Imagine general-purpose humanoid robots becoming as ubiquitous as smartphones, doing household chores, taking care of our parents, and taking over tasks that humans don’t want.
Luke O’Neill, Professor of Biochemistry at the School of Immunology, Trinity College, told Pat Kenny that China had learnt from Electric vehicles and applied similar technology to humanoid robots.
“Robots should replace humans for tasks that are dull or dangerous”, he told Newstalk.
“Robots will clean.They'll do the boring, repetitive tasks and the dangerous things so they can replace humans - that’s the ultimate goal.
“The Chinese, with their former one child policy, really have a shortage of people who might do the caring jobs for the older generation.”
Professor O’Neill cited a comment from the Chinese minister of Industry while they demoed a very elaborate robot fixing these very dangerous high voltage cables.
Minister Li Licheng said; “While the United States and Europe are going to war, we’re inventing the future.”
A robot built by Lego bricks plays the drum. Picture by: Xinhua.Professor O’Neill told The Pat Kenny Show just how visible the progress was on the ground in China: “There's loads of robo taxis going around the streets.”
“There's delivery vans that are robotic there. The care homes have robots in them already.
“It could be a bit different, it might be more challenging to have a robo taxi on a Saturday night on Wicklow Street.
The debate then focused on the role of humans as robots take on more tiresome roles.
Mr Luke O’Neill said that in time, humans might not be needed for specific manufacturing roles”
“China is already living in 2050. You build a factory. And you don't even have to switch on the lights, because they don't need lights.
“They'll keep charging themselves, they'll keep working all the time. So this self-charging idea is gaining traction.When they move, of course,there's a servo mechanism that allows them to charge up as they move.”
Professor O’Neill cited three new robots meant to make humans' lives easier.
There is a vacuum cleaning humanoid robot, another one that’s capable of restocking your fridge as well as a robot who can deliver your food to your house. It will pick up your food and sort it into the cupboards and fridges the way it’s meant to.
“Many factories in China have these robots”, O’Neill told The Pat Kenny Show.
“They have 70% of the humanoid robots. While there is a worry they might take over the world, they should be sticking to tasks that are dirty, dangerous and dull,” he added.
Main Image: Helpers without risk of infection: Is the hour of the robots now? Photo: Felix Kästle.
