Toyota aims to put robots to use early next decade

In race to develop robots that can assist the elderly and help with manufacturing, company vows to increase its robot R&D.
Photos: Toyota's mobile, musical robots

The story "Toyota aims to put robots to use early next decade" published December 6, 2007 at 6:51 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[johnstar_advisor]

Final Death Blow for Unions

Robots won't strike. Robots won't skip work. Robots won't deliberately build defective products.

This will be the end of union labor.

[tiktin]

robots

I dont think people understand the significance of what is going on here. As robots become smarter and more able, they will replace more and more human workers. That means the skill and intelligence level to get a job will keep rising, creating an increasing number of unemployed and unemployable people. That is going to strain the social fabric and cause all kinds of problems. There is also now the possibility that in the future robots may become intelligent enough to think for themselves; that is, the ultimate nightmare of science fiction may become a reality. Another problem is the increasing robotization of war, as human soldiers are replaced by robot soldiers. Governments may become more ready to start wars if they dont have to send humans to fight. But humans will still die.