Think tank envisions robots filling jobs en masse in Japan

We've known think tanks to come up with some fairly unbelievable determinations before, but the Machine Industry Memorial Foundation may not be too far off with its latest assessment. It's suggesting that the jobs of 3.5 million people in Japan could be filled not with younger folks, but with mechanical creatures by 2025. Currently, Japan's population is declining, and the proportion of those 65-years and up is continually swelling; analysts are asserting that the nation could save around ¥2.1 trillion ($21 billion) in elderly insurance payments by 2025 if it relies on robots (instead of humans) to monitor the health of the geriatric set. Of course, Japan's been creating bots to do our dirty work for years, so it's not like the idea of being ruled by robotic overlords is a completely foreign concept over there or anything.

[Via I4U News]

[Johan S @ Apr 9th 2008 5:43PM]

They took arr jobs!

[mikejhitchcock @ Apr 9th 2008 6:35PM]

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!!!

[UKNigel @ Apr 9th 2008 6:59PM]

So what do we call them? Robacks? Botbacks?

[3rdsun @ Apr 9th 2008 7:29PM]

If you think moving jobs to China or India was something just wait till they give them to the robots.

[Mark @ Apr 9th 2008 8:23PM]

MUST KILL HUMANS

[el shio @ Apr 9th 2008 8:50PM]

>> 3rdsun. Maybe a little different from outsourcing. Robots, and much of the Japanese push for advanced robotics, are for the domestic jobs that can't be outsourced and are difficult to fill. The alternative would be to hire foreigners to take that work, but that's not acceptable to a significantly large percentage of the population.

[The Future @ Apr 9th 2008 5:44PM]

Now when one of those robots get hacked and is made to do something horrible to its owner.

Just imagine the Headlines and Movies!!!

[phanbouy @ Apr 9th 2008 5:46PM]

Robots Get Hacked; Made to do Something Horrible to Owner.

[Blue Sunshine @ Apr 9th 2008 5:47PM]

Ever see Chopping Mall? Yeah, that.

[Johan S @ Apr 9th 2008 5:53PM]

You mean like when human workers go postal?

Anyway, these aren't robots that walk around like androids. To be safe just don't network 'em and keep certain operating systems off it.

[Johan S @ Apr 9th 2008 6:02PM]

You can have a big red hardware panic button on the robot that switches it off by mechanically cutting off the power supply. Besides pressing the button, it can also be triggered with a ruggedized and very basic "off network" circuit that responds to a voice command or remote control. It can be designed such that any attempt to compromise the integrity of the panic switch circuit/mechanics would result in the circuitry of the robot itself getting damaged.

That should minimize the chance of a large scale hack. Yes determined individuals may find ways around it but that would be difficult or messy and those few people would get caught.

[Morrison @ Apr 9th 2008 8:27PM]

Never seen the Matrix Johan? NO POWER = HUMAN BATTERIES.

[Wwhat @ Apr 10th 2008 1:32AM]

That was the worst twist in the matrix, the concept that humans would be a good powersource is so obviously complete BS that even the most dumb person has to wince past that part of the story.

[ron charette @ Apr 9th 2008 5:44PM]

FIRST!?

[ron charette @ Apr 9th 2008 5:48PM]

*wishes he had a bot to troll for uncommented posts*

[makishima @ Apr 9th 2008 5:50PM]

I....why...no sir. Just, no.

[Blue Sunshine @ Apr 9th 2008 5:44PM]

I could have sworn Japan was already 80% robot.

Meanwhile, here in the US, they don't even have a Jetsons-like Rosie the Robot to do my laundry. :(

http://www.miscgarbage.com

[Drew @ Apr 9th 2008 5:51PM]

Don't forget to give that fem-bot a HUGE Rack OK?

[makishima @ Apr 9th 2008 5:51PM]

Have you seen any anime? I'm pretty sure they don't need to be reminded for that one

[Michael @ Apr 9th 2008 5:51PM]

"relies on robots (instead of humans) to monitor the health of the geriatric set"
lol dont do it, the geezers will pull a Superman III/Hackers/Office Space and salami slice that $21 billion back to themselves
see: Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (movie)

moral: DONT TRUST OLD PEOPLE

[Anonymoose @ Apr 9th 2008 5:57PM]

hmm. so i guess that means i should expect to see a bunch of pixelated robots....?

[linuxamp @ Apr 9th 2008 5:58PM]

I can't help but think lovebot from the move AI. The developers of that robot in the movie was also Japanese.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 9th 2008 6:04PM]

But, can it have sex?

[Ian @ Apr 9th 2008 10:30PM]

no! havent you seen the episode where Fry gets a Lucy Lui bot? THINK OF THE WORLD!

[Eric @ Apr 9th 2008 6:05PM]

When I can send my robot in to work to do my job, and it brings home the bacon, I'll be convinced robots have a role in this world. :-D

Corporations should be prevented from owning and using robots. That's about as likely as outlawing sending jobs to Funnyhatistan.

[Johan S @ Apr 9th 2008 6:17PM]

So you're demanding a false sense of being useful? Is that it? Why not ask for welfare instead? At least that way your time is freed up and you can use the time to work on education, exercise, outdoor activities, community gatherings, inventing, hanging out with friends and family etc.

[Eric @ Apr 9th 2008 6:19PM]

Johan,

Typical lack of a sense of humor I see.

[Wwhat @ Apr 10th 2008 1:34AM]

I think he has a great sense of humour if that's his description of people on welfare.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Apr 9th 2008 6:24PM]

I guess they could replace the reception desk women at corporation buildings and the entrance and elevator greeting ladies in department stores. I'd hate to see them being replaced because they look so yummy in their uniforms.

[DarkLightConnection Unbanned @ Apr 9th 2008 6:41PM]

If they get the fembots' aesthetics right, they will also look yummy in their uniforms...

[Nipponese @ Apr 9th 2008 6:44PM]

Yes, yes they do. However, they act like robots though.

[Nipponese @ Apr 9th 2008 6:48PM]

My reply was towards Steffen Jobs. Truly, I never felt any emotion come through speaking to these girls at the info booth at department stores in Tokyo, there's not much difference from a fembot.

[Mario @ Apr 9th 2008 7:15PM]

When did Michael Jackson become a transvestite?

[Bruce Van De Velde @ Apr 9th 2008 8:52PM]

Nope. It'll never happen.

[maryland157 @ Apr 9th 2008 9:21PM]

What are they thinking , first the robots will start to ask for pay , then they will over through there masters! Dosn't Japan watch TV or read?!!?!?!

[MJZimmer88 @ Apr 9th 2008 9:26PM]

Why do the Japanese get all the cool toys? I'm stuck with a motion controlled videogame, they get f*cking ROBOTS?!?! It's like being a little kid for christmas, seeing my brother get a new big screen tv while I get a make-your-own-radio kit.

Atleast if we want we can still look forward to those spaceships taking off again into space. Oh wait...

I take solace in the fact that there are 2 starbucks, 2 McDonalds, 2 Burger Kings, a Subway, and a KFC all within about 3 blocks of my current location and somehow I am not obese.

[Ian @ Apr 9th 2008 10:33PM]

damn in three blocks? i dont even know what to say to that

[FRZ @ Apr 9th 2008 11:33PM]

Yeah, I can see it now. These asians are gonna bring doomsday early and doom us all.

[Ronderwear @ Apr 10th 2008 5:41AM]

I though she/it looked familiar! The robot pictured is Saya, the receptionist in one of the new buildings at Ben-Gurion University, Israel.
Scary as hell to look at though. Imagine a wax statue that’s been left in the sun for a while... Not a pretty sight.
At least I know where my tuition fee is going.

http://www.plasticbamboo.com/2007/03/05/saya-the-robot-receptionist/

[94 taurus owner @ Apr 10th 2008 9:21AM]

It's going to be Irobot all over again.



Audi R8 drivers look out for barreling robot trucks.

[94 taurus owner @ Apr 10th 2008 9:24AM]

That robot thing at the top of the page is creepy looking.

[94 taurus owner @ Apr 10th 2008 9:37AM]

Spooky finished watching that video from the link above.

HER EYES AREN'T MOVING THEY ARE JUST LOOKING BLANKLY
IN ONE DIRECTION INTO SPACE!!!!!!!!

and she's doing this weird thing with her mouth at 1:59-to the rest of the video.

and the speakers are................

[Nelson @ Apr 14th 2008 10:58PM]

Sexual harassed by a fem bot, how 2090 -ish

[Janet @ Apr 20th 2008 11:23AM]

Sexual harrassment in the workplace will sky rocket. "Please don't touch my breast!"