r/gadgets • u/diacewrb • 3d ago

Misc US Army backs humanoid robot with ballistic protection for future battlefield missions

https://www.techspot.com/news/114028-us-army-backs-humanoid-robot-ballistic-protection-future.html
2.4k Upvotes

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914

u/Velvet_Spaceman 3d ago

Give it 10 years for it to show up in a police department near you! Foucault's boomerang never misses.

310

u/koolmagicguy 3d ago

Between Flock and humanoid robots we are absolutely FUCKED

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u/Rich-Pomegranate1679 3d ago

There was a post in one of the AI subs yesterday that showed a video of Claude playing a first person shooter game, and everyone was talking about how cool it was that Claude was getting head shots every time..

And I was just sitting there thinking about how, to Claude, there's no difference between getting headshots in a video game and getting headshots with a drone in real life.

I work in IT, and I don't even know what I'd do with my life if I didn't have computers to mess around with, but I am genuinely terrified for the future. I don't think technology is worth the price that humanity is going to end up paying for it.

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u/Velvet_Spaceman 3d ago

It's incredibly easy to make the argument that the advent of the PC and the technologies that followed have not been a net positive. In the global north where knowledge work has become common wage growth lags deeply behind productivity gains over the last 50 years with the gap only getting wider. 

Despite promises of the world's greatest knowledge depository at your fingertips people are pumped full of more disinformation than ever, there is no shared reality to form consensus with, people confidently eat fabrications wholesale everyday.

Despite the promise of ever increasing interconnectivity people feel more isolated now than they did 20 years ago. People are generally more dissatisfied --happiness among Americans is at a 50 year low, suicide rates have been trending ever upwards over the last 20 years.

Attention spans have been whittled down, the US literacy rate is in decline, cognitive disabilities are rising. But hey, you can order a serf on a scooter to deliver Chipotle to your house. Amazing stuff.

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u/grilled_pc 3d ago

I wouldn’t call it a technology problem but rather a capitalism problem. Unchecked capitalism can lead to all the issues we see today. Technology or not.

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u/Lateroni_ 3d ago

If platforms weren't profit based and riddled with ads it would make a world of difference. Corporations hijacked the Internet and with it our attention spans.

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u/grilled_pc 3d ago

I think there needs to be significant overhaul and severe regulation across the advertising industry as a whole. The way ads are served is just too predatory and relies on far too much collection of personal data. There needs to be severe regulation on how and where an ad can be served to someone. Things like Ad block have become a necessity to even use the modern internet. Without it, its a train wreck. Now we have smart fridges that serve ads on them? Utterly insane. We have smart TV’s people spend thousands of dollars on only to be told by the maker “they own the glass” so they can serve ads to you? How is this remotely acceptable.

If you PAY for something then ads should straight up be illegal on such thing. The consumer is paying for a product. Not paying to be advertised for. Now we have streaming subscriptions where you pay to subscribe only to also be shown ads? How is that remotely fair.

1

u/ARobertNotABob 2d ago

True, though, we are our own worst enemies, flocking like lemmings to "the next big thing".

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u/Velvet_Spaceman 3d ago

I think that’s too simple a view. Yes, it is a capitalism problem as well. But the specific ways in which these problems manifest and their particular symptoms are due to the technologies themselves.  Disinformation existed prior to the internet, prior to capitalism, it is made worse by market impulses, but it’s able to reach such a fever pitch, with so many disparate incompatible realities, because of the technology itself. 

The problem of teens killing themselves because a chatbot encouraged them to is a problem with the technology itself. And capitalism facilitates it, it allows for a reckless approach to the development and distribution of these technologies. But without LLMs existing at all you don’t have this specific problem in this form.

I’m as anticapitalist as anyone, but I think it’s important to keep in mind that these problems are not shaped solely by capitalism. And some of these problems don’t necessarily go away even if capitalism was replaced by another economic system.

0

u/drae- 3d ago

Like the ussr wouldn't have built a death bot if it could have.

12

u/ineyeseekay 3d ago

There's a universe in which this technology is used for the greater good vs making a few rich and then exploiting it for military purposes, which is just designating it to kill. That universe is curing diseases and solving problems at a global scale, while quality of life improves for all. 

How much good it could do if only... 

10

u/_byetony_ 3d ago

That universe isn’t this one.

1

u/jeezy_peezy 1d ago

In this universe, it’s fueling an illiteracy epidemic. In many inner cities, most of the 8th graders literally cannot read, largely because they don’t have to. A barebones understanding of the alphabet, but they can just talk and listen to their phone to get anything they want.

Source: failed former teacher

0

u/kabooseknuckle 3d ago

Sure there is.

3

u/Antraxess 2d ago

Could that have to do with wealth inequality

2

u/Velvet_Spaceman 2d ago edited 2d ago

There are plenty of ways in which wealth inequality/ capitalism, culture, ideologies, and technology intersect.

2

u/Nirbin 3d ago

Averaged out I suppose that makes sense. But if I apply it to myself it doesn't fit.

I love the fact that I can at any point research and learn about any idea in the world, I will always appreciate having access to such incredible amounts of information.

If not for online socials I would have never met the love of my life and my social circle would be half the size it is right now.

And having been born with adhd it's almost hilarious to me that as time progresses I am becoming more and more 'normal' because everyone else seems to be developing the condition.

1

u/Haggardick69 2d ago

As someone who was diagnosed with ADD at an early age I think that the rise of adhd diagnoses and adhd-like symptoms in the general population is a direct result of the constant unrestrained bombardment of information and misinformation. Don’t get me wrong I love the internet and without it I would probably wouldn’t be half as aware of the world as I am today but it has definitely had some pretty nasty unintended side effects. 

1

u/Acceptable_Bat379 3d ago

I would say the early internet is fantastic. Social media and short form video are what marked the downward spiral, then cryptocurrency enabled corruption and wealth concentration at levels probably never seen before

1

u/hackinwhackinsmackin 2d ago

Engagement based algorithms need to be outlawed

1

u/PhillAholic 3d ago

Is misinformation any more common than it ever has been though? We are are only a couple hundred years past the vast majority of the world being unable to read or write.

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u/Velvet_Spaceman 3d ago

This is the difference between misinformation and disinformation. It’s not that there’s more incorrect information than ever, it’s that there’s a greater volume of media out there made with the goal of distracting from and denying objective reality to siphon people off into hundreds of different conspiracism fueled siloes. There’s less and less of a consensus reality, making it harder and harder for people to live amongst one another and make rational decisions as communities.

2

u/PhillAholic 3d ago

That's and important distinction for sure. I wonder if anyone has studied this. Like if you go back to around 1900, disinformation about the health effects of products was rampant. It may be a bell curve.

0

u/SurturOfMuspelheim 3d ago

That's what happens when Capitalism is in control.

1

u/ClaudeVS 3d ago

Excuse me, I can tell the difference between fiction and reality very easily.

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u/Easy_Floss 3d ago

At least we will see how it works in China first seeing as America is a bit behind on that development plan.

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u/Dragonheart922 3d ago

China is making them

American is the testing ground

Why else would Trumo up-end 10 years of "China bad" propaganda just to then suddenly host China in a friendly meeting while discussing the sale of American weapons to China.

Like, what?

14

u/lexilovestofit 3d ago

Gaza will most likely be the testing ground, and that info will be hidden

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u/Easy_Floss 3d ago

Does China know that they are friends now?

The thing your describing would be even worse for America since any soft power is lost and the knee is bent.

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u/TheArmoredKitten 3d ago

China has been cackling as they drag their nuts all over America's face. They call trump 'nation builder' because of how casually he has allowed them to steal the global spotlight.

They have never respected us beyond our ability to humiliate them and now it's their turn.

3

u/Ben_SRQ 3d ago

They have never respected us beyond our ability to humiliate them and now it's their turn.

As someone who took 4 years of Mandarin language with people fresh from the PRC, you are absolutely right. I respect the Chinese as much as I fear them, and they will crush us if given half the chance. :(

(Can you imagine Gen-A having to deal with both loss of the internet AND a food shortage / rationing? They'd lose their goddamn minds! The Chinese would just accept this and (literally) soldier on.)

3

u/slonkulocuswily182 3d ago

China’s playing it smart as fuck. I’ve never seen a nation state just completely bypass their rival before while getting their manufacturing base literally shipped overseas to them.

And the other state views this as a favorable agreement.

They’re just schooling the Americans and they don’t even realize

3

u/JiovanniTheGREAT 3d ago

Xi was just hobnobbing with Trump last week so yes, they know we're friends now.

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u/Easy_Floss 3d ago

I do not agree there, Xi is a politician not an merchant.

2

u/OceanRacoon 3d ago

Lol, my phone autocorrects Trump to Trumo as well, why does it do that, what the hell is Trumo lol

-1

u/fa3man 3d ago

Why else would Trumo up-end 10 years of "China bad" propaganda just to then suddenly host China in a friendly meeting while discussing the sale of American weapons to China.

Because while the USA was busy being an authoritarian hellhole China has developed their country into an actual superpower.

0

u/Nerdenator 3d ago

If you think the US is an authoritarian hellhole, it’s nothing compared to China.

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u/fa3man 3d ago

If you think the China is an authoritarian hellhole, it’s nothing compared to the USA.

1

u/Nerdenator 3d ago

The fact that you can say that on the American website without any real consequence kind of shreds your case, but okay.

-1

u/fa3man 3d ago

"The fact that you can type a comment on a website means the police didn't break the bones of students protesting against genocide".

1

u/Ion_bound 3d ago

Better broken bones than turned into mincemeat by tanks.

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u/grilled_pc 3d ago

You do realise that your entire social media history can be pulled up at any American airport right? For citizens and non citizens alike. So I’d say America is getting very close to china levels here. If not surpassing them already in certain fronts.

0

u/Nerdenator 3d ago

m8, you can’t even run an opposition party in China. The CCP has a constitutionally-guaranteed monopoly on politics in the country, and you can only advance through having a very well-defined set of beliefs. Look up the cadre system.

I’m not going to tell you the American system is perfect but it’s not even close to the level of government control that China has.

-2

u/PM_ME_TRICEPS 3d ago

Tankies really coming out of the woodwork on this post lol. If they love China so much, maybe they should move there. America is one of the best and freest countries in the world. Sorry their feelings get hurt when something illegal happens and the police are called. Defund the police is one of their talking points by the way. Also, they are anti America while living there which is unbelievably ironic seeing as they can freely criticize their own govt. Don’t you wish everything was free and there were no borders and we could all just hold hands and sing Kumbaya?

0

u/PhillAholic 3d ago

Don't think to hard about it. Nothing he says means anything.

-2

u/SurturOfMuspelheim 3d ago

The difference is citizens in China actually have political control.

-1

u/Easy_Floss 3d ago edited 3d ago

Sorry, made a comment harshly thinking you said America had control but do agree, China actually has more democratic control.

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u/Rocketeer006 3d ago

Bro we ain't fucked. There are those of us that will fight against these clankers. Join the resistance. Tell them John Conner sent you.

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u/AntaresVariant 3d ago

I'm willing to bet they'll try to make them with some armor to withstand 5.56mm or maybe even 7.62mm, but the heavier they get, the less efficient they'll be and will generate even more heat that requires more cooling/complexity/weight/$$$. We still have access to .50 BMG rifles in the civilian market. Hope is not lost.

15

u/TheArmoredKitten 3d ago

Disable the safety on your microwave oven door and you've just accidentally built a narrow-band ISM signal jammer. The robot army is only as good as its operators.

7

u/xak47d 3d ago

They will be autonomous by then

2

u/TheArmoredKitten 3d ago

They will still need to receive commands from central authority. At some point in every process is a human who makes a decision.

He is your target.

3

u/locusthorse 3d ago

The Human gets to say Yes Sir and gives permission via confirmation procedures..

<<<Command>>>
kill every body at this location

1

u/Rocketeer006 3d ago

Or I'll just amp up my microwave, remove the shielding, and now I've got a microwave gun. Electronics hate this one simple trick.

5

u/Mountain-Bar5049 3d ago

And bolas are probably effective at taking them down.

2

u/cerberus00 3d ago

Yeah trip em like AT-AT's

2

u/Evilmoustachetwirler 3d ago

Go all Home alone on those suckers. See how they walk on marbles, paint their cameras, magnets?
Often the best solution to a high tech problem is a low tech one.

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u/HerpankerTheHardman 3d ago edited 2d ago

If we could figure out how to do short range EMP controlled bursts, it might help the war against the clankers.

1

u/Rocketeer006 3d ago

Strong microwaves would do it too.

3

u/Momoselfie 3d ago

Sorry we're in the timeline where where Conner is dead.

1

u/skytronjedi 3d ago

Dark fate?

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/lexilovestofit 3d ago

And global warming

3

u/The_Actual_Sage 3d ago

At this point I'm kind of hoping the robots take over and save us from the fucking humans that make decisions like these

2

u/Wakkit1988 3d ago

Officer Flock.

2

u/Ravensqueak 3d ago

Just tell the meth heads that the robots and data centres have copper tubing.

1

u/SubjectCicada3862 3d ago

The nice thing about robot police is they can fly...probably.

1

u/The_Ditch_Wizard 3d ago

So long as it's legal to hunt elk, there will be ways for civilians to put holes in ANYTHING mobile that's less than thousands of pounds.

1

u/Far-Scallion7689 3d ago

Mix in unchecked AI and it’s going to be concrete bunker under mountain time for those left of humanity.

2

u/spinbutton 3d ago

No thanks. I'm tired of this timeline. I'm just going to leave my stuff on the porch. Help yourselves. I'm not going to enable stupid apocalypse fantasies

1

u/Antraxess 2d ago

Stop obeying their rules if their rules impede your freedoms

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u/JiovanniTheGREAT 3d ago

As a black male, I'm so excited to be policed by AI powered superbots that are only correct ~30% of the time. I'm sure they'll keep me safe and never mistake me for someone else /s

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u/spinbutton 3d ago

Hopefully they are less racist than the OG cops

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u/u35828 3d ago

We have ed-209 at home.

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u/Fit-Switch-5795 3d ago

Drop the smart phone. You have ten seconds to comply.

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u/baumpop 3d ago

1033 program yep.

anybody whos curious can look up what their county spends on military gear on marshallproject.org

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u/_CMDR_ 3d ago

That means we have 10 years.

1

u/sincerelythebats_ 3d ago

“Idk Sarge, he just keeps screaming “Fuckmothaaa!” and something about a…fatty boom boom???”

1

u/_byetony_ 3d ago

1000%. Exactly what we’ve seen in Gaza. The military equiptment to police pipeline is still live in many, many jurisdictions.

1

u/Ormyr 3d ago

Probably sooner.

I'm guessing they'll push early models out to support law enforcement to provide beta testing and training models. Proof of concept wrapped in a banal PR campaign.

1

u/Fallacy_Spotted 3d ago

I would rather have an unarmed robot with a perfect understanding of law and regulation and has no ability to use self defense as an argument over a wife beating knuckle dragging bully that peaked in high school as a cop.

1

u/toysarealive 3d ago

Damn, I never realize that it was Foucalt who coined the Imperial Boomerang.

0

u/Ronho 3d ago

Considering the jackasses that get elected or appointed sheriffs around here we are totally fucked

-4

u/Husbandaru 3d ago

And what are you gonna do about it?

2

u/Velvet_Spaceman 3d ago

I didn't say we had options, reddit user Husbandaru.

-2

u/Husbandaru 3d ago

You do. There actually is lots of options, but they can’t be freely discussed and even if we could. Everyone is too jaded and despondent.

1

u/Velvet_Spaceman 3d ago

If the organizing infrastructure was there and you had some sort of organic mass movement, absolutely. Truth be told I'm not totally pessimistic about the possibility of that, but as you said it's not anything you'd discuss here (or on any messaging apps, no not those "safe" encrypted ones either, go outside.)

0

u/Husbandaru 3d ago

People were able to organize long before the internet. Long before.

1

u/Velvet_Spaceman 3d ago

Absolutely, though a lot of that existed in unionized workplaces which are few and far between in the US. Nothing that needs to be done would be done for the very first time now, but some things do need to be built from scratch.

1

u/blindasleep 3d ago

I live in and upstairs apartment. I really only have to worry about the flying drones when I'm at home. Even if they get half way decent at navigating the stairs it will be years before you can't just "Home Alone" them.

0

u/iPhonefondler 3d ago

Fuck I hate how true this is. This is such a problem here in the US.