The TechMobility Podcast
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The TechMobility Podcast
Cheap Cars, Empty Stores, and Workers That Don't Need Bathroom Breaks
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Volkswagen's groundbreaking partnership with Rivian marks a pivotal moment in the democratization of electric vehicles. With a substantial $1.3 billion investment, the German automaker has accelerated its EV timeline, bringing forward the launch of its first software-defined vehicle (SDV) – the ID.1 electric minicar. Set to debut in 2027 at a remarkably affordable price point around €20,000, this compact EV aims to serve first-time buyers, older customers, and commercial delivery services.
The strategy exemplifies how established automakers are responding to the influx of low-cost Chinese EVs flooding global markets. By leveraging Rivian's cutting-edge technology rather than developing it in-house, Volkswagen demonstrates the enduring value of strategic partnerships in the automotive industry – a practice that dates back decades but takes on new significance in our electrified future.
Meanwhile, the retail landscape continues its dramatic transformation as brick-and-mortar stores increasingly function as showrooms rather than fully-stocked shopping destinations. The frustrating experience of visiting stores only to be told items must be ordered online reflects retailers' shift toward e-commerce at the expense of the traditional shopping experience. Consumer Reports brings welcome news for budget-conscious car shoppers, highlighting several excellent vehicles available under $30,000, including the Subaru Forester, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the innovative Ford Maverick pickup.
Perhaps most striking is the emergence of humanoid robots in actual workplaces. These machines are already replacing human workers in warehouses and factories, offering consistent performance without the "variables" of human needs like breaks, sick days, or fatigue. As AI advances and component costs fall, we're witnessing the early stages of a profound shift in how work gets done.
Have you encountered these changing dynamics in shopping or considered an affordable EV? Share your experience by calling our TechMobility hotline at 872-222-9793 or emailing talk@techmobilityshow.
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Speaker 2:I'm Ken Chester On the docket how the internet made store shopping miserable. Consumer reports list good new cars below $30,000, and humanoid robots get real jobs. To join the conversation by asking questions, sharing an opinion or even suggesting a topic for a future episode, call or text the Tech Mobility hotline, that number, 872-222-9793, or you can email the show directly. Talk at techmobilityshow From the Tech Mobility News Desk. It seems that Volkswagen is doing what I wish Lincoln would have done in Ford's previous tie-up with EV maker Rivian. Volkswagen also put money into Rivian, but with Rivian's help they're bringing forward the launch of the first software-defined vehicle and, may I add, lower-cost vehicle.
Speaker 2:Traditional automotive manufacturers get involved and start scaling EVs up production-wise, volume-wise, that you would see a combination of lower cost, cheaper, less expensive materials not necessarily cheaper materials, but less expensive materials and a more competitive price point, because the more vehicles they build, the more units they can spread their fixed overhead and development cost over, which lowers the price of the vehicle. Another way you can cut those costs is by teaming up with somebody who already has the technology so that you don't have to reinvent the wheel. This is the case with Volkswagen. In addition to Ford, amazon and now Volkswagen, who have all put money into Rivian and a lot of money. Ford put, I believe, 700 million, amazon put a billion and Volkswagen actually beat them all and put $5 billion with a B into the automaker, billion with a B dollars into the automaker. The fruit is what they call their first software divine vehicle, their ID Everyone Electric Minicar, and it will launch in 2027, and it looks pretty cool. Actually, it looks like a modern version of a Volkswagen Golf Rounded but yet sculptured. It looks like a modern version of a Volkswagen Golf, rounded but yet sculptured. It looks sharp.
Speaker 2:The important thing to note here is we're not talking about a vehicle that's going to be $40,000 or $50,000. An electric minicar using Rivian technology, which actually trimmed a year out of its production schedule, out of its development schedule Term. That you're going to need to get used to and you'll hear it. It's called an SDV, which is what they call a software-defined vehicle SDV. You're going to hear that more and more often as automakers make the next move to infuse AI into their vehicles and make them even more like computers than they are now. Volkswagen Group's partnership with Rivian has helped the company bring forward the launch of advanced software functions, starting with this vehicle and I misspoke. I said $5 billion, I'm sorry. Last year VW Group invested $1.3 billion, which is still a lot of money, into Rivian for intellectual property licenses, which included a contribution from the VW brand itself.
Speaker 2:But you might be asking you know this is a new term. What do we mean? How is that defined? An SDV a software-defined car. Let me define it for you. The characteristics that qualify in this case the Volkswagen ID.1, to be called an SDV include updatable, a very performant electric electronic software architecture, which is something they're doing in their joint venture with Rivian. That's how they define it that it's controlled exclusively by software. They expect this vehicle to go for the low 20s or is it's going to be sold in Europe roughly 20,000 euros, so you're right around the low 20s. Or it's going to be sold in Europe roughly 20,000 euros, so you're right around the low 20s.
Speaker 2:An EV with Rivian DNA built by Volkswagen. I told you this was going to happen and right now and we've reported on it here you can buy a very sophisticated EV in China right now for less than 15 grand and some models less than 10. And they're very sophisticated even at that price point. New, fully electric minicar. They're targeting first-time car buyers, older customers and businesses such as food delivery and healthcare service providers Think pizza delivery, think, oh, I don't know between Uber Eats and DoorDash, things like that. They will build this vehicle actually in Portugal, at its plant there, which is considered one of the company's most cost-effective factories because of the country's low labor and energy costs. They're going to make money doing this, but it's going to be a challenge, because making profitability even more challenging is that there's no derivatives. They're not going to share this with other Volkswagen siblings, which is something automakers do. They develop a chassis and they brand engineer it.
Speaker 2:The underpinnings may be in a variety of cars across a variety of brands within the stable of that particular automaker, and this is something that goes back at least 100 years. Gm did it for years between their brands Chrysler, ford Everybody's done that Toyota between Toyota and Lexus. That's not new. That is how the automaker is able to get volume and be able to recoup their development costs. That is as old as the hills.
Speaker 2:The reason why that Volkswagen teamed up with Rivian and is building this particular vehicle is they needed something to blunt the challenge, at least in Europe, at this time of the lower end of the Chinese EV revolution, which China companies are now exporting predominantly to Europe, mexico and Canada, as addition to a host of other countries. It may trickle into the United States and, given the current environment, probably not likely. But in the rest of the world, these global automakers need to be competitive and right now, in the rest of the world, evs are the way to go, regardless of your position on whether you embrace them would never. Own one doesn't meet your needs. That's fine, but every single automaker that operates at a global scale has to look at all the markets, has to consider what is desired to be competitive in the markets they choose to compete, and right now it's aimed at EVs. So the next challenge is how do we get an EV for every market segment that is priced competitively, that is sharp and compelling, that people want to own? Rivian has something. Rivian Lucid they're on to something in how they make their vehicles unique and how they engineer in the uniqueness in a way that makes sense. I've not driven a Rivian yet. I have some colleagues that have but I have driven a Lucid and it's an amazing car. Lucid Air is an amazing car. I'm hoping to get to drive a Lucid Gravity this year, which is their first SUV to get to drive a Lucid Gravity this year, which is their first SUV. It promises to be awesome and if it's anything like the car, it will be phenomenal.
Speaker 2:Automakers take the long view of everything. Because of the long lead times, because of the intense capital requirements for any model they bring the market I don't care what it is and because they compete in hundreds of different markets, most of which are outside the United States, they need to look at what's going to work. How are we going to make money? Where is the most profitable place we can build this vehicle for as little as possible and make the greatest amount of profit for our bottom line to recoup the investment that we're making. Part of that and this is also history is joint ventures. Automakers have been doing that for years. The six-speed automatic in the United States joint venture between Ford and GM. The 10-speed automatic that's in a lot of vehicles is a derivative of the 6-speed, but the core engineering was done together because the price tag to develop that new transmission just one transmission was $6 billion and the automakers needed a way to knock down their costs, mitigate their risk in a way to bring something that was better than what they had.
Speaker 2:This is not new. I just wish Lincoln had did it when Ford was looking to have this done. I think it would be a phenomenal EV for Lincoln if Ford and Lincoln went that way with Rivian. They spent the money, they made the investment. Your local retail store never seems to have anything in stock. There's an app for that. You're listening to the Tech Mobility Show.
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Speaker 2:Social media is the main place to be these days, and we are no exception. I'm Ken Chester of the Tech Mobility Show. If you enjoy my program, then you will also enjoy my weekly Facebook videos, from my latest vehicle reviews to timely commentary of a variety of mobility and technology-related topics. These short features are designed to inform and delight. You Be sure to watch, like and follow us on Facebook. You can find us by typing the Tech Mobility Show in the search bar. Be sure to subscribe to our Facebook page. Social media is the place to be these days, and we're no exception. I'm Ken Chester of the Tech Mobility Show. If you enjoy my program, then you will also enjoy my weekly Instagram videos, from the latest vehicle reviews to timely commentary on a variety of mobility and technology-related topics. These short features are designed to inform and delight. You Be sure to watch, like and follow us on Instagram. You can find us by typing the Tech Mobility Show in the search bar.
Speaker 2:For those of you that listen to podcasts, we have just the one for you. Hi, I'm Ken Chester. Tech Mobility Topics is a podcast where I upload topic-specific videos each week. Shorter than a full show. These bite-sized programs are just the thing, particularly if you're interested in a particular topic covered on the weekly radio show, from Apple Podcasts to iHeartRadio and many podcast platforms in between, we got you covered. Just enter Tech Mobility Topics in the search bar, wherever you listen to podcasts.
Speaker 4:The all-new Gallant brings thoughtful details to every corner of its cabin. These are a few of my favorite things Twin cup holders for driver and passenger, extra storage under the armrest, a rear seat that folds down, brown paper packages tied up with. Even the trunk has a trunk in the all-new Gallant. My favorite thing From Mitsubishi the new thinking in automobiles.
Speaker 2:That was 1994. Two things. Number one, the Gallant was one of Mitsubishi's best sedans ever built. That midsize, family-size sedan was excellent as long as for many years as they made it. It's just too bad things turned out the way they did. Second of all, I thought I honest to God thought that the Volvo commercial for the XC40 with the young lady singing a special rendition of a few of my favorite things, just to snip it was the first time that was used in an auto commercial Did not know that 10 or 15 years before it was actually used in a Mitsubishi commercial Fun fact. I did not know that 10 to 15 years before it was actually used in a Mitsubishi commercial Fun fact. I did not know that. And now you know it too.
Speaker 2:So let me ask you have you had this experience? You visit an actual bricks and mortar store looking for a particular item, only to be told that not only is it not in stock, but you can buy it online? Yeah, me too, and it's not okay. It seems that this is the downside of e-commerce. Over the last 25 years or so Welcome to Topic A In order to be competitive in the e-commerce world, retailers went all in on e-commerce.
Speaker 2:I mean all in. They were competing primarily against, at that time, amazon, now a host of other folks, including Timu and Wayfair and a host of others that they're competing against, and they reasoned that what made the most sense was to give the online shopper the greatest amount of choice possible. Now, while that sounds like it makes a lot of sense on the surface, it has some drawbacks. Let me give you one, particularly when it comes to clothes. If you're kind of a touchy-feely person, and particularly if you have a unique size requirement for the type of clothes that you either prefer or you like to wear, or you find it hard to find because you're difficult to fit, then usually it's been your experience that you would want to try it on before you bought it For so many different reasons, particularly if you are a particular size or looking particular type of clothes, where size is more a suggestion than an actual hardcore fact, and that there are variations in what they call a size pick. Any size In the e-commerce world, they would still gladly sell you that item, but if it don't fit now you've got to go through the hassle of sending it back, trying to get a refund, packaging it and, depending on the store, there may be a restock fee, depending on what it is. They may or may not take it back. So you've got all this extra problem. As retailers made the investments in e-commerce, they reasoned that they could not be strong in both places, so they skewed their variety, they skewed what they had available towards e-commerce, which means their stores. And bear in mind, this is prior to AI and there's a reason why I'm mentioning that their stores didn't stock everything that you could get online.
Speaker 2:Now, I mentioned clothes, but I've had this happen with technical stuff, with stuff I wanted, well, and other stuff that was locked up. And I'm like, really, I just bought a few items recently. What did I buy At a major retailer? They weren't super fancy items. They were in their tech part of the store. Oh yeah, I wanted an extension for my Android's phone. I wanted a cord. My cord failed. I wanted a new cord. It was under lock and key. It's a $ a cord. My cord failed. I wanted a new cord. It was under lock and key. It's a $10 item, my goodness really. And then I looked for a wired keyboard, a USB keyboard that wasn't under lock and key, and then I needed I'm not even making this up. I wanted a toner cartridge, a regular vanilla toner cartridge, a $47 toner cartridge. They had it under lock and key. I'm like are you serious right now? And that's when you can get this stuff, they claim.
Speaker 2:Retailers claim that the practice of being out of stock like that but available online is so common They've got a name for it. Some call it SOS save our sale, other ones call it retail gymnastics, and if you're looking for a particular thing, that's exactly what it is. The consulting firm Alix Partners studied 30 retailers and found, on the average, only 9% of their online women's clothing assortment was available in physical stores. For department stores it was even worse. The percentage was 7%, and if it was a mass merchant, still even worse, at 2%. The only type of store that had better numbers was the specialty retailers, but even they basically had a third of their stuff available.
Speaker 2:Now their argument is that it's hard to determine where to ship inventory, store to store in terms of what will sell what won't, because that gets into carrying costs of inventory laying around not selling. That's tying company money up. If they have a central warehouse where everything is, then it does not matter, because it's all there and it's being shipped, not just all over the country, but theoretically all over the world, and the costs are way less in some areas because they don't have inventory sitting dead. However, what they save in not shipping into the stores is eaten up in shipping costs. So how do you win? Packing and shipping eat it up. So if you're a retailer, do you ship it? If I have 150 stores across the United States, do I know? Will I send my full catalog to every single store? Probably not. But what if you're in one of those stores and exactly what you want is in the catalog but not in the store? But they tell you hey, gee, look, we can ship this stuff to you. Just go online or take a picture of this QR code.
Speaker 2:America is a economy of. I want it now, I want to sample it now, I want to take it home now. If I go out shopping, I want the instant gratification of buying what I went out to buy now. I don't want to wait for it. Instant gratification of buying what I went out to buy now. I don't want to wait for it. Not even a day, not even a day. So, while e-commerce has its advantages and companies have gone to great lengths, some company representatives will actually argue maybe they went a little too far and the pandemic has a lot to blame for that, because when nobody was out, everybody was ordering online, so they put all their eggs in one basket and the bricks and mortar stores starved.
Speaker 2:Now there are some standouts who have managed to keep shopping fun. One of these, nordstrom. Is known for superior service, and customers love hunting through the racks at TJ Maxx looking for a deal Full disclosure. My wife is one of them. For Valentine's Day I actually bought her a $75 gift card at TJ Maxx and, trust me, that was like Christmas for her Christmas time. She is a shopper who is into the tactile experience of shopping. She wants to buy it. She doesn't want to necessarily order it. She wants to go in the store, find it, experience it, buy it, bring it home. And there are a lot of people like her. So what do you do? Companies are trying to revisit and rejiggle. I think AI will help that. We'll see when new car prices at record highs you can still buy a decent new car for much less. Consumer Reports shows the way.
Speaker 2:This is the Tech Mobility Show. Do you listen to podcasts? Seems that most people do. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. If you've missed any of our weekly episodes on the radio, our podcast is a great way to listen. You can find the TechMobility podcast just about anywhere. You can enjoy podcasts. Be sure to follow us from Apple Podcasts, iheartradio and many platforms in between. We are there. Just enter the TechMobility podcast in the search bar. Wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen to podcasts, social media it's the place to be. We're no exception. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. Several times a week I post to TikTok several of the topics that I cover on my weekly radio show. It's another way to keep up on mobility technology news and information. I've built quite a library of short videos for your viewing pleasure, so be sure to watch, like and subscribe. That's the Tech Mobility Show on TikTok. Check it out.
Speaker 2:Here's a number for you $49,740. That is the average transaction price for a new vehicle according to Kelly Blue Book in December 2024, near the all-time high. So we're talking theoretically $50,000 average price transaction price for a new vehicle. That's not sticker price. Sticker price is where you start. Transaction price is the money they actually paid if there was a trade involved. Money down. This is what they actually paid. This is actual deal. This is what the deal came in, at $49,740 on average, and if you're doing the math roughly, you're looking at over $800 a month for the standard 60-month loan, which is why loans now are 66, 72, and God forbid 84-month loans, which are totally ridiculous. But this is where we're at now in order to make them affordable.
Speaker 2:What if I told you that there are some top-performing vehicles you can buy smack brand new for $30,000 or less? I'm only going to talk about the ones Consumer Reports said tested well, but there is a slew of them and, ironically, most of them are cars. And why is that? Because cars number one. The platforms which most of these vehicles have been built on have been built on forever, which means most of the heavy development costs have been paid, which means that they could be priced competitively. And to be honest with you in reviews that I've been doing over probably the last year, typical price for a decent new sedan and I'm talking about a mid-size sedan is probably between $28,000 and $35,000 brand new. And if you sharpen your pencil on that sticker price which means if you sharpen your pencil, you got to trade in you won't put some money down. You should be able to beat that price down to the low to mid-20s Maybe a little less, maybe a little more, depending on your situation. The number one vehicle that Consumer Reports just whacks elegant about is the Subaru Forester, and no doubt you've probably seen Subaru brag about that in their own commercials and no doubt you've probably seen Subaru brag about that in their own commercials. Here's something that I'm probably going to take some flack on, but this is not me. This is Consumer Reports saying this and I'm going to read it literally from the story and I quote Electrification, notably gasoline-electric hybrids, are becoming more of a viable option for US consumers looking for value, safety, reliability and performance in a new car or light truck.
Speaker 2:A majority of Consumer Reports' top model choices for 2025 have electrified variants, and many feature sticker prices and transaction prices below the industry average. Their latest report citing the top 10 vehicles and key segments includes seven models with electrified variants, six with hybrid options and one fully electric. This marks an increase from the six models with electrified variants that populated the Consumer Reports' top 10 picks in 2024. The combined I'm sorry, the continued presence of electrified vehicles on the list means that automakers are getting comfortable with designing, engineering and producing such models Time and time again. Once they start to scale and they learn how to do it and they start building thousands of them, hundreds of thousands of them, they will only get better.
Speaker 2:Let me start with the Consumer Reports 2025 top pick by category small car. We're talking from 21.5 to 24.5,. Nissan Sentra and the Sentra has been a nameplate that's been around forever and has been reliable forever subcompact crossover and you've seen the commercials. I know you have Subaru Crosstrek 25 810 to 32 610, meaning you find one new if you can. You can make a deal and imagine if you found one one or two years old, say, off-lease, probably even a little less, and a really waxed, eloquent and oh, by the way, the Crosstek does come in a hybrid variant. Mid-size car, and this is no surprise to nobody. The only surprise here in the mid-sized car category is the fact that you can buy the car for less than 30 grand. Mid-sized car no surprise. Top of the list.
Speaker 2:Consumer reports. Toyota Camry which, starting in 2025, the only way you could buy a Camry was in a gasoline hybrid. They didn't make pure gasoline Camrys anymore. If you bought a new Camry today, you would be buying a hybrid, and that has been Toyota's strategy for some other models also, including the Sienna minivan. It is a brilliant strategy because you get the best of both worlds you get extended range, lower maintenance and it's a Toyota, which means it's bulletproof $28,700 to $36,425, and, may I add, built in the United States of America, in Georgetown, kentucky.
Speaker 2:Thought you should know that Compact crossover, the one that they are just gushing over. Subaru Forester consumer report says the forester, redesigned for 2025, is better than ever. Consumer report says it's still roomier than it appears, with a noticeably quieter cabin and more cargo space than the previous model. That is from consumer reports. The cost to own this 29, 8, 10 to 395. So it's right up against $30,000, but it's way less than $47,000. Way, way less than $49,000.
Speaker 2:Here's one small pickup, and I've got to say amen to this because it's brilliant, most brilliant thing the Ford company ever did. The most brilliant thing the Ford company ever did five years ago was bring out the Ford Maverick small pickup truck, and what they did was the least expensive one was a hybrid. The sticker price on that, when I reviewed it several years ago, was $19,995. As a result, that vehicle was sold out for two years. You couldn't get one, and I don't know that it's improved even since then the Maverick or the Maverick Hybrid. And even if you chose the gasoline version, you could still tow I believe it was 2,000 pounds, I don't remember what the Hybrid would tow, but you could still tow at least a ton. So you can even take a little pop up or, you know you even your little, your little boat behind you and the thing was well made. Ford did not skimp on that thing. It was not cheap and the fuel economy was ridiculous. I remember reviewing this vehicle in Nashville, tennessee, driving down the interstate at highway speed excuse me, elevated highway speed watching my gas mileage actually go up in real time, not go down, go up, improve, phenomenal vehicle.
Speaker 2:There are other vehicles in the list but they do cross the 30,000 range the Maverick 26,995 to $40,750. Here's what I'll tell you about the Maverick Buy the hybrid, get out your pencil, order the thing. You may have to wait for it, but I'm telling you it's well worth the while. Even though prices have increased since its launch, it's still a heck of a value and it's aimed at urban folk anyway and first time owners and it's really, really good. I've reviewed several and I still think the world of them. I think it was the right truck for the right time for somebody who needed some utility more utility than an SUV, more utility than a car, but didn't want a minivan or a big truck. Mavericks, you're one. Those are the ones that are $30,000 or less. If you want to spend a little more money, you could spend the Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid. It runs from $44,000 to $48,000. And then there are others. After years of prototypes, testing and pilot programs, humanoid robots are getting ready to report to work.
Speaker 2:We are the Tech Mobility Show. To learn more about the Tech Mobility Show, start by visiting our website. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. The website is a treasure trove of information about me and the show, as well as where to find it on the radio across the country. Keep up with the happenings of the Tech Mobility Show by visiting techmobilityshow. That's techmobilityshow. You can also drop us a line at talk at techmobility dot show. Did you know that TechMobility has a YouTube channel? Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the TechMobility show. Each week, I upload a few short videos of some of the hot topics that I cover during my weekly radio program. I've designed these videos to be informative and entertaining. It's another way to keep up on current mobility and technology news and information. Be sure to watch, like and subscribe to my channel. That's the Tech Mobility Show on YouTube. Check it out.
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Speaker 2:Social media is the place to be these days, and we're no exception. I'm Ken Chester of the Tech Mobility Show. If you enjoy my program, then you will also enjoy my weekly Instagram videos, from the latest vehicle reviews to timely commentary on a variety of mobility and technology-related topics. These short features are designed to inform and delight you. Be sure to watch, like and follow us on Instagram. You can find us by typing the Tech Mobility Show in the search bar.
Speaker 2:After years of testing and development, humanoid robots are taking their place in warehouses and on or near assembly lines on the factory floor. Make no mistake, this new generation of robots are in fact replacing actual human beings. This is actually happening in real time. It's not a thought process or a probability or possible. It's happening right now. So here's a question Should we be concerned? This is topic C. I'm looking at a Wall Street Journal article. It talks about a pair of human-shaped robots made by Agility Robotics, and it's working in a warehouse that basically stocks Spanx clothing, and these robots stoop to retrieve bins full of Spanx shapewear and then carry them to a nearby conveyor belt. While their jobs may be straightforward and menial, these digit robots are a direct replacement for the humans who would otherwise be doing this work. They're also a flexible bridge between the other less versatile automated machines common in warehouses and factories. In this way, a humanoid robot like Digit represents the next step in an evolution that stretches back to the invention of the assembly line, and that was back in 1913.
Speaker 2:In the speed up and automation of processes, essentially commerce, manufacturing, agriculture and every other part of our physical and built environment. Where are we going? As we get more technical as a society, as we get used to, accustomed to instant gratification, whether it's e-commerce or whatever we do. Business is developing the machinery and the ways to get what you want when you want it, however possible. In doing that, they're eliminating the variables.
Speaker 2:Well, guess what? Human beings are very variable. We get tired, we get hurt, we get sick. We actually want to go home after eight hours. We want to take a break. We've got to go to the bathroom. We come in late, we leave early, all these things. We've got to go to the bathroom, we come in late, we leave early, all these things.
Speaker 2:Imagine if you could streamline the process and get machinery in those places where those variables are eliminated. Just the return of time. Let's go a little further Human beings as parts of a system, be it an assembly system, a warehousing system, a transportation system. We're variable. We get tired, sometimes we're accurate, sometimes we're less so, sometimes we see it, sometimes we screw up, we make a mistake, we put the wrong thing in the wrong place or we miss it completely, or we miss it completely. Imagine robotic, humanoid robotics that don't get tired, that don't screw up, that don't need a break. How much more production, work value could you get out of them?
Speaker 2:I go back to Detroit because the auto industry is what I know. I've been in a number of assembly plants and I can tell you just the difference. The reason why the vehicle you drive today in part is rattle-free, doesn't squeak, doesn't groan, is because it's machines and automated welders that are welding those bodies together 64, 72, 84 jobs an hour, each and every hour of each and every day that plant is open. They don't vary. They've been programmed to weld a certain way, to put ceiling in a certain way, and they do it every single job, every single time. If you've seen the videos back in the day of men welding, how could different men weld the exact same way every job, every time, every day, every week? The answer they didn't. As a result, the vehicles built back in the day were not as tight, were not as rattle-free, were not as perfect as vehicles are today. So what we're looking at is going from purpose-built stationary machinery on the line that's programmed to do a variety of things to humanoid robots that could be programmed to even be in different parts of the factory during different parts of the day, doing stuff completely different, but being able to mimic human function because, let's face it, our factories, our plants, our warehouses are designed for us. So, if the humanoid robots can reflect a human being, yet be better and more consistent, because, whether you like it or not, I don't care how technical, how efficient you are, you are not as efficient or as consistent as a humanoid robot. But do understand, and I agree with you, they're only as good as their programming. But once you get the programming right, imagine that. So what's going on here? Well, according to this article, as global demand for new kinds of robots have shot up, mass manufacturing and falling costs for components are making them cheaper to produce Just as important new kinds of AI, some close kin to the kind that has upended priorities of the tech companies and governments since the debut of Chad GPT, are animating robot bodies in ways that simply weren't possible a few years ago they like to use.
Speaker 2:When they talk about humanoid robots they use a term that I find uncomfortable and they talk about. It depends on their quote body plan, unquote Meaning that they may sort of be humanoid but might actually be hybrids of the humanoid experience. They might have wheels, or they may have different things and places there instead of hands. They sort of might look humanoid partly but function in much different ways. While purpose-built robots continue to proliferate, be they wheeled conveyances or jog-shaped machines carrying guns God help us the advantages of a body plan like what I just talked about are beginning to carve out a niche for humanoid robots, because after all, like I said just a minute ago, the world is built for things that look and move like we do Full of stairs, gangway shelves to shoulder height, sight lines at eye level. So falling to the humanoid form makes it easier to slot robots into existing roles. Then there are the more subtle advantages of the human form. For example, we can pick up a heavy load by kind of levering them over our bent legs. By contrast, a robot with wheels and arms would have a much wider and heavier base to keep from tipping over.
Speaker 2:More than a dozen startups worldwide are now offering humanoid robots and I'm sorry I can't get past the movie I Robot with Will Smith. I can't. I see that day coming. Humanoid robots, I just see that coming. And with AI, my question is will it get sentient? Will it get self-aware? Will it be sapient? And if so, what does that mean? The thinkers in this space and the ethical folks we covered this at length think it's some years off, but the way things are moving, particularly with AI, I think it's a lot closer than even they realize, particularly with the recent breakthrough from the Chinese company that developed AI, as good as what big tech is doing for way less money, way less money and way less energy. If they could do it, what else is lurking out there? It's only a matter of time. But, yes, these humanoid forms are working in factories right now. We've come to the end of our visit. Be sure to join me again next time, right here. This has been the Tech Mobility Show.
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Speaker 2:For those of you that listen to podcasts, we have just the one for you. Hi, I'm Ken Chester. Tech Mobility Topics is a podcast where I upload topic-specific videos each week. Shorter than a full show. These bite-sized programs are just the thing, particularly if you're interested in a particular topic covered on the weekly radio show. From Apple Podcasts to iHeartRadio and many podcast platforms in between, we got you covered. Just enter TechMobility topics in the search bar. Wherever you listen to podcasts, social media, it's the place to be. We're no exception. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. Several times a week, I post to TikTok several of the topics that I cover on my weekly radio show. It's another way to keep up on mobility, technology news and information. I've built quite a library of short videos for your viewing pleasure, so be sure to watch, like and subscribe. That's the Tech Mobility Show on TikTok. Check it out. To learn more about the Tech Mobility Show, start by visiting our website. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. The website is a treasure trove of information about me and the show, as well as where to find it on the radio across the country. Keep up with the happenings at the Tech Mobility Show by visiting techmobilityshow. That's techmobilityshow. You can also drop us a line at talk at techmobilityshow.
Speaker 2:Do you listen to podcasts? Seems that most people do. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. If you missed any of our weekly episodes on the radio, our podcast is a great way to listen. You can find the Tech Mobility Podcast just about anywhere. You can enjoy podcasts. Be sure to follow us from Apple Podcasts, iheart Radio and many platforms in between. We are there. Just enter the Tech Mobility Podcast in the search bar, wherever you listen to.
