Robots to perform menial tasks by 2025, write for Engadget quite a bit sooner

While robots have certainly been around for a spell doing things like sweeping your floors and conducting symphonies, up till now they haven't been "human enough" to replace actual people. According to a new report from the National Intelligence Council, however, they should be up to the task by 2025. The report goes as far as saying that an influx of robo-workers could even "disrupt unskilled labor markets" and occupy jobs currently performed by migrant workers and hapless high school students. Additionally, the report asserts that new technologies could be used to augment human abilities as well, taking on jobs such as caring for the elderly. Unfortunately, the report had no word on the progress of synthetic saliva glands for the inevitable robo-waiter, so no need to fret -- yet.

[Image courtesy of benefisho]

[Dylan @ Nov 30th 2008 5:03AM]

Ronald McDonaldbots: ROLL OUT!!

[Metkis @ Nov 30th 2008 5:07AM]

Transfatformers? Unsaturated fat in disguise?

[Metkis @ Nov 30th 2008 5:18AM]

More than greets your thighs?!

[mymaclife @ Nov 30th 2008 6:15AM]

Isn't this what a wife is for? ;)

[Bobby @ Nov 30th 2008 6:23AM]

Fine ! Now bring robot readers and finally Orwell dream comes true

[Metkis @ Nov 30th 2008 6:26AM]

@Bobby: 2 + 2 = I'll take a number 5 with cheese.

[Bobby @ Nov 30th 2008 7:13AM]

@Metkis .. and possibly rest of us:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjYJ7zZ9BRw&NR=1

[Tyson @ Nov 30th 2008 8:54AM]

Hit it on the nose

[Patriks7 @ Nov 30th 2008 9:16AM]

So should I be watching that McChicken turn into an autobot sometime? Or maybe that Big Mac? The fries will make a big army..

[Shinigami @ Nov 30th 2008 9:38AM]

@Bobby
Now bring robot readers, robot comment posters, robot banner clickers and you have an automated income source :)

[SpydaKat 17 @ Nov 30th 2008 12:51PM]

Transformers 2: Rise of the Obese

[BananaBoat @ Nov 30th 2008 1:34PM]

I'm no expert, but that seems like a Gundam crossed with an Evangelion then painted Ronald McDonald colors.

[BananaBoat @ Nov 30th 2008 3:10PM]

I fail, it's Gundam Unicorn.

[Shadyman @ Nov 30th 2008 9:15PM]

@Patriks:

"So should I be watching that McChicken turn into an autobot sometime?"

You mean an "autoBOK?" ;)

[Jason @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:01AM]

Dang, that was funny. Thanks for the laugh

[Almadi @ Nov 30th 2008 5:20AM]

One order of McGundam, side of Char sauce

[thedesolate1 @ Nov 30th 2008 11:59AM]

and the sequel:
McGundam Char's Counter Attack

[Kamokazi @ Nov 30th 2008 12:58PM]

Woah, hold on a second...

This is a Zeta/ZZ-era Gundam. Char went by Quatro Bajeena in those series.

Sheesh.

[BananaBoat @ Nov 30th 2008 1:33PM]

You foolish earthnoids forgot about Char's Deleted Affair, during which he was still char aznable.

[Ayle @ Nov 30th 2008 3:12PM]

This is a mod of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. The events in which it appears take place after Char's Counterattack... Kamozaki you are wrong.

[drumdbeat @ Nov 30th 2008 8:11PM]

Wow.

I wish I had all of you guys as friends...

[FreeRange @ Nov 30th 2008 9:06PM]

Me, too! So I could beat you all up and steal your lunch money! Wouldn't need much with that McDonald's value menu!

[PCisOverrated(NOTWINDOWSPC) @ Nov 30th 2008 5:21AM]

"occupy jobs currently performed by migrant workers"

Ok, is that politcally correct talk for mexicans?

Because migrant worker is basically an agricultural worker, and most of those jobs were LONG AGO taken by machines. There are even machines that need no driver, so, technically, robots already took over those jobs.

Can you repeat after me? Immigrants...

See? Correct and not recist!


Maybe I'm just pissed at the idea of technology dealing yet another blow to the stability of our societies...

Maybe I'm just pissed because I'm poor (and yes, of Mexican blood, haha) and I rely on the burger flipping jobs to pay for college. Unless I climb the corporate ladder soon, my kids are going to get shafted out of an education!

[Metkis @ Nov 30th 2008 6:19AM]

I sure hope your last term paper wasn't on "recism." You might have to get even more comfortable at your burger-flipping environ if you keep that up!

See what 'politically correct' gets you? Just messin'.

[Dave Chappelle @ Nov 30th 2008 6:54AM]

you work flopping burgers? this is landmark for Mexicans!

but seriously tell the truth, uv got another job right?... mowing lawns?

"Because migrant worker is basically an agricultural worker, and most of those jobs were LONG AGO taken by machines"

nope, cherry picking, grape picking, potatoes, apples, strawberries the list goes on...

politically correct? i thought that meant things which distinguish a job is only for a man or something like 'businessman' is not correct as it could just as well be 'businesswoman' so u have to say 'businessperson'. I dunno why i am even arguing this anymore if a woman said that to me id slap the bitch! HARD!

[spddrcr @ Nov 30th 2008 7:39AM]

then do something about it and stop flipping burgers!!!! if your willing to work for it there are jobs out there that will pay you more, but instead your complaining to the readers of engadget and claiming the race card, will it ever end? i hope so for your childrens sake!

as far as robots writing for engadget? it's about time, you guys could use some new writers!

[DWes @ Nov 30th 2008 10:09AM]

Hey buttbrains (aka spddrcr), he said he's flipping burgers to pay for college. Being the 5th grade drop out that your reading skill make so obvious, you may have though he meant a bunch of pictures glued to a piece of cardboard, like the one you tried to make for mom but ended up pasting you index finger to the inside of your nose, but that's a "collage". "College" is where people go to get an education so they can get a good job and pay for their children to get an education, thus breaking the chain of poverty - or in other words - doing "something about it."

I made pizzas to pay for college, and I'm white, so any racist BS about some race only being good for fast food (or landscaping, or janitorial work), slather it this way too, and save a heaping dose for yourself, because all races work menial jobs at one time or another, and that doesn't make anybody any better or worse than anybody else.

[PCisOverrated(NOTWINDOWSPC) @ Nov 30th 2008 11:53AM]

First, I did fix the "recism" part, it just didn't reply correctly to my original post, hehe.

Second, damn, DWes, I sure could use you in a mock trial, haha. That little diatribe just screams "potential lawyer" to me.

And yes, that's what I'm studying to be. Seen too many kids get hosed over in court to continue to let it happen. Plus, I need the money from high profile clients to pay for my gadget addiction!

Hmm... That just gave me an idea. FREE LEGAL ADVICE FOR GADGETS! Come one, Engadget, you should have a lawyer on retainer... I'll do it for say... a couple old review HDTVs you might have laying around?

[Phoenix @ Nov 30th 2008 1:43PM]

It's not only agriculture. It's also construction labor, lawn care, and any other tasks which do not require more than a GED (if even that).

[Patriks7 @ Nov 30th 2008 5:25AM]

"and occupy jobs currently performed by migrant workers and hapless high school students."
Increase unemployment? Smart!

[G @ Nov 30th 2008 5:33AM]

That's what people said during the industrial revolution 200 years ago when many jobs got taken over by steam powered machines. And in the long run unemployment didn't increase and everybody became richer.


But in that case machines were much cheaper and more efficient than people. But somehow i doubt there are many jobs where robots can be cheaper than migrant workers.

[suprxtragrav @ Nov 30th 2008 5:54AM]

@iEye.

Just taking a shot in the dark here, but i'm going to say that your "decision" to not procreate was not actually your choice. but more like the unfortunate result of your douchebaggery.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 30th 2008 6:55AM]

@iEye
Wow, only 3 iPhones? was expecting someone like you with at least 10..
And how are you actually helping with getting a car that is probably worse than your already bad GM one? (emission wise)

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 30th 2008 7:31AM]

@ iEye: I always get a smile in my face when reading your comments! We will miss you when you die, soon.

[GenBanks @ Nov 30th 2008 8:00AM]

The idea would be that the robots would create wealth for us, just like slaves in classical Athens. It might make the citizen body more equal and give us more time for noble pursuits, since the robots will busy themselves with menial tasks. :)

[JB @ Nov 30th 2008 11:23AM]

Everyone will be unemployed at some point so it won't matter. The robots will do the work and humans can be free to live their lives as they see fit. Not as wage slaves working 40+ hours a week just to pay for the privilege of living in an industrialized society. Sounds good to me.

[suhag @ Nov 30th 2008 9:39PM]

i for one am glad ieye isnt procreating.

[PCisOverrated(NOTWINDOWSPC) @ Nov 30th 2008 5:26AM]

Woops, "racist" not "recist". Damn, need some sleep. Having a girlfriend live 50 miles away sucks.

And yes, I just needed my gadget fix before bed...

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 30th 2008 7:35AM]

Wow, you have a girlfriend. Now all the 7000+ girls that comment daily on this site know that you are cool.

[PCisOverrated(NOTWINDOWSPC) @ Nov 30th 2008 2:02PM]

Actually... I could give a rat's ass what 7000 women think, I only care about what my girlfriend thinks...

I wonder when Tokyo Flash will come out with an engagement ring...

[iApple @ Nov 30th 2008 5:27AM]

does this thing come with a side of fries?

[lettcco @ Nov 30th 2008 5:31AM]

awesome! my suicide booth business will bloom in no time!

[PCisOverrated(NOTWINDOWSPC) @ Nov 30th 2008 5:34AM]

Nice Futurama reference!

(Let's hope this one replies. Sometimes I feel like a lil frustrated kid "MOOOOOOOOOOOM, Engadget's broken again..."

[Metkis @ Nov 30th 2008 6:24AM]

PC, I'm going to up-rank you, but only because your user name sounds like some sort of paradox.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 30th 2008 6:35AM]

@Metkis
I downranked him just so it is even again.

[GenBanks @ Nov 30th 2008 8:03AM]

And I ranked him up again :p

[Samboini @ Nov 30th 2008 9:26AM]

This will continue ad infinitum...

[Intrepid @ Nov 30th 2008 5:44AM]

Engadget's articles aren't already written by thoughtless drones?

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 30th 2008 6:37AM]

I was going to say the same thing but you can have the possible low ranks.

[Beastage @ Nov 30th 2008 8:59AM]

Nope they are written my monkeys on crack.