BMW Testing Humanoid Robots, Giving ‘I, Robot’ Vibes

It's like a moment straight from a sci-fi movie. BMW is testing general-purpose humanoid robots at a plant in South Carolina. A California-based AI robotics company Figure has announced a new commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing.

According to the announcement, the robots "enable the automation of difficult, unsafe, or tedious tasks throughout the manufacturing process." In their news release, the companies say these robots will allow "employees to focus on skills and processes that cannot be automated, as well as continuous improvement in production efficiency and safety."

The BMW Manufacturing facility in South Carolina, the company's sole US-based plant, assembles approximately 1,500 X-series and XM-series vehicles daily. Currently employing around 11,000 people, it stands as the largest automotive exporter in the US by value, having an export value of $9.6 billion.

The specific number of Figure's humanoids and the tasks they will do have yet to be disclosed by both companies. However, Figure CEO Brett Adcock, in a statement to Reuters, indicated that the partnership will commence with "small quantities" and may expand based on performance outcomes. The Reuters report outlines a deployment timeline, allowing Figure to train the robots for specific tasks. Training and integration into BMW's processes could take 12 to 24 months, depending on identified uses.

Companies such as Honda and Hyundai have been actively involved in the progress of walking robots. Efforts to incorporate these robots into the real world are increasing, too. Tesla revealed the second generation of its Optimus robot in December, while Amazon is currently testing Agility Robotics' "Digit" robot in its US warehouses.

On Jan. 18, the Figure company shared a video on social media with the robot. It highlights how the humanoid robot learned how to make coffee using an "end-to-end AI system." Some people left comments comparing the robot to Marvel Cinematic Universe's Avengers: Age of Ultron. Though many would argue that it has more of an I, Robot vibe. Let’'s hope it doesn’t go that route.

Best Buy has announced that starting in 2024, following this holiday season, they will discontinue the sale of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD discs, both in their physical stores and online. They have said the reason for this decision is due to the increasing popularity of streaming services.  This move aligns with the prevailing trend, as more people turn to streaming for their entertainment needs.

Physical media does come with certain inconveniences, such as taking up space and limited mobile accessibility. But there are still people who appreciate the more traditional way of enjoying movies and music. There are some advantages of owning Blu-rays and DVDs. These include owning what you buy and having bonus content you can't get anywhere else.

In the '90s, owning a pager was considered a status symbol and a fashion statement. Today, it's even possible to purchase a fully functional vintage Motorola pager from online marketplaces like eBay.

With the widespread use of mobile phones and free calling applications that offer unlimited calls via Wi-Fi, traditional landlines may eventually become obsolete. However, the complete phasing out of this technology may take some time. This is because certain regions or countries still contend with unreliable internet or cellular coverage. As of August 2023, Community Phone reports that approximately 40.35 million households in the United States still maintain landline phones, and 38.1 million households have both a landline and a cell phone.

For some people, "new" technology doesn’t always mean "better." On Reddit, a user started a discussion thread asking, “What outdated or obsolete tech are you still using and are perfectly happy with?” The thread received more than 16,000 responses from people who shared the outdated everyday items they still happily use. Check some of them out below.

You probably haven't seen a calculator in ages, but a Reddit user chimed in to say that, for them, the old-school scientific calculator beats the one on your phone or any app. They simply put it like this, "Honestly, a standard scientific calculator is just easier to use than your phone's built-in scientific calculator." It could be the fun button-tapping sound or the nostalgic thrill of typing in cheeky words with numbers that makes this person prefer calculators.

Smartwatches may pack in loads of features, but there's a catch - they need regular charging and maintenance, and their battery life is shorter. On the flip side, traditional watches are a low-maintenance choice with longer battery life. In fact, a Redditor mentioned they still rock a "a lovely, inexpensive, bombproof, analog, big face Casio." They also pointed out that smartwatches aren't allowed at their job, so their trusty Casio gets the job done.

If you've put a ton of effort into collecting CDs and vinyl records, and creating some killer playlists, why ditch them, right? One person told their story about growing up in the '90s, building a massive CD collection, and stashing them all in one of those Case Logic CD binders. They fondly shared, "I still keep it with me in my car and it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane every time I open it. I laughed and cried a little when my kids friend asked me what it was and I said, 'CDs' and they followed up with, 'What’s that?'" But also: not everything is available on streaming services.  That obscure soundtrack or tribute album from the '80s? Licensing issues may have prevented it from hitting the streamers.  Love Joni Mitchell? Well, Spotify doesn't have her catalog. Sure, you can subscribe to another service, but if you kept your old vinyl and have a turntable, you can listen to it the old school way.

You have people who can't stand a tangle of wires in their tech setup, and then there's that Reddit user who's all about the wired life. They firmly believe that wired networking is "not obsolete or outdated." According to them, it's superior in every aspect, except for the mobility it lacks compared to wireless. They put it simply, "Wired is the ideal, you only go wireless if running cable is unfeasible for the situation.

A regular doorbell does its job well. It lets you know someone's at the door. On the other hand, a video doorbell does the same but with the perk of letting you see and hear the person at your door, even if you're not home. Someone mentioned they'd be up for a smart doorbell if it kept the data local. They said, "I don't want anything being sent online, so I might need to set up my own system... I'll just stick with the traditional kind."

A Redditor shared their affection for good old physical buttons, arguing that not everything needs to go the touchscreen route. They stressed the importance of having car radios equipped with buttons rather than screens, believing it's a safer choice. They explained, "It’s easier for me to push a button to change the music while keeping my eyes on the road/ I can’t do that if my car has a screen. It increases distracted driving incidents."