"One of my responsibilities as commander-in-chief is to keep an eye on robots"

[somone]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2387574,00.asp

Obama Announces $70M Robotics Initiative

At least we know that Skynet still has a bit more work ahead of it before the walking, shooting cyborgs from James Cameron's Terminator 2 become reality. And you can thank President Obama for that.

"You might not know this, but one of my responsibilities as commander-in-chief is to keep an eye on robots," said Obama in a speech at Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Engineering Center Friday. "And I'm pleased to report that the robots you manufacture here seem peaceful. At least for now."

Let's hope that stays true, as Obama also announced that the U.S. is launching brand-new $70 million initiative "to accelerate the development and use of robots in the United States that work beside, or cooperatively with, people." Dubbed the National Robotics Initiative, the plan is backed by a smattering of important governmental acronym-agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The end goals of the program are a little nebulous so far, as it's unclear whether the ultimate purpose of the initiative is to try and integrate robotics into consumer lifestyles or accelerate the use of robots in industrial lines of work. The initiative will partly research just how robots and humans can work together in innovative and symbiotic ways –perhaps even how they could become friends?

[WinkyDink]

1. Yeah, friends. Right. Won't inflatable dolls get jealous?

[emilyg]

14. ATM's will get jealous.

[booksenkatz]

2. Robots?! I don't even know why the scientists MAKE them!

http://www.robotcombat.com/video_oldglory_hi.html

[Ian David]

3. I'm not afraid. My life insurance policy has a robot clause.

[MineralMan]

4. I demand full and equal rights for our robot brothers and sisters!

:rofl:

[hootinholler]

6. I know a woman that wanted to marry her

Sybian. Not really much of a robot, but what it does it does so well.

-Hoot

[MineralMan]

8. LOL!

A guy just can't compete, you know...

[hootinholler]

10. Unfortunately

I do know. :rofl:

-Hoot

[GeorgeGist]

5. Keep an eye on this ...

They're serial killers of innocents including children.

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. THAT is not a robot.

It is an airplane with a pilot elsewhere.

[Rex]

9. What pray tell is that? Not a drone.

'Smart' missile?

[A HERETIC I AM]

13. It's a Northrop Grumman RQ-4 "Global Hawk"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_RQ-4_Global_Hawk

Remotely Piloted Aircraft or "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle"

[Rex]

15. Ya I wouldn't consider it a robot either.

Now if the thing could fly itself and decide on mission priorities without human assistance, then I would.

[Morning Dew]

11. That kind of thinking worked so well for Miles Dyson.

[MikeMc]

12. I believe Skynet was the bad-guy computer system in the Terminator movies. nt

[MilesColtrane]

16. Asimov's Three Laws are not just a good idea, they should be statutory.

Alas, the Pentagon would never permit them.