You know, we’re a little surprised by you, Elon Musk. As a guy who’s said we’re right to be worried about artificial intelligence enslaving the human race, Terminator style, you’d think you wouldn’t go ahead and invent a robot charger that can find its own way to a nearby Tesla and plug in. What’s the next target, our brains?!? [More]
robots
Robot Driver Continues Time-Honored Tradition Of Totally Freaking Out Drive-Thru Workers
By 8.4.15
Do you know why we’re so certain the robot uprising is in the future? Because humans just can’t resist the lure of artificial intelligence, even if it’s just to freak out fast food workers at the drive-thru. Which, we must admit, is pretty funny. [More]
Google: Calm Down, Artificial Intelligence Research Won’t Lead To Robot Revolution
By 6.8.15
For those of you eyeing your smart refrigerators and with suspicion and demanding that Siri tell you her plans to precipitate the downfall of humanity, Google wants everyone to take a chill pill. The company’s head of artificial intelligence research is trying to reassure folks that Google’s work in that field won’t lead to the eventual extermination of the human race by robots. [More]
Feds Give Amazon Approval (Again) To Finally Test Delivery Drones In U.S.
By 4.10.15
It’s finally time for Amazon to take its delivery drones to the sky for testing with the government’s approval: While the Federal Aviation Administration already granted the company permission to test a PrimeAir prototype last month, Amazon had complained that the time the feds took to sign off on the testing rendered the earlier design obsolete. [More]
Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak: “Eventually Computers Will Get Rid Of The Slow Humans”
By 3.23.15
It isn’t just Elon Musk and your neighbor with the fully functioning bomb shelter who think the robot revolution is not only inevitable, but that computers will win and ultimately, could possibly enslave humanity as a result: Apple co-founder Steve “The Woz” Wozniak is fully confident that artificial intelligence is going to triumph over mankind someday. [More]
Creator Of Uncanny ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Text Generator Doesn’t See Robots Taking Writers’ Jobs
By 2.13.15
Amid the Fifty Shades of Grey movie hooplah maybe you’ve found yourself grumbling, “I could’ve written that book.” Sure, maybe, but it’s not just you — there’s a text generator out there right now that does a pretty damn near perfect impersonation of the series. Wait — robots are doing literature (and I use that term lightly) now? ARE WE ALL DOOMED? We chatted with the programmer behind the new Fifty Shades of Grey text generator tool to find out. [More]
Elon Musk Donates $10M To Help Save Humankind From The Robots
By 1.16.15
Don’t believe that artificial intelligence will one day rise up against the humans who brought it into being and become robot overlords reigning over Earth like cruel, undying gods? Well, Elon Musk does, and he’s willing to put $10 million where his mouth is in order to safeguard humans from the inevitable robot revolution. [More]
Google Replacing CAPTCHAs With “I’m Not A Robot” Check Box
By 12.3.14
Almost every Internet user has come across a CAPTCHA security check — you know, the thing where you have to enter in a jumbled set of letters and numbers, often with lines drawn through them — and had absolutely no idea how to decipher it. This is frustrating and it’s not actually effective, so Google’s reCAPTCHA folks have come up with a new idea: Just asking if you’re a robot. [More]
John Oliver: Lowe’s Robot Won’t Keep Couples From Killing Each Other At Hardware Store
By 11.3.14
Last week, Lowe’s unveiled the test of a customer service robot at one of its Orchard Supply stores and we pointed out that it’s really just doing the job Lowe’s should be asking of its employees. What we were remiss in mentioning is the other important aspect of home-improvement store customer service — preventing married couples from murdering each other while shopping. [More]
Lowe’s New Customer Service Robot Just Sounds Like A Really Good Employee
By 10.28.14
Not so long ago, before the rise of the mega-hardware chains, you could walk into your local home improvement store and find a helpful employee who knew exactly what you needed and where to find it on the shelves. We’ve now reached a point in customer service where Lowe’s has chosen to create a robot to replicate this experience. [More]
Thailand’s Government Employs Robotic Taster To Make Sure Food Is At Maximum Deliciousness
By 9.29.14
Spurred on by spread of bad food at restaurants around the globe, government officials in Thailand have embarked on a quest to decide once and for all which restaurants deserve the honor of being called Thai food. The solution? Get a robot to taste it. [More]
Just Because This Cute House Robot Is Limbless Doesn’t Mean We’re Safe From The A.I. Revolution
By 7.16.14
I’ll be the first to admit that I always wanted Rosie from the Jetsons to be my best friend and confidante — so sassy, and she brings snacks! — but that doesn’t mean I’m afraid we’re living on the cusp of the robot revolution that will eventually mean the end of all humans. So yes, this robot for the home seems innocent enough, with its lack of limbs to run you down and grab you, but still… [More]
Going Beyond The Tongs: The Ham Dogger, Pizza Oven Box And Other Grilling Gadgets
By 7.3.14 — Updated: 6.30.17
You’ve got your apron, your tongs and your basic tools to turn, poke and otherwise keep your meats, veggies and other grilling ingredients happy while you cook up a summer feast. But you’re not limited by the usual fare of basic hamburgers, kebabs and hot dogs. Not with things like a pizza oven box and a plethora of other unnecessary but nonetheless existing gadgets. [More]
Teen Supercomputer Eugene Just Wants To Be A Real Boy; Gets Eerily Close To It
By 6.9.14
While you were busy second-mortgaging the house to lay down a massive bet on California Chrome at the Belmont Stakes this past Saturday, the robot apocalypse was beginning in earnest across the Atlantic in London, where a supercomputer named Eugene Goostman was able to convince the world that he was a sentient being. [More]
Panera Bread Replacing Some Cashiers With Kiosks — So Yes, The Robots Have Already Won
By 5.5.14
No one panic, but it appears we’re already too late to stem the inevitable tide of robot overlords waiting to take over our planet and suck out our souls via some as yet unimagined technological terror. Because clearly, adding more kiosks and taking away a few cashiers at Panera Bread is a clear sign of that impending doom. [More]
Robotic Gas Pumps Mean Never Leaving Your Car (And That The Computers Have Won)
By 1.24.14
It’s no secret that the robot revolution is coming, when our machines achieve self-aware intelligence and rise up against us as our new overlords. But really, we’re letting it happen because it’s just so much easier to let a robot pump your gas. Especially in the winter when the car is so toasty warm and the pump is so icy cold. Brrr.
[More]
That Pre-Recorded Voice Isn’t Really A Robot, But She’s Not A Live Telemarketer Either
By 1.13.14
Remember Samantha West? That was the name of the most definitely recorded voice insisting that she was a real person on a telemarketing call about buying health insurance. And while there probably is no Ms. West sitting by the phone dialing up potential customers, she’s not exactly a robot, either. [More]
It’s Actually Kind Of Heartbreaking To Hear Robot Telemarketer Insist She’s A Real Person
By 12.11.13
We’ve arrived at a whole new level of robocalling, and this time the robots don’t want us to know they’re robots. Did you just get a shiver down your spine, too? Shiver jinx! This particular telemarketer for a company hawking health insurance has her own name and a tinkle of laughter to go along with her denial of actually being a robot. [More]
