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Google Acquires Boston Dynamics

Posted by timothy on from the oh-you're-just-paranoid dept.

First time accepted submitter totally_mad writes "The New York Times reports that Google has acquired Boston Dynamics, a company that is primarily a concept robot maker for the military. The robot wars appear to be heating up between the big corporations, with Amazon recently announcing plans to have 30-minute home deliveries using drones. Perhaps Boston Dynamics', or now Google's, Cheetah will outrun the drone!"

5 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. I, for one... by blackbeak · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I, for one, would like someone to please tell me when it's time to say "Goodbye" to our new overlords!

    --
    Everything and its opposite is true. Get used to it.
  2. Re:will be interesting to see what they do with it by flyingfsck · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Google works for the NSA, which is a military organization - so Google already is a defence contractor.

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    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  3. Re:will be interesting to see what they do with it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Two questions
    1. Is the revenue from the defense work of value to Google
    2. Is Boston Dynamics' defense work of value to the military

    If either or both of those are true then you might see a spin off or divestment of the military work to a 'slightly evil' company that would not be google... because they re not evil

  4. Re:An acquisition I did not expect by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well, if you're going to beat swords into plowshares, it would be great to do it before the swords are wielded in anger -- and even more efficient to do it before you spend all the time to forge, temper and sharpen them.

    The technologies BD developed to make these robots work certainly have non-military uses. I'm not sure how they apply to data-gathering and marketing, though. Maybe some parts of Google really are interested in advancing technology for its own sake...?

  5. Re: will be interesting to see what they do with i by timeOday · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think you're nuts. Automating transportation will dwarf the search business.