Baxter The Worker Robot Puts In The Hours So You Don’t Have To

While I doubt this guy will replace the Homer Simpsons of the world, Baxter by Boston-based Rethink Robotics is a robot that could definitely give the average button pushers a run for their money. The $22,000 robot essentially does chores. You tell it to stand in a room and watch something or to pack boxes and, with some programming, it can get the job done. Then you move Baxter to the next task - and the next - until he forms a union. Baxter does simple tasks like machine tending, loading and unloading, and finishing operations. The people who once did the repetitive work Baxter does can simply teach Baxter to help (or replace) them in a few minutes. As one wag notes on Youtube, "$22,000. One year of mediocre pay for a human but no taxes, health insurance, HR overhead, parking? spots..."

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