Our automated future

So I’m at Walmart the other day minding my own business. I manage to turn the corner seeking to feed my soda craving. And what do I see?? This thing:

I know this bot has been around for some time but personally the first encounter. So like the geek that I am I began to follow and observe. I guess this bot is an inventory manager.

It was pretty neat to watch it scan and process. Although I was wondering if it knew it was being followed.:) This encounter got me thinking. How many more of these bots will be rolled out? And what happens when a big employer like Walmart goes full blown robotic?

And what will become of our automated future? Drones, chat bots, synthetics, self driving AI, etc.. Will we be excited for the change? Or will the chants turn to “These robots are taking all our jobs”?

And I know what some are thinking. Full automation is a decade away. Nothing to see here. However, I beg to differ. Like any shocking change these events happen in waves. And usually when no one is paying attention.