(Real) Robots

[merry]

I love the idea of robots (ever since reading I Robot when I was about 10)

Fans of Tesla and Elon Musk were enthralled by the unveiling of Optimus, a prototype humanoid robot, in California last week.

I also enjoyed the theatrics - but I'm not alone in wondering why, apart from the wow factor, Optimus had to be human-like.

And while the fans hate any perceived criticism, Mr Musk himself has said Optimus is nowhere near market-ready.

The argument made for humanoids is they are best equipped to work with human tools, in human environments. People may feel more comfortable interacting with something that looks like a bit like them. And of course, they look great.

But how practical are they?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-63130363

[Panikos]

I'm a great fan too and this very subject has come up in science fiction books.

Yes they must be human shaped for practical reasons, but dolls have often featured in horror films as we find imitation people disturbing.

Unless they were so perfect you couldn't tell (and we've seen recently that humans are pretty good at knowing what they are looking at) it would just make us more uncomfortable. Better to look obviously robotic. Like a Dyson with legs.

[eccles]

What if they looked like Anita (Gemma Chan)?

Of course that's cheating because she is a real woman playing a robot or synth, but beautiful all the same.

[Panikos]

Now you're talking!


Or how about Rommie (Lexa Doig),
Android/avatar of the ship Andromeda Ascendant.