies, but for society, Insider.com CEO Jason Calacanis said Wednesday.

"This is really the end of manual labor. When you watch this video, he's walking through the snow; he's wobbly, but he gets back up," the tech investor told CNBC's "Squawk Alley."

[Dr. Sivana]

Thank you for a well developed , insightful post.

[refermech]

How did the Irish produce obama? Can you flesh that out for me?

[nathanbedford]

Are you setting me up for a black Irish joke? :-)

[refermech]

Heh! Well maybe... I get your general point about the immigration though.

[bert]

the robot had no clothes. it was just walking around nekid

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Actually now they are really coming up with life like computer animated faces, like this one which I saw last year which blew my mind........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjHiC0mt4Ts

This womans face is computer generated as well..........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYgLFt5wfP4

I think where they are now is that they *can* make life like faces but the work it requires is too much where it can be used in movies and video games but I assume with every passing year they are learning to do it faster. I really think in 20 years, like that other Freeper was saying, we will be at a point where we will be talking to people, at least on video, not realizing they are computer generated. I’m not sure if realistic artificial persons will be around by then but it wouldn’t surprise me. To me it seems the whole issue comes down to shrinking components once again. For a full sized artificial person you would need a fairly large battery and motor systems which is why I assume that robot Boston dynamics made has a large backpack. The inside of a human body is very very small so if they were going to make a realistic artificial person, they would not have much room to work with, probably something no bigger than a desk drawer.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Sober now that 24 is done?

Jeez... did I smell THAT bad .. that you still remember?

Those were fun times... best I ever had on FR.

[zeugma]

Did you see the movie "Gravity"? Everything in the movie was CGI except the faces. I think one of the reasons it worked so well on the bodies is that the entire thing took place in a zero-g environment, so we moviegoers didn't really have the same kind of point of reference that you would have had in another environment. Bodies floating in space are not going to move the same way they would inside a gravity well, so it was actually easier for the folks making the movie to make it work. They still aren't up to doing the faces though, not for any lengthy scenes. It's coming along nicely, but we're still a few years out from being able to completely eliminate actors and actresses from film.

I'll take a fair amount of pleasure at seeing some of the current hollywood 'stars' gettng replaced by data and algorithms.

[toast]

I look at it as robots being slaves.

I will have them work on farms or in factories. I can be an employment manager for them. They don’t have to actually come home. They can work 24 hour shifts.

The actual employer (farm or factory) puts out a list of requirements the robot must be able to do or they may just list acceptable robot models. More capable robots will be paid more.

It is my duty to provide maintenance and make sure my group of workers is up to date enough that they are in demand. I also must make sure they make enough money to pay back the bank loan and also provide me a very nice living.

I would also like to have one for around the house work. I will spend much more time out on the boat.