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209 points alexcos | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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contingencies ◴[] No.44414317[source]
This is interesting for generalized problems ("make me a sandwich") but not useful for most real world functions ("perform x within y space at z cost/speed"). I think the number of people on the humanoid bandwagon trying to implement generalized applications is staggering right now. The physics tells you they will never be as fast as purpose-built devices, nor as small, nor as cheap. That's not to say there's zero value there, but really we're - uh - grasping at straws...
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dotancohen ◴[] No.44419551[source]
The value is in the generalisation.

For a single example, in any factory watch how humans are added as ad-hoc machines wherever a problem occurs. Machine N outputting faster than machine N+1 can accept? Have a human stack, and destack, the product between them. No matter the size, shape, it within reason the weight of the product. But most importantly: the process can begin within seconds of the problem occurring. No need for a programmer, developer, or maintenance worker to get involved. Just a clear order from the shift manager.

A general purpose robot with physical interfaces similar to a human would be very valuable for such environments. If it had the software to be as easy to instruct as a human.

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contingencies ◴[] No.44436762[source]
Your assumption set: conventional factory space, idle humans, traditional management, ad-hoc process with skilled managers. This is similar to the "job shop" mentality in (dying) manufacturing. You additionally assume general purpose magic hardware that can usefully do anything.

Reality: Most value is in shrinking things, excluding humans, automating management, carefully designed process, and specialist hardware that does a subset of things very well. Relying on human(oid)s is a sure-fire way to suck.

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1. dotancohen ◴[] No.44437147[source]
Correct, I'm talking about the 98% of factories in the world today and in the near future. Obviously the far future will see changes in manufacturing, just as manufacturing has seen changeds every decade since we've been manufacturing things at scale.