The robots aren’t just coming soon... they are here, they’ve been here and only now you are starting to see them. Think that nice car in your driveway was built by your neighbor down the street with a hammer and some tin snips? Or Alexa hasn't been building your personal profile in a database to sell you more products while helping Amazon learn the tastes of certain demographics?
When I say robots, I am talking about automation, AI, self-driving vehicles, etc. And their development is happening at a rapid pace.
Some think it's scary. I get it. Losing control of the environment around you to an algorithm and a microchip takes some getting used to. As humans, we typically get skeptical and untrustworthy. We must. Skepticism is what has kept us alive for a couple thousand years. The cave man that witnessed his buddy pet a lion set the tone. We want to run to what we know, what is comfortable, what we (think) we can control.
It's About Time for Bots and Automation
But we are living in an exciting time. We are watching an evolution of how humans will live their lives, build homes, farm food, cure disease, work and play. These times are almost relatable to the introduction of electricity. Life changed. Time was freed up to do other things. Yes, we filled this time with more productivity, but that is the way it works. Nobody builds great things sitting on the couch watching Netflix.
Sure, there is always a chance that ‘the bots’ create something sinister and we end up in a real-life Terminator movie, but hopefully this isn't the case and we aren't looking for Arnold Schwarzenegger to fight the good fight. But that is life, just about anything can be a weapon in the wrong hands.
Nvidia Makes Another Mark
Last week marked another eye-opening moment as the CEO of Nvidia (aka the most influential chip maker in the AI revolution), Jensen Huang, spoke to investors and the world. Mr. Huang gave the world the low-down on what’s coming. I have outlined the cliff notes below and a few notes of translation:
NVIDIA introduced the GeForce RTX 50 Series powered by the new Blackwell architecture.
Translation: They created chips that will be driven by AI to enhance realism even more for gamers and creators (yes, even more real).
Cosmos AI Platform: Huang announced Cosmos, a platform designed to advance “physical AI” by generating photorealistic videos from inputs like text.
Translation: This new platform will allow cost effective solutions for virtual training of autonomous vehicles and robots. No need to throw a human into experiment mode.
Project DIGITS: NVIDIA unveiled Project DIGITS, a desktop AI supercomputer aimed at developers and AI enthusiasts.
Translation: A $3,000 supercomputer in your office to run large AI models, no cloud needed. Is there anything else to say?
Partnership with Toyota: NVIDIA is collaborating with Toyota to develop next-generation autonomous vehicles.
Translation: Let’s pair up just about the highest quality brand of vehicles with state-of-the-art AI tech. For both parties, this is like having Elon Musk over to help your kid with his science fair project. Take my money.
Life Changing for Many
The one demographic I often think about when it comes to the benefits of autonomy is the one that is likely the most removed from technology - our elders. The ability to be mobile is a massive hindrance to those who had their keys taken away. Those who need to call a neighbor or their kids to take them to the grocery store, a friend's house or a doctor's appointment.
The kind of autonomous vehicles that are on the horizon could change the lives of many who need them. When Grandma needs to run to the eye doctor - just call a car. That car has nothing else to do, unlike you with a full-time job and a kid's hockey schedule. One example of how liberating and healthy technology could be.
Many of us love nostalgia. Old cars, simple technology, even fixing things on our own. But we all wish we had more time to do things that we find important. 'Send the lawnmower out to cut the lawn, I am going to get my workout in. While you are at it, put an Instacart order in and have the autonomous delivery service drop it off, I have to finish up a meeting in the meantime.'
Time won't wait. If technology can allow me more of it, sign me up. My clock is ticking like everyone else's.
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