The other day I discussed why the field of robotics is advancing at an accelerating rate. To add some visual evidence to this thesis, I encourage you to watch this short, 15-second video demonstrating how a robot is now regularly beating the world’s best air-hockey players:
Undoubtedly, the idea of a robot beating a human at something as trivial as air hockey might elicit nothing more than a collective yawn from the masses, but I’d like to suggest that this is a serious issue that society needs to come to grips with now. If a robot can beat a human at air hockey, why can’t it also build a house or clear away garbage (ala the latest movie sensation, Wall-e)?
The answer is that robots will soon be able to do these tasks, as well as a variety of others, which were once considered the sole domain of humans. The resulting displacement of human labor is sure to cause a severe backlash among those put out of work. The time to begin thinking of how to retrain these workers for new careers in the 21st century is now.
Interested in some other future-related posts about robots? Check out these recent posts:
Learn from Robots
Meet Your Future, Shape-Shiting Robotic Butler
Hospitals Robotic Future
Will Robots Have Tails?
Is the Future of an ATV a Robot
The Robot Will See You Now
