Robotic Nation Summary
Nowadays people can access their money through an ATM, pay for gas at the pump, and scan their own groceries. It is very convenient not only for the customer but for the business running these automated systems, since they cost less to run and they don’t have to hire someone to do the jobs the machines are now doing. Marshall Brain talks about how even though these automated systems are convenient, they are doing damage to the American economy and I agree but only to a certain extent.
Brain goes off on a prediction of the next 45 years which gets pretty radical, although it is practical when you really take a look at how far technology has come in the past 45 years or so. He states that by 2025, robots will be able to hear, see, move, and manipulate objects just as human being would, although it would not have the creative thinking capabilities of a human. They would at least be intelligent enough to work in the market place, so it wouldn’t be ridiculous to think that robots will be scanning your groceries and taking your order at McDonalds.
These humanoid robots essentially have the same anatomy as a human being; two arms, two legs, and sensors that can detect vision, sound, and touch. With this anatomy they’d have the same physical capabilities as a human such as riding the escalator, climbing stairs, and driving a car with no trouble. By 2030 they would start replacing housekeeping and janitor jobs at hotels, malls, parks, etc.
By the same year these robots would cost less than the average car, and having the same capabilities as humans would be cheaper than three standard employees. Corporations would start buying robots in bulk to replace human employees and by the year 2055 half the American workforce would be unemployed, and there would be no changing of that.
While not impossible, I don’t see this happening in the way he describes. I wouldn’t want to think that the American government would be stupid enough to let something like this happen because if people aren’t working anymore, then they aren’t making money. If they aren’t making money, they have no money to spend. If they have no money to spend, then there is no money filtering back into the economy and corporations would fall because they would not be pulling in any revenue. And if the government is that stupid, then I am buying a one way ticket out of hear. Hello, Canada.
Brain also talks about how computers are going to eventually have the same processing power as a human brain, probably even more, and I agree that is possible. However, in my opinion nothing artificial ever beats its natural counterpart. Sure they will have the logical side down, but I believe they will never be able to create the creative side of the human brain.
One thing I agree with Brain on is that we need to start creating jobs now that will be irreplaceable by robots so if indeed this robotic revolution hits, the economy will stay strong. If the human race can stay just that one step ahead, I don’t see any problem with this revolution. Since we are creating these beings, I can’t see why we would stay that one step ahead of them.
