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Will Humanoid Robots Take All the Jobs by 2050?

Posted by michael on from the metal-man dept.

Anonymous writes "Marshall Brain (the guy who started HowStuffWorks) has published an article claiming that robots will take half the jobs in the U.S. by 2050. Some of his predictions: real computer vision systems by 2020, computers with the CPU power and memory of the human brain by 2040, completely robotic fast food restaurants in 2030 (which then unemploy 3.5 million people), etc. It's a pretty astounding article. My question: How many people on /. think he is right (or even close - let's say he's off by 10 or 20 years)? Or is he full of it?"

13 of 1,457 comments (clear)

  1. fast food workers by noah_fense · · Score: 4, Funny


    I thought all our fast food workers already were robots.
    -n

    1. Re:fast food workers by grub · · Score: 3, Funny


      I thought all our fast food workers already were robots.

      They are.

      --
      Trolling is a art,
  2. Yes, but even worse... by Shoten · · Score: 5, Funny

    By 2060, half of THOSE jobs will be outsourced to robots in India!

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    For your security, this post has been encrypted with ROT-13, twice.
  3. Re:maybe 100 years.... by Kintanon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Fuck the whole *open up new jobs* thing. I want to be able to buy my own humanoid robot and then have it go to work for me while I get paid. THAT is labor saving right there. Make ownership of robots past a certain complexity level illegal for businesses, reserve the right for individuals. Then you can save up for your very own robot that will go to work for you, freeing up valuable loafing around time.

    Kintanon

    --
    Check out JoshJitsu.info for Brazilian Ji
  4. interacting with robots by anonymous+loser · · Score: 5, Funny
    People don't like interacting with robots

    Yeah, no kidding. Robots are always boozing, carousing, gambling, and saying things like "bite my shiny metal ass". Who needs that kind of grief?

  5. My job!? by Cornflake917 · · Score: 5, Funny

    What??? I can't get an IT job because they are all going to India?

    Oh well, I guess I'll just go flip burgers.

    WHAT!!??? Robots have taken THOSE jobs!?
    DAMNIT!!!

    --
    Abaddon: An Xbox 360 Indie game
  6. Re:maybe 100 years.... by scotch · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because robots are lazy no-good techno-molestors who can't be trusted? If you're going to build robots, humans are the right ones to do it.

    --
    XML causes global warming.
  7. McDonalds by FrostedWheat · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.

    Um, I'd like a Big Mac and a coke.

    Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion....

    Ok ... and a Quarter Pounder meal....

    All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

    That's very nice .. and a McFlurry please.

    Time to die. Oh, and would you like fries with that? *evil smile*

  8. Breaking news from BCE 7000 by Catskul · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not so live from the time warped news room:

    This just in, Breaking news from BCE 7000 ... An anonymous "Curch of technology" terrorest has elimnated half the jobs of rock wielding nail pounders by inventing the hammer. Experts predict that this will spell the end of the world. Spokesman for the ROWNPAW (ROck Wielding Nail Pounders Association of the World) had this to say: "The ROWNPAW will not stand for this Coperate greed coming out of the Curch of technology, We plan to strike to prevent adoptation of this job killing device. Its unfair, and this 'hammer' has no regard for ROWNPAW workers who work their butt off to earn their keep" The church of Technology has denied being greedy and one church spokesman had this to say: " Its just seemed like a good idea... thats all".

    Breaking news from CE (AD) 1455 ... Germany lost 75% percent of its manuscript workforce today as inventor Johann Gutenberg unvailed his massive project to print bibles using moveable text. An Industry leader of the MIGOG (Manuscript Industry Group Of the Germany) issued a statement: "These printing presses are merely tools of copyright pirates. All these people want to do is illeagally print Bibles and sell them on the black market. We plan to subpenea the Reformation for the names off all offenders." The industry leader also made mention of the pending patent lawsuit from a Chinese group with a substancial patent portfolio, supposedly including a patent for a movable type machine. Nastrodamas has issued a cryptic statement presumeably that implies that the end of the world is near.

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    Im not here now... Im out KILLING pepperoni
  9. Re:maybe 100 years.... by Frequanaut · · Score: 5, Funny


    Good god man, what are you saying? I for one welcome our new robot masters with open arms.

  10. Re:maybe 100 years.... by Xerithane · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ive seen spooky video of Industrial-Robot manufacturing facilities in Japan with THOUSANDS of robots assembling their own.

    Repeat after me: anime isn't real..

    Thank you.

    --
    Dacels Jewelers can't be trusted.
  11. Re:This is already happening... by RedK · · Score: 5, Funny

    Computers control the actual braking on your ABS brakes.
    Man, those now out of work ABS brake workers must be pretty pissed off. What job can a 3 inch tall guy get ?

    --
    "Not to mention all the idiots who use words like boxen."
    Anonymous Coward on Monday August 04, @06:49PM
  12. Re:maybe 100 years.... by Tackhead · · Score: 4, Funny
    > ...and robots to talk on /. about it. whoa....

    What makes you think robots to talk on /. about it whoa...