Google Robots! Former Android chief will lead Google robotics division

Google's long-time hobby will now be led by Andy Rubin, the founder of Android.

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[CrookedKnight]

I don't think you're supposed to make hiring decisions based solely on what would make the best pun, but I have to say, I appreciate it.

 

[lyme]

This is a great avenue for Google to expand given their current research into self driving cars, and the aging population of many countries.

Also, chicks love giant robots http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-kYiDbG39s

 

[skicow]

Cool -- I'm looking forward to what Google can do with it's already immense stable of products behind it.

Just make sure you include the three laws OK Google?

 

[potato44819]

So, no change in job status, eh?

 

[thepirat3king]

Do you think his NYT photo is trying to remind us of the famous "Bill Gates Gaze" or was that a happy accident?

 

[Deleted member 174040]

So...who's he going to copy, cough, cough, get his "inspiration" from this time?



(kidding, kidding)

 

[Dilbert]

EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!

 

[ubercurmudgeon]

Your plastic pal who's fun to be with! (*requires Google+ account to operate.)

 

[longhairedboy]

This is how it begins.

 

[RRob]

They are an advertising company - as much as I like what Google has done, I feel like all their products are tainted, and I have to protect myself from them.

 

[grumpy2]

"Okay Google, begin robot uprising"?

 

[SunnyD]

First the Google cloud load balancing article and now this... when's that SkyNet announcement article being posted again?

 

[Ars of Ares]

Google is uniquely positioned to build a cloud-powered robot, as many of its current projects translate very well to robotics. Google Goggles, the smartphone app that can identify objects and text in a photo, is really an exercise in computer vision. The voice recognition present in Android and the iOS Google Search app would allow a robot to understand human speech. Google Maps could help a robot navigate the world. Google's text-to-speech engine could allow a robot to talk back to its masters.

So, basically, I have been supporting Google's efforts to usher in the singularity without even realizing it.

Good to know.

 

[strohminator]

RRob[/url]":2jkfd8h9]They are an advertising company - as much as I like what Google has done, I feel like all their products are tainted, and I have to protect myself from them.

To be fair, they're an advertising company because that's the best way to make money with the products they currently have. I don't think anyone can seriously propose they make money on warehouse robots by putting ads on them.

 

[TheDissolver]

RockDaMan[/url]":3ufedjrc]So...who's he going to copy, cough, cough, get his "inspiration" from this time?



(kidding, kidding)

Kid or not, how is it people always miss the fact that Rubin was a smartphone pioneer all the way back into his Apple/General Magic days in the 1990s?

 

[secretknight42]

"Google's text-to-speech engine could allow a robot to talk back to its masters."

Masters for now...

 

[gandalfSVG]

Is it just sort-of not-so-crazy for me to worry about a Matrix-scenario in my lifetime? Currently humans can't even make peace with their own kind. A slightly different hue of skin, slightly different sky-wizard beliefs or slightly different manner of dress and it's time to bring out the missile parades. So, we'll have a virtual-intelligence race of beings that are immortal and robotic living in our midst. I can't imagine diplomatic relations surviving for long.

 

[Ars of Ares]

gandalfSVG[/url]":1ieixyp8]Is it just sort-of not-so-crazy for me to worry about a Matrix-scenario in my lifetime? Currently humans can't even make peace with their own kind. A slightly different hue of skin, slightly different sky-wizard beliefs or slightly different manner of dress and it's time to bring out the missile parades. So, we'll have a virtual-intelligence race of beings that are immortal and robotic living in our midst. I can't imagine diplomatic relations surviving for long.

Why do people assume that robots would be immortal or violent?

 

[Nilloc]

RRob[/url]":1lxjzjwu]They are an advertising company - as much as I like what Google has done, I feel like all their products are tainted, and I have to protect myself from them.

I thought they were (or at least think of themselves as) an artificial intelligence company. That's why the ads are getting so creepily relevant.

 

[Zak]

I'd pay $5,000 for a robot that keeps my apartment clean, takes the trash out and does the laundry, folds and hangs the clothes, etc. Yeah, I'm married but we both hate these chores.

PS. And it can't kill us at night!

 

[Z1ggy]

ok. so all the skynet jokes seem to be already made.


sounds interesting.

 

[groghunter]

Ars of Ares[/url]":2pzpwt9l]

gandalfSVG[/url]":2pzpwt9l]Is it just sort-of not-so-crazy for me to worry about a Matrix-scenario in my lifetime? Currently humans can't even make peace with their own kind. A slightly different hue of skin, slightly different sky-wizard beliefs or slightly different manner of dress and it's time to bring out the missile parades. So, we'll have a virtual-intelligence race of beings that are immortal and robotic living in our midst. I can't imagine diplomatic relations surviving for long.

Why do people assume that robots would be immortal or violent?

because something that's consciousness can be backed up to fault tolerant storage is functionally immortal.

We assume it will be violent because we are.

 

[brianpmack]

Is it too late to buy a policy from Old Glory?

http://www.digyourowngrave.com/saturday ... insurance/

 

[Plissken]

Okay, so if Amazon's Prime Air drones are the forebearers Cyberdyne Systems' Hunter Killers, then are Google's robots the forebearers of Tyrell Corp.'s replicants or -- OR -- Weyland-Yutani's androids?

 

[PhaseShifter]

Robots that can assemble circuit boards? Old hat.

What we really need are robots that can disassemble circuit boards. Something that can identify, desolder, and sort all those tiny resistors and capacitors for reuse.
And fewer villages where lead poisoning is rampant in third-world countries.

 

[PhysicalEd]

Ars of Ares[/url]":3qgptpk7]

gandalfSVG[/url]":3qgptpk7]Is it just sort-of not-so-crazy for me to worry about a Matrix-scenario in my lifetime? Currently humans can't even make peace with their own kind. A slightly different hue of skin, slightly different sky-wizard beliefs or slightly different manner of dress and it's time to bring out the missile parades. So, we'll have a virtual-intelligence race of beings that are immortal and robotic living in our midst. I can't imagine diplomatic relations surviving for long.

Why do people assume that robots would be immortal or violent?

Read "Our Final Invention". If you accept that human level AI will be possible, all robots will have to be is indifferent to us.

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Final-Inventi ... +invention

 

[Hidyman1]

I'm sad that they are focusing on business instead of consumer level. I'm was hoping for an Aibo replacement.

 

[Deleted member 192806]

skicow[/url]":2rq1aloa]Cool -- I'm looking forward to what Google can do with it's already immense stable of products behind it.

Just make sure you include the three laws OK Google?

Except Asimovs stories were about the "loopholes" in his laws.

 

[Zak]

In case you haven't seen it then look up the short movie "Animatrix The Second Renaissance - Part One" (don't want to post links, might not be legal), be warned that some imagery is disturbing and not kid safe. This is a prequel to the Matrix movie. The scenario is somewhat plausible.

 

[gandalfSVG]

Ars of Ares[/url]":a57jboms]

gandalfSVG[/url]":a57jboms]Is it just sort-of not-so-crazy for me to worry about a Matrix-scenario in my lifetime? Currently humans can't even make peace with their own kind. A slightly different hue of skin, slightly different sky-wizard beliefs or slightly different manner of dress and it's time to bring out the missile parades. So, we'll have a virtual-intelligence race of beings that are immortal and robotic living in our midst. I can't imagine diplomatic relations surviving for long.

Why do people assume that robots would be immortal or violent?

We're the ones who are violent. They could be as gentle as lambs, but they'll have to learn violence in order to defend themselves after humans draw first blood.

As for immortality, I think that's self-evident. They can make backups, for goodness' sake.

 

[yester64]

RRob[/url]":310zi3yd]They are an advertising company - as much as I like what Google has done, I feel like all their products are tainted, and I have to protect myself from them.

Not really sure how that can be done.
Every time i use my phone it comes always down to Google. Google makes it very convenient to use their products and its free.
At the same time Google does watch what you do, when you do it and stores these datas for advertising.
I do remember the time when Google launches Gmail and everyone was like "you got to have it". Years later i do have also a gmail account but i still prefer a real email client to do everything.

Regarding this venture, i can not even imagine how that will look like or how people will actually adapt to it. If a robot delivers your shipment to your doorsteps.
Maybe he will say "do you know that i have the brainpower of the sun and i deliver items instead"

 

[Travis Griggs]

I hope whatever they do, Linux is part of the picture. And I also desperately hope that Java is not.

 

[kurotsuki]

Hmm ... The rise of the famous ..... Skynet?

*just kidding*

 

[Thordane]

Can't wait to see some Android brand androids.

 

[carldjennings]

RRob[/url]":e7nokwlu]They are an advertising company - as much as I like what Google has done, I feel like all their products are tainted, and I have to protect myself from them.

They are a tech company. Advertising is where they get the money to do the fun stuff.

 

[carldjennings]

strohminator[/url]":2axi9z99]

RRob[/url]":2axi9z99]They are an advertising company - as much as I like what Google has done, I feel like all their products are tainted, and I have to protect myself from them.

To be fair, they're an advertising company because that's the best way to make money with the products they currently have. I don't think anyone can seriously propose they make money on warehouse robots by putting ads on them.

Do the autonomous cars have ads?

 

[carldjennings]

groghunter[/url]":3cq5ibti]

Ars of Ares[/url]":3cq5ibti]

gandalfSVG[/url]":3cq5ibti]Is it just sort-of not-so-crazy for me to worry about a Matrix-scenario in my lifetime? Currently humans can't even make peace with their own kind. A slightly different hue of skin, slightly different sky-wizard beliefs or slightly different manner of dress and it's time to bring out the missile parades. So, we'll have a virtual-intelligence race of beings that are immortal and robotic living in our midst. I can't imagine diplomatic relations surviving for long.

Why do people assume that robots would be immortal or violent?

because something that's consciousness can be backed up to fault tolerant storage is functionally immortal.

We assume it will be violent because we are.

Seriously. Terminators or Cylons. Take your pick.

 

[Z1ggy]

carldjennings[/url]":3f5ee0be]

strohminator[/url]":3f5ee0be]

RRob[/url]":3f5ee0be]They are an advertising company - as much as I like what Google has done, I feel like all their products are tainted, and I have to protect myself from them.

To be fair, they're an advertising company because that's the best way to make money with the products they currently have. I don't think anyone can seriously propose they make money on warehouse robots by putting ads on them.

Do the autonomous cars have ads?

not yet?

 

[Infidel]

Thordane[/url]":2xfyhhvy]Can't wait to see some Android brand androids.

And now it becomes clearer as to why they picked that particular name to associate as a trademark...