Robotics company plans to flood pandemic-battered economy with androids to ‘keep people safe’:
Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics[*], makers of the viral sensation humanoid robot Sophia, have announced plans to mass-produce robots by the end of 2021 for use in multiple sectors in the pandemic economy.
The company will ramp up production of four models, including Sophia, and its new ‘Grace’ robot which will be sold for use in the healthcare sector.
“The world of Covid-19 is going to need more and more automation to keep people safe,” founder and chief executive David Hanson claimed.
Hanson foresees a robotic renaissance, not just in healthcare but in the retail and airline sectors as well, an outcome which would improve his company’s bottom line but imperil an already battered global workforce which took an unprecedented beating in 2020.
“Sophia and Hanson robots are unique by being so human-like,” he added. “That can be so useful during these times where people are terribly lonely and socially isolated.”
The CEO said his company had set a goal of selling “thousands” of units but declined to go into more detail.
[*] Hanson Robotics at Wikipedia.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @06:14AM (19 children)
So the economic recovery is scheduled for later then? Will the pandemic be over by late 2021 at least??
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @06:49AM (12 children)
Over? Are you kidding us? Think about it... New Strains. Vaccines only 2/3rds effective, everyone needs 33% more. People that won't get vaccinated, or can't, or under served will need to be protected. If one develops a new strain, or their pet does, that could be deadly to the groups affected by this.
Anyone that thinks its safe is playing with fire, and if this world isn't safe, we could all die. Wear a mask please!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @02:01PM
Ah yes, ISTR that felines are particularly susceptible to corona viruses....I'm expecting Big Pharma to monetarise on those fears there real soon now as vets are no doubt feeling left on on this big money grab, maybe we should make it compulsory for cats to wear ickle wickle kittie masks in the meantime?
(I'm not volunteering to try putting them on my feline overlords, I know how that'll end...)
(Score: 2, Insightful) by khallow on Wednesday January 27 2021, @02:29PM (6 children)
I hate to interrupt this hysteria rant, BUT
You may resume.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @06:14PM (5 children)
Who modded that insightful? Only the most sheltered humans don't know that by the time they are ten. All the above post does is disregard the 430k+ deaths we already have, along with the danger of more. This anti-science anti-mask stupidity should really stop. That said, businesses can require masks just like shoes shirt and pants and maybe the police can make their quotas responding to every business that needs an asshole removed.
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @07:12PM (3 children)
Knowing something and actually genuinely understanding appreciating it are two very different things. The mortality rate for COVID for those below the age of 65 is very near 0. The average age of those that have died varies by region, but is generally around 80 years old - which is greater than the life expectancy of an American at birth today.
This [macrotrends.net] is a graph of the death rate for the US over time. Can you find the year where there was this unprecedented danger and world-ending plague; one many people did not take [what I felt was sufficiently] seriously? You cannot, nobody can, because the death rate doesn't even register as noise, it simply looks like a normal year. Forbes did an oddly nice job of framing the issue here [forbes.com]. If somebody under the age of 50 gets infected with COVID, they lose less than one day of discounted quality-adjusted life expectancy. People age 70+, the most vulnerable group by far, lose an average of about 90 days.
I'm not some guy who was anti-mask or whatever. During the early days of COVID I was walking around with an N95 respirator, washing judiciously, and even letting packages I received sit for a few days for any surface residuals to die off - this is back when governments were still claiming masks don't help (which was absurdly stupid). But as the evidence changes so too should our views and actions towards all of this. COVID, except for the elderly, is in most cases relatively harmless. Our responses were appropriate when the danger was both unknown and seemed much higher. But as the facts and evidence change, so too should our behaviors.
In my opinion part of the reason governments continue to incite fear is because they all raced to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on vaccines, as well as executing economy destroying lockdowns which have now been shown to have been of negligible assistance in containing the virus. Acknowledging we may have overreacted would entail acceptance that governments have just deeply damaged all of our societies in an extreme act of overreaction. So, we continue with the charade to 'save face'.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by PartTimeZombie on Wednesday January 27 2021, @08:54PM (2 children)
As you've proved with the rest of your comment.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2021, @04:18AM (1 child)
You know I'm right, but hyper-partisanship means you'd rather say 2+2=5 than go against the grain of the authority you believe has your best interests at heart. You know, because politicians are just great and honest people... You are a perfect example of the Milgram Experiment and the social phenomena it sought to explain.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Friday January 29 2021, @12:23AM
You know what?
I'm not American, so that "hyper-partisanship" thing you think you're seeing is an illusion.
Also:
is batshit.
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @08:22PM
"430k+ deaths we already have, along with the danger of more."
you're a stupid bitch. go watch more tv, fucktard.
(Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @04:54PM
Don't forget to wear your new M-ninezillion mask, this new filtration system prevents anything at all from entering or leaving your lungs, including air. It is scientifically proven to prevent covid, and everything else! Act now and get a discount on a personal fun-sized underground bunker, now with a convenient stone marker so others can find you when this is all over! Remember, you CAN'T BE TOO SAFE!
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @08:20PM (1 child)
"Wear a mask please!"
we don't need slaves like you. die already.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2021, @07:47AM
No, I refuse! Not only do I wear a mask, but I also wear a seatbelt! I will outlive you all!
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Wednesday January 27 2021, @10:35PM
New Strains.
And the cure for new strains is ...
New strainers! [evil cackle]
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @09:00AM (4 children)
Ha, you think we'll end the common cold in a year or two? The lockdowns will continue, unless you're rich and own a yacht.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday January 27 2021, @10:21AM (2 children)
In which case, you're locked down on your yacht. Big deal, yes.
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 3, Funny) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday January 27 2021, @01:45PM (1 child)
Absolutely. Even the biggest yacht can only hold so much fishing bait and tackle.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Wednesday January 27 2021, @07:03PM
You can catch your own bait and enough fishing tackle for the duration shouldn't take up too much storage space. Now alcohol supplies, that might be the critical factor. Yes, you can make your own, but that might be dangerous in an enclosed area such as on board a yacht.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2021, @08:18AM
I don't recall the common cold ever resulting in hospitals needing to ration oxygen.
(Score: 2, Funny) by DannyB on Wednesday January 27 2021, @05:01PM
Given the number of policies that desperately need to be enacted due to COVID, I think it's safe to say that it will be necessary for COVID to be with us for at least four years. Hope that answers your question.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @07:47AM (7 children)
As long as the Androids are dressed like Japanese house maids, I have no problem with that.
(Score: 3, Funny) by crb3 on Wednesday January 27 2021, @08:45AM (1 child)
Share and Enjoy!
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday January 27 2021, @10:23AM
Shared [pngtree.com]. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday January 27 2021, @01:18PM (3 children)
Have its voice be that of Joanna Lumley, and you might talk me round...
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @04:39PM (2 children)
Put a bag over its head, once your c*ck is in its vice like grip you'll never leave the house again.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @06:16PM (1 child)
"its vice like grip"
- I see what you did there!
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Thursday January 28 2021, @11:25PM
You mean vice vs vise?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday January 27 2021, @05:05PM
Androids come in all shapes, sizes, colors and styles (unlike iPhone). So I'm sure you could find an Android dressed like a Japanese house maid, and it fits in your pocket! It's microwaves won't interfere with nearby junk.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 3, Funny) by Valkor on Wednesday January 27 2021, @07:49AM (2 children)
we are the pusher robots. we will protect you from the terrible secret of outer space. (nevermind the shover robots)
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday January 27 2021, @05:08PM
I think I'll wait for the pusher-puller robots.
What I really need is a robot to guard the lawn because I am unwelcoming of young people setting foot on my lawn.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @11:51PM
Don't forget the punisher robots. They haven't shipped from Hell yet, unfortunately. Some of the older models are already present, however.
(Score: 2) by rob_on_earth on Wednesday January 27 2021, @10:28AM
I was expecting them to be developing more $74,500 robotic dogs to bark at people if the got too close.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-52619568 [bbc.co.uk]
or at least the UV-C lamps on wheels that avoids giving humans cancer directly (cost not available)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-53525018 [bbc.co.uk]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @02:41PM (4 children)
I am not sexy active AT ALL. Except "self sexy-active". But could not it be true the covid is an escaped herpes virus that escaped from the lab?
Something just is not right here.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday January 27 2021, @05:14PM (2 children)
Don't worry. If a virus doesn't end humanity, AI and Robots will make everyone well fed and happy.
AI will create enough wealth to feed all the humans.
Robots will create enough unemployed humans to feed the robots.
Everyone well fed. Everyone happy.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @06:17PM
We finally find out why you stick around here ;-)
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Wednesday January 27 2021, @10:09PM
AI will create enough wealth to feed all the humans.
But unless Americans learn the difference between socialism and communism, Elon Musk will have it all.
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2021, @07:54AM
No it could not! Prepare to be dominated by New World Order fembots.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday January 27 2021, @05:16PM (3 children)
Why do we need robots for safety?
Can't the government keep us safe?
On one hand, we would have to tell robots what to do. On the other hand, government would tell us what to do.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday January 27 2021, @07:50PM (2 children)
Elect the robots.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday January 27 2021, @08:17PM (1 child)
Then the robots would tell us what we should tell the robots to do.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 27 2021, @10:12PM
Even a bunch of lemmings telling us what to do would be better than Trump.
--
Dimocracy: government of the dim, by the dim, for the dim!