are we sure we want to outsource the welding?
The Register when someone informs them of robotic welders in vehicle manufacturing:
this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2025
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Until these things are actually building skyscrapers in hours, I'm not concerned.
There are ways that humans can build skyscrapers in a matter of a couple of weeks. We just don't tend to do it because time isn't really an important factor and it's expensive.
I'm sure we could make skyscraper building robots capable of completing the construction in a matter of hours, I'm just not sure where the utility in doing that is.
They keep trying that but they are not working out. Like all those pancakes concrete house printers. Just failing
I was at a conference, and they were making AI-based vehicles around boat docks - since they said they couldn’t find workers to drive trucks everyday in the port. And also, they were discussing about AI machines doing way more than just 1 thing (like what we currently have).
I know they already have AI controlled cargo container cranes (the big square ones you see at docks). That's a pretty easy task to automate since the manifest will already contain all of the information about all of the containers.
"AI-powered" and "20 foot robots" are not phrases that should be used in the same sentence. Also, surely leasing an autonomous robot for $20k a month is more expensive than leasing a regular machine and hiring a worker or two to operate it. Construction workers aren't paid anywhere near $240k a year, and you'll need someone with an emergency stop button watching the autonomous robot anyways.
That’s why it won’t happen. Plus the rich have an interest in keeping you in your place.
I thought the rich had an interest in replacing everyone.
Presumably their end goal is to reduce the human population to themselves and their mates.
the robot doesn't need sleep, won't get sick, and could (assuming they actually want to be competitive with human labor) require fewer safety precautions on the site (just make the entire area where the robots are as being hazardous and ensure that things won't fall out of it) allowing for a roof to be constructed before the walls then building the walls underneath it.
You've never worked construction, at least not on the GC level. You'd be flabbergasted by how much human input and decision-making there is in any building. Constant discussions about constructibility, safety, value, coordination, and on an on. A lot of these discussion lean on experience of the construction team. Robots can't replace experience of construction workers period. There's far too many variables that robots or people who have never been "in the field" can't account for.
Some parts of construction have been helped by automation (see layout robots, CNC cabinetry fabricators, etc.) but that's drop in the bucket of a massive industry. The human element will not be removed from construction.
I've often wondered why big businesses particularly supermarkets have preferred designs. After all as you say every environment is different, so it's not like they can just have pre-completed parts.
Yea, well...for the heavy lifting it could be nice. But I'm not letting AI build my house.
Lifting heay crap to the roof or something like that? Sure. That is what machines are good at.
Welding? Well welding robots have existed for long time, they just need to programmed perfectly. I've worked with a couple of them, the results are not always consistent and they required some quality checks. It is easier. Manual welding takes more skill and takes longer. I just don't need the AI part though. That makes it unpredictable. And if I let a robot do something, it should be predictable.
I do woodworking and fixing around the house. Even when building new stuff, there are always issues that you have to solve on the spot. Walls that are not straight, angles that are not perfect, spaces you cannot reach et cetera.
As long as AI does not get it 100% right every time it is not touching my house. And yes, a professional doesn't reach that rate either, but at least they know and doublecheck themselves and know how to fix things.
What to I do? I'm a construction worker. Yeah I work construction. Early in the morning I press this button on my phone to start the robots. Then I run around with this brush and backup vacuum cleaning all the rolling surfaces. Yup, that's construction alright!
What do I do? I‘m a cooker. Yeah I cook meals. Early in the morning I press this button and meals get ready and dishes cleaned and served. That’s cooking today.
I love it old school. Cooking on a stove, cleaning dishes by hand and peeling vegetables manually. Automation is evil, you know, it takes jobs. That’s why I cook on a stove
Lol, you don't love modern cooking.... Go to Amazon and buy a new one when the old one burns out?
No they're not.
Fake news.