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Re:Ex-Googler's startup comes out of stealth with simple, cl... by pftburger on Tuesday July 14, 2020 @06:42AM (#23830387)
The killer app here is tele-operated cleaning, with a monthly subscription model. I actually dont think it will replace your aforementioned 4h/week cleaner, just augment it with daily tasks.

Trying to stay as ethics neutral here.

We will probably see something like "Human assisted AI" with a sliding scale from mostly human to mostly AI for various tasks at various stages of development. The operators will be sourced where work is cheap, like Amazon Mechanical Turk.

Once VC gets it they'll fund the first few generations of bots on optimism alone.

Honestly who cares if it cant do everything. Nor can robotic vacuum cleaners and I have three.

@spykie So what if it cant go up stairs, have robots on each level. If it cant pick its self up, have multiple, let them help. Most things it cleans are light, so no problem there either. Cant interact buttons? Give it a rotating toolhead.

@bArray it doesn't need to operate autonomously, see the Human assisted AI argument. With good UX one remote operator will control five or six bots at once, tagging objects, issuing instructions. Give the User a good AR app, let them issue location based instruction around the house that the "AI" (remote operator) will slowly handle during the day.

Honestly, this space will be a primary design driver soon. I cant totally see IKEA making robot compatible cupboards.

If this space isn't huge I will be incredibly surprised.

Re:Ex-Googler's startup comes out of stealth with simple, cl... by shpongled on Tuesday July 14, 2020 @11:45AM (#23833290)
Sometimes I read things on HN and wonder if I'm living in some alternate universe by myself. I would never in a million years, allow someone else to remote-operate a robot in my house. The idea of even allowing something above Roomba-level intelligence in my living area is a no-go.
Re:Ex-Googler's startup comes out of stealth with simple, cl... by chosenbreed37 on Tuesday July 14, 2020 @12:04PM (#23833545)
> Sometimes I read things on HN and wonder if I'm living in some alternate universe by myself. I would never in a million years, allow someone else to remote-operate a robot in my house. The idea of even allowing something above Roomba-level intelligence in my living area is a no-go.

Mmm...I guess it's fair to assume that the IQ of a human cleaner is superior to anything resembling a Roomba. Would you hire a human cleaner and grant them access to your living area? And if so would you be monitoring their every move while they go about the job?

Re:Ex-Googler's startup comes out of stealth with simple, cl... by shpongled on Tuesday July 14, 2020 @01:20PM (#23834808)
No issues with humans being in my house. There is just something abjectly dystopian about robots (imo).
Re:Ex-Googler's startup comes out of stealth with simple, cl... by chansiky on Tuesday July 14, 2020 @09:30AM (#23831688)
Yeah I agree, I think this space is huge. Imagine two or three generations down, someone from a poorer country using some form of VR tool with this, maybe with two arms instead of one, navigating your airbnb rental, cleaning counter tops, doing laundry, and organizing your stuff, and then jumping to the next appointment and doing it over and over for a solid days wage for their respective economy. With someone manning the bot, I see this being far more flexible than just your robot vaccum. They might not be able to do as many things as well as an in-person maid, but for 80% of tasks they might be able to do it good enough.
Re:Ex-Googler's startup comes out of stealth with simple, cl... by monkeydust on Tuesday July 14, 2020 @03:04PM (#23836248)
Sounds depressing for the worker here, yes it's a job but only because AI isn't far advanced to replace them yet.
Re:Ex-Googler's startup comes out of stealth with simple, cl... by LordDragonfang on Wednesday July 15, 2020 @02:23AM (#23841970)
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that sentiment could be used to describe between 80 and 95% of the global job market. Most jobs suck, otherwise you wouldn't have to pay people to do them.
Re:Ex-Googler's startup comes out of stealth with simple, cl... by chansiky on Tuesday July 14, 2020 @04:56PM (#23837750)
Do you mean depressing like Amazon warehouse workers? Or do you mean more like Uber drivers?

Bezos & company aren't exactly considering the plights of their employees/independent contractors for their quarterly financial report.

Is it bad that I rank how successful a venture might be based on how many jobs it might destroy?

Re:Ex-Googler's startup comes out of stealth with simple, cl... by kaetemi on Tuesday July 14, 2020 @08:41AM (#23831156)
Killer app... Exterminate!