The film was inspired by Aldous Huxley’s influential novel, Brave New World. Although it only takes some general ideas from Huxley’s dystopia, it shares a number of sinister premonitions.
The Future
Bad Cop, No Robot – The case for legally constraining what police departments can do with robots.
Like millions of people, I watched the viral video of dancing Boston Dynamics robots that made its way around Twitter this week. But unlike many of those millions, I did not think, “Wow, the future is so cool.” I thought, “We gotta keep these away from the cops.”
I admit that some of my aversion is a gut reaction to the uncanny valley. The dog-shaped ones creep me out the most. A predator, often headless, unfazed by rain or heat, without need for food or water or rest—that’s the stuff of science fiction nightmares. I know, objectively, these robots are an incredible technological achievement, yet I can’t erase that instinctive unease.
It's pretty awesome how dancing makes robots less intimidating. Looking forward to seeing more nontrivial Machine Learning on these robots. Credit: Boston Dynamics. pic.twitter.com/wnB2i9qhdQ
— Reza Zadeh (@Reza_Zadeh) December 29, 2020
Nostradamus’ predictions for 2021: Asteroids, zombies and a bad outlook
And you thought it couldn’t get any worse?
World-ending asteroids, zombies and ruinous famine are on deck for 2021, according to French philosopher Michel de Nostradamus, whose track record for predicting the future has been freakishly accurate.
California approves first driverless delivery service
California has given the go-ahead for a commercial driverless delivery service for the first time.
Robotics start-up Nuro plans to start its driverless delivery operations as early as next year.
It previously tested its R2 vehicles in the state in April, but the permit will let it charge people for its service.
The future of work: How the pandemic’s ‘awakening’ will shape Canada’s labour force
Canada’s first robot barista kiosk emerged in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville neighbourhood in September. The Dark Horse Automat espresso bar offers specialty coffee on demand, delivered without any human contact to the caffeine-seeker.
This is one of countless innovative new ways of getting work done that were born out of the pandemic. The automat is an example of technology that can replace several shifts of work, perhaps even a barista position or two, though it requires servicing and regular maintenance. In fact, there are few facets of the way that we approach and perform our work that haven’t been impacted by the pandemic.
Hello Lamp Post: Taking Talking Tech to a Whole New Level
Picture being able to talk to your post box about the people who passed by it before you did, or asking a manhole cover about what’s been happening on the street lately. In a nutshell, it’s the Internet of Things, but for ordinary street objects – a literal interpretation of the concept of a “smart city”.
See previous post.
How Google Falls
“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” —Vladimir Lenin
This has been such a week or several weeks. Everything seems to be happening. Most of it not so good. And it ain’t over.
At such times, it is easy to become despondent. Americans are watching cherished institutions crumble in the face of leftist ideology: the FBI, the courts, election officials, the Justice Department, ballots in trucks, ballots in suitcases. No need to review that here.
Well, there is something else going on, and maybe it’s time to dig into it a bit.
Stand back from the political maelstrom, take a deep breath, and let’s talk technology. No, let’s go deeper and talk software.
Pennsylvania legalizes delivery robots that weigh up to 550 pounds, classifies them as pedestrians
Pennsylvania has legalized autonomous delivery robots that roam sidewalks to deliver goods same-day from business-to-business or from point of sale to the buyer.
Singapore grants world’s first approval to lab-grown meat
Guilt-free meat has moved closer to consumer reality after Singapore became the first country to approve a lab-grown product.
The Singapore Food Agency on Wednesday said the chicken made by US start-up Eat Just met its safety standards for use in nuggets, paving the way for a commercial launch in the Asian city-state.
Differing from plant-based meat substitutes, which are made from ingredients such as pea or soyabean protein, “in vitro”, “cell-based” or “cultured” meat is produced from animal cells grown in vats.
Better than bugs I guess. Maybe.