Good morning. Let’s talk about an issue that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: canine unemployment.
I thought of this as I read about the new breed of robot guard dogs that are apparently being deployed to protect data centers. These mechanical quadrupeds, made by the likes of Boston Dynamics and Ghost Robotics, can patrol premises, scanning the perimeter for intruders, spies, and other ne’er-do-wells, and sounding the alarm when holes in fences or other suspicious things are detected. To be fair, it seems like these robo-guard-dogs are still pretty rare—a Ghost Robotics executive tells Business Insider its product has been deployed at just a “handful” of datacenters.
But we all know it’s a slippery slope. After they prove their worth as guard dogs, the robots could replace search-and-rescue dogs, sled race dogs, and circus dogs. Even emotional support dogs could be out of work. And unlike the situation with humans, no one that I’m aware of is talking about keeping “canines-in-the-loop.” What happens when all these pups have nothing to do all day? Are we prepared for what lies ahead?
Today’s tech news below.
Alexei Oreskovic
