Get set for the rise of the machines (Robots, automation & tablets replacing human workers?)

The New York Post ^ | December 6, 2013 | Jonah Goldberg

[2ndDivisionVet]

After you heard President Obama’s call for a hike in the minimum wage, you probably wondered the same thing I did: Was Obama sent from the future by Skynet to prepare humanity for its ultimate dominion by robots?

But just in case the question didn’t occur to you, let me explain. On Tuesday, the day before Obama called for an increase in the minimum wage, the restaurant chain Applebee’s announced that it will install iPad-like tablets at every table. Chili’s already made this move earlier this year.

With these consoles customers will be able to order their meals and pay their checks without dealing with a waiter or waitress. Both companies insist that they won’t be changing their staffing levels, but if you’ve read any science fiction, you know that’s what the masterminds of every robot takeover say: “We’re here to help. We’re not a threat.”

But the fact is, the tablets are a threat....

[2ndDivisionVet]

"People don’t go into business to create jobs; they go into business to make money."

[jimmyray]

People don’t go into business to create jobs; they go into business to make money

Excellent quote. Source?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Later on in the article, actually.

[Gaffer]

If you think about it, unpaid tireless automatons performing services, manufacturing and other functions needed for capitalism to succeed is about the only way a socialist utopian dream could be achieved. Leeches served by robots so that none of them would have to ever work again.

Somehow, however, it nags at me that even if this were true, the meddling liberal would still find a way to complain and blame it on those that do not think like they do.

[jimmyray]

Duh me. I saw it once I actually started reading the article. Succinct, concise and true. Like a Proverb, even.

[mosesdapoet]

If you don’t know “Where the beef went?” Ask the tablet !?

[fatnotlazy]

Those fast food workers who want $15 an hour may find themselves unemployed. Machines won’t demand $15 an hour to do the job.

[Pontiac]

With these consoles customers will be able to order their meals and pay their checks without dealing with a waiter or waitress.

For an establishment that serves alcohol this could be a risky move.

One of the prime responsibilities of a server is to ensure that the guest does not imbibe too much for their own good. If a customer orders their own drink from the table touch pad and all the server does is bring the drink this cuts the interactions with the guest in half or more.

[T-Bird45]

Machines won’t demand $15 an hour to do the job.

The people who maintain and service the robots will become highly valued, though.

[jonrick46]

Fast food doesn’t have to have a negative connotation anymore. With our technology, a restaurant can offer gourmet quality burgers at fast food prices.

Our alpha machine replaces all of the hamburger line cooks in a restaurant.

It does everything employees can do except better:

It slices toppings like tomatoes and pickles only immediately before it places the slice onto your burger, giving you the freshest burger possible.

Our next revision will offer custom meat grinds for every single customer. Want a patty with 1/3 pork and 2/3 bison ground after you place your order? No problem.

Also, our next revision will use gourmet cooking techniques never before used in a fast food restaurant, giving the patty the perfect char but keeping in all the juices.

It’s more consistent, more sanitary, and can produce ~360 hamburgers per hour.

The labor savings allow a restaurant to spend approximately twice as much on high quality ingredients and the gourmet cooking techniques make the ingredients taste that much better.

[LibLieSlayer]

Good... these days I like people less and less.

[BCW]

So this is what we will end up looking like in the future?

[autumnraine]

And when people actually expect to do things like eat, Freepers will yell GET A JOB as if it were 20 years ago or something.

[jsanders2001]

> For an establishment that serves alcohol this could be a risky move.

Not to worry. The rich liberal Obama donor inventor entrepreneur has already thought of this with a blood alcohol sensor you have to blow in that will identify you by your saliva DNA that is linked to The Beast Citizen Database System. Humans will only be required to sterilize the mouhpieces between customers (for now).

[Dr. Sivana]

During the late 70s, we were told that robots would take all the manufacturing jobs. Yes, they do a lot of things, but there are limitations. The tightly packed iPads and notebooks are still very much put together by cheap manual labor.

I would say that the really big hit has already been in the office. Ever see old episodes of Dragnet, with armies of women hit the filing cabinets, or the stenographer pools with things typed and filed in triplicate in old line companies? They all diappeared, yet jobs in the buildings still exist. Unfortunately, the ability to do more has made government require more.

[Jonty30]

They won’t be changing staff levels, but they will be slowing hiring until they reach the appropriate staffing levels.

[knarf]

I’m glad I’m old enough to be almost dead

[Gaffer]

This just isn’t the same country in which you and I grew up.

[Gaffer]

Which part of the burger-o-tron does the spitting?

[Mr. Blond]

“Lesbian tablet stiffed on tip by homophobic diners.”