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Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by riehwvfbk on Sunday March 23, 2025 @11:17AM (#43453495)
We do, however, have computer assisted plumbers, electricians, and other technicians. With nothing more than YouTube one can fix appliances and cars, or do some DIY home improvement, and the projects that are possible are much more involved than they were in the old days. It's very hard to pick up these skills from a book, but if there's a video to walk through the process - the projects become possible.

AI-assisted plumbers will follow this archetype.

Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by teucris on Sunday March 23, 2025 @12:01PM (#43453788)
I have four books that I got from my dad - one for construction and repairs, one for electrical, one for plumbing, and one for landscaping. They’re in simple English with excellent illustrations. Using those books, I’ve been able to fix/improve pretty much everything in my house for ten years.
Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by bennettnate5 on Sunday March 23, 2025 @12:30PM (#43453938)
Could you list the titles/author of these books? I'd actually really like to get more into DIY home improvement, and having a starting reference like this would be really valuable
Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by codpiece on Sunday March 23, 2025 @06:09PM (#43456284)
I know of a couple: - How to fix damned near everything [1] - Reader's Digest Fix it yourself [2] - Audel's Carpenters and Builders guide [3]

That Audel's, my wife got me for Christmas a few years back at Lee Valley Tools, I think. Was about 1/3 of what the listed price is here.

[1] https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?ds=20&kn=how%...

[2] https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?ds=20&kn=read...

[3] https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/audels-carpenters...

Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by teucris on Sunday March 23, 2025 @10:54PM (#43457482)
The electrical and plumbing books are from a series from Home Depot called "1-2-3": "Plumbing 1-2-3" and "Wiring 1-2-3". I love them but some other posters have shared books that look even better; I plan to check them out. The construction book is "Modern Carpentry" by Willis H. Wagner. I can't find the landscaping book - haven't needed that one as much - but in my stack I noticed Reader's Digest's "Home Improvements Manual" which I've also used quite a bit.
Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by bennettnate5 on Monday March 24, 2025 @10:41AM (#43461656)
Thanks!
Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by ryandrake on Sunday March 23, 2025 @12:31PM (#43453943)
It's still a human doing it and not an AI or robot. All of these jobs are not uniform enough for a robot or AI to be able to handle everyone's uniquely built house.
Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by mistrial9 on Sunday March 23, 2025 @12:57PM (#43454130)
you also got standardized parts and plug-in systems that use them; standardized tools that were available for a reasonable cost; and you have basic health and mobility
Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by teucris on Sunday March 23, 2025 @06:56PM (#43456565)
You’re absolutely correct. The point was that I don’t need AI.
Re:Most AI value will come from broad automation, not from R&D by paulmakl on Sunday March 23, 2025 @01:31PM (#43454380)
Would love to know what these books are.