Quadruped robots in China are increasingly used for hazardous tasks
Robots in China are increasingly used for tasks like patrolling underground tunnels and waste management in challenging environments. China produced 73% of the world's industrial robots last year.
Well at least they aren't strapping guns to them like the US is.
Still, is it strange that I don't like the idea of making a whole class of robots to do our dirty work? I know I'm probably just anthropomorphising, but it feels wrong.
Better than some guys foot rotting off due to direct contact with sewer sludge
That is true
They don't have feelings, they're machines
I know I know. But I keep thinking what if they do? We used to say the same thing about non-human animals. It would be a horrible mistake to make. Of course I never felt this way about toasters lol. It's weird how that works. Probably something about humans relating to things the more human-like they appear.
Probably watch too many movies too lol.
And even if these robots were in any form "conscious" it would be on the level of an insect, probably a lot lower.
Workplace injuries and work related disability will plummet if we can replace laborious work with robots.
Well put.
Just never give them the ability to suffer please, tech bros. I don't want to just create a new miserable underclass.
If we had the ability to make a robot that had opinions about what work it did, we'd also have the ability to make it love that work beyond anything else.
I don't think that actually follows. We'd certainly be in a position to practice and refine the process, but not necessarily guarantee that it's working until we give the (apologies for the Harry Potter reference, but I think it apt) Robot House Elf a pistol and turn around. Also, ethics.
Luckily the simple solution is to just not make a sapient slave race, robotic or otherwise. Sapience isn't necessary for an autonomous tool.
Now that I think about it, robots shouldn't resemble humans or animals, as they'd certainly be anthromorphized otherwise
Okej the one with wheels was awesome. Feels like the obvious evolution of these "dogs".
