Tag Archives: Robots

1 Billion Robots And Counting

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Isaac Asimov’s The Robots of Dawn presents a vision of intelligent, humanoid robots integrated into society, raising questions about ethics, autonomy, and the boundaries between human and machine. Fast-forward to today, and we see real-world counterparts emerging in unexpected ways.

The, now, $1,000.00 Roomba, once seen as a novelty, now quietly symbolizes the normalization of domestic automation. For just a few hundred dollars, people can own a robot that navigates their homes, mapping spaces and cleaning autonomously — a concept that once seemed futuristic.

Tesla’s Optimus represents the next leap — a humanoid robot designed to perform complex physical tasks. This marks a shift from specialized automation to general-purpose robots capable of integrating into human environments. Recently, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a startling claim that humanoid robots will surpass the human population by 2040, possibly over 10 billion robots. Sound preposterous? At first, but robots are not necessarily these metal and plastic devices, they come in the form of software (Alexa, Siri, Gemini, Grok, ChatGTP) or just an arm on a stand to make fries or flip burgers, clean up trash along roadsides, or carry things, clean, cook, pay your bills, etc. If you think this way, 10 billion might be conservative.

Meanwhile, in research labs and startup workshops, countless other robotic innovations are quietly taking shape — from automated delivery systems to caregiving assistants to military-grade drones. These developments, often overlooked until they reach mass adoption, can feel like a sudden wave of change.

Then there is the military side of Robotics, and it looks disturbing. I cannot help but think of SkyNet, from the original Terminator. With Sci-Fi just being fact before it happens, this is something that actually worries me.

There are so many current Robotic developments occurring in the Military from robotic dogs with mounted machine guns, to legions of robots that can fight 24 x 7 to flying drones that hover and observe while others close in on a human target for detainment or termination.

The phrase “When did that happen?” captures this societal dissonance — the sense that technology often feels like it’s arriving overnight, even when it’s been brewing for years. Just as Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World depicted a society reshaped by science, we are witnessing an accelerating transformation that challenges our understanding of labor, privacy, and social dynamics.

So lets come back to the softer side and hope that Isaac Asimov’s Three Rules of Robotics hold true:

  1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
  2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
  3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

But my bet is on the Adult Industry. Why? Well, the Adult Industry was the first industry to become profitable on the Internet. The Adult Industry has often been an early adopter — and sometimes the driving force — behind emerging technologies: The adult industry pioneered secure credit card transactions on the internet, driving early e-commerce innovation. Adult content creators were early adopters of VR technology, pushing hardware development and immersive experiences.

introducing Arya by Realbotix. While Ayra is marketed as a companion robot, her capabilities naturally extend to intimate scenarios. For individuals with social anxiety, physical disabilities, or those seeking companionship without emotional complexities, Ayra represents a deeply personalized solution. Although her current mobility is limited to a rolling platform, I don’t think it will be two many gens away from walking on her own.

Some may find this offensive, and like all emerging technologies there will always be the warped, the squeaky wheel that leaves a bad rep on this advancement. However, my thoughts are that what is lacking in the most advanced cutting edge of Robotics is the intimacy factor and I am not referring to sex, but the bedside manner. If history repeats itself, the Adult trade’s early adoption of Ayra-like robots could lead to breakthroughs in AI personality development, conversational depth, and emotional simulation. Over time, these advancements could reshape not only intimacy but also caregiving, mental health support, and social companionship. that can be adopted in the Healthcare industry for Healthcare, In-house care, Hospitals and Hospice.


“Please continue scanning or enter payment method now…. Hello? Anyone there?”

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The Spirit Well and Sensory Lounge, Stuart FL

It’s early Sunday morning and I ask Alexa about the weather and while she’s at it to open the garage door. I hop on my e-bike and tap the right pad of my headphones that connects me to a podcast. Technology is a beautiful thing, but not for everything.

When I arrive at the grocery the doors sense my presence and whoosh open, bringing with it the smell of baked goods and warm greetings from the employees. I check out the headlines of all the papers and grab the Sunday Times, then follow the scent which leads me to the fresh baked goods still warm in the bag that is handed to me. At this hour of the morning the store is empty as I watch my items slide along the conveyor towards the optical reader, where a bright eyed and smiling clerk will conduct the last mile of my transaction, asking me how I’m doing this morning and we continue to chat. This is also a great use of technology where two humans can have a conversation while automation updates the store’s inventory, totals are tallied, taxes are collected and the back-office tech is ready to reorder if item counts slips below their set trigger levels. With the transaction complete, my items are placed in my reusable canvas bag and we continue to chat, our voices separated out from the biophony of technology. But this last mile of human transaction is coming to an end as self-checkout technology gains a foothold.

I can understand the human replacement from a business model–let’s face it– machines show up on time, do exactly as they are instructed to do, work without pay, vacation or baggage. The business does not need to pay into workman’s compensation, social security or deal with all the issues HR handles with hiring, firing, vacation, sick days, safety or human social issues. It costs significantly less to hire a robot than it does a human. But job displacement is not the issue at hand here–– lack of human contact is.

Humans are highly social animals and we require social interaction to maintain emotional well-being. We can already see the erosion that smart devices have had upon society, especially in the young, but if this trend progresses, without balance, I fear we will be herded into isolation and loneliness with nothing to look forward to but depression and anxiety, which is great for dystopian sci-fi, but will have long-term negative effects on society as a whole.

So how do we balance this? We are not going to rewind technology–– the cat is long gone from the bag–– technology is a rising tide that will never ebb unless a CME comes along and rewinds it for us. Pray for the big one, but you better practice your fire starting skills.

I am a true lover of Sci-Fi, robots and advanced tech, and while machines can perform quick and efficient tasks, they currently lack the empathy and personal touch that their human counterparts perform so well.

With change comes casualty— we know this— but to limit this casualty there is something we can do now and that is to reestablish the idea of social clubs and places offering a stimulation of our senses; at least until advances in tech (A.I.) catch up and provide humanity with measurable benefits. The 50’s were filled with social clubs of every sort. I truly think there is a link there which led to society being so forward thinking.

I recently stumbled upon an oasis–– The Spirit Well and Sensory Lounge in downtown Stuart FL. I had been curious of this place so one day I pulled into the parking lot and explored. Opening the door to ringing bells, I felt the calm of this space. The Co-owners, Stephaie and Tracy are a delight to talk to, intelligent and are way ahead of the industry–they are in the right place at the right time. Their services offer everything from relaxation to yoga and nightly events for everyone’s interest. I am already a fan of the VibroAcoustic Chair with Red Light Therapy. As for social stimulation, there is the Scotch and Science group. The idea of sipping a scotch and talking about what I love, Science Fiction and technology… well, bring on the silence of machines.

I see this cottage industry booming in the years ahead and The Spirit Well and Sensory Lounge is already there offing a blueprint for those to follow.

Is this the death of Humanity or something else?

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Half of you may be alarmed by this technology, that we are nearing the end of humanity.  And why wouldn’t you think that way?  I mean isn’t this what we authors of Sci-Fi write about–– our dystopian replacements?

Fortunately, I do’t think it will pan out that way. After a decade of studying animal physiology, sociobiology, ecology, ethology, mico/macro biology organic chemistry, physics and genetics and applying that knowledge in the field as a Marine Biologist, then making a career adjustment into the realm of Information Technology, adding decades of computer engineering, programming, network engineering, enterprise monitoring, and web development into the mix and finally tossing all that knowledge into a blender to write Sci-Fi…. well… “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe.” – Batty, Blade Runner, movie 1982 (Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? )

What my path in life has taught me is to think freely, reason that all sides are correct, and extrapolate all of this into the future, that we humans, simply put, are these beautiful and magnificent container ships (1976 – The Selfish Gene: Richard Dawkins), governed by both science and faith as a means to protect and propagate our DNA. For millions upon millions of years our strain of DNA has been a passenger on the road map of Natural Selection. But at some point it picked up a willing hitchhiker and entered into a partnership with, Humanity. Then within the last hundred years Humanity made significant strides, pushing aside what was once our road map, now seemingly coming to odds with our partnership.

One shortfall of humanity–– that our DNA does not have–– is binary reasoning. This is easily observed in everything humanity thinks and does: Up/Down, Left/Right, In/Out, Yes/No, True/False, Good/Evil and so on and so on. In fact, Humanity has created tools of Information Technology to work the same as they do (binary), which has proved to be very successful for us both.

Referring to the video above, either we (again, still restricted by binary thinking) are devising a new and better tool or we are dissolving the partnership and Humanity .

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

Humanity and its contents (DNA) are still governed by Physical and Biological controls: Sunlight, Oxygen, Water, Temperature, Gravity and a slew of biologics, such as mutation, disease, aging which eventually leads to death. As long as the propagation can stay ahead of death, then our partnership remains successful. But we know some things, that everything that has ever lived, dies and nothing lasts forever. We are confined to this world and this world will not last forever, either.

So here we are approaching the threshold of Humanity revising the partnership with our DNA. First, we need convince Humanity and DNA that we are passing on the baton, but still in the race. To do that we need a better container ship, one that is free of physical and biological controls (Time to die – Batty, Blade Runner). Secondly, we need to become a Quantum being: In/Out and the Other Thing (Thank you JFK), free of binary reasoning. Thirdly, we need to transfer our partnership (Our Soul) into this new entity saying goodby to Humanity and DNA once and for all, but carrying on the memes (see: The Selfish Gene / Richard Dawkins – 1976), of everything that ever was until the next partnership renewal, other realms, where we will get closer to understanding who are the Engineers (Robert Reed series: Beyond The Veil Of Stars/Beneath The Gated Sky).