Are robots going to increase our quality of life?

[Randy]

Are robots going to increase our quality of life?

What do you think?

 

[PGen98]

Yes and no. I'm sure they'll help in the healthcare field and such, but the more automated our lives become the more checked out we become, and the lazier we become. If we're just left with self-indulgence while robots do everything, that's a horrible thing for our future.

 

[Webster]

Are robots going to increase our quality of life?

What do you think?

Yes, but it depends on the specifics.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

lazier we become.

Not possible!

 

[PGen98]

Not possible!

Not wrong there, lol

 

[Scarlet Rose]

I don't think they will in any substantive sense. We have seen plenty of technological upgrades which should be improving our quality of life a lot more than they have. But they get repurposed to sustain existing hierarchies and essentially benefit and further enrich the already powerful. In the 19th and early 20th century there was a lot of optimism that due to productivity gains through technology our need to work was going to drastically decrease and we would have much more free time for community and self pursuits. That obviously didn't happen.

 

[MrDawn]

@Webster thinks the machines will come and destroy us instead!

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I don't think they will in any substantive sense. We have seen plenty of technological upgrades which should be improving our quality of life a lot more than they have. But they get repurposed to sustain existing hierarchies and essentially benefit and further enrich the already powerful. In the 19th and early 20th century there was a lot of optimism that due to productivity gains through technology our need to work was going to drastically decrease and we would have much more free time for community and self pursuits. That obviously didn't happen.

If robots did everything for us, we'd have more time for forums

 

[Kyng]

In the long run, probably. But if the automation happens too quickly, then it'll just loads of people out of work, and create all kinds of societal upheaval.

So yeah... I'm cautiously optimistic, but I have reservations.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

In the long run, probably. But if the automation happens too quickly, then it'll just loads of people out of work, and create all kinds of societal upheaval.

So yeah... I'm cautiously optimistic, but I have reservations.

If robots put us all out of work then how will we have money? Universal basic income?

 

[MrDawn]

Yes, but it depends on the specifics.

lol like running Wal-Mart out of business because they don't stop shop lifters? 😄

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

lol like running Wal-Mart out of business because they don't stop shop lifters? 😄

YES