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Here are two high-level truths essential to understanding the present and future of robotics. First, we want robots to work for us. Second, when it comes to work, humans have three historical blueprints for recruiting labor: animals, through the process of domestication; other humans, through employment, but also subjugation and outright enslavement; and machines, through the development of physical systems for performing actions. Why does this matter to understanding the present and future of robotics? While weve created an astonishing diversity of machines in the broadest sense, those first two blueprints for recruited laboranimals and other humanshave so far dominated our conception of robots. Today our most celebrated robots, all of them marvels of design and engineering, are machine evolutions of animals and other humans. You can see the echoes of those same dogs and draft animals we recruited as labor thousands of years ago in this dog and this dog, another dog, and this mule. And you can see our adoration of humanoid robots in Agility Robotics Digit, Boston Dynamics Atlas, Teslas Optimus, and Unitrees G1.There are straightforward reasons for this. First, as a species weve done a lot of work designing the world for us and our animal helpers, so it makes sense to design robots resembling ourselves and those animals for work in those spaces. As an example, this humanoid robot from Under Control Robotics is designed to work alongside humans in human workplaces such as warehouses and construction sites, a machine enhancement of human-like capabilities. Second, we have an innate tendency in our psychology toward anthropomorphism. Our brains are hardwired through evolutionary adaptation to discern complex social signals. A major reverberation of this adaptation is that we tend to anthropomorphize the stuff around us, affixing human characteristics to non-human things. Its why we have trains with faces in Thomas & Friends and why Star Wars C-3POa machineis anxious and chatty. Its also why many people name their cars and Roomba vacuum cleaners. The pivot Heres the pivot ahead, though: there are important spaces in our future that arent designed for us. Anthropomorphized animal- and human-like robots are designed to replicate human and animal capabilities, but those capabilities are based on physiologies that dont have the same advantages for work in outer space, in oceans, on the blades of wind turbines, or inside volcanoes. While nature certainly has many highly specialized adaptations, the physiologies of humans and animals are simply not made for maneuvering inside gas and water pipes; they cant be dropped from aircraft without parachutes or thrown into battlefields; they arent well-suited for fighting lithium battery fires inside a landfill. Humanoid and animal-inspired robots also tend to be complex, power-hungry, and expensiveunhelpful traits for the scale of work well need them to do. For these kinds of work, our future needs weird robots. This means radically self-reliant robots with unconventional form factors designed to work in extreme environments.Here are three speculative, weird robots well need in the near future.Space BallMultiple companies are currently building low-Earth orbit space stations that will continue human presence in space beyond the International Space Stations planned decommissioning in 2030. A big promise of these commercial endeavors is the opportunity to conduct science experiments in space for industries developing advanced materials, medicine, and other technologies. Tending to these experiments where theres no air or atmosphere will require robotic form factors capable of maneuvering in zero gravity and operating in temperatures that fluctuate between negative 85° Fahrenheit and 257° Fahrenheit. What might that look like? A spherical robot, applying electrostatic forces to affix itself to surfaces, with a dexterous array of pivoting grippers, sensors, and cameras that emerge when its not rolling from one spot to another.Here on earth, this same kind of robot might someday help search and rescue teams conduct reconnaissance by rolling across steep and rugged terrain in any kind of weather and at nightconditions in which its not safe for human and canine teams to work. Seabed SeederSeagrass meadows, which are highly effective blue carbon sinks, also play outsized roles in protecting coastlines from storm surges, improving water quality, and nurturing commercial fish stocks. Those roles will only grow in importance as we work to mitigate the effects of climate change. Globally, weve already lost nearly 30% of seagrass meadows and were currently losing about 7% each year. Reversing that through restoration will require planting roughly two football fields of seagrass every hour. Planting native seagrass, while also removing invasive seagrass species, will require robots capable of working across underwater terrain in dynamic currents for long periods of time. What might that look like? An aquatic planter with independently sensing legs, topped with a helix-like underwater turbine to self-generate power from the currents. This same kind of robot might eventually patrol urban waterways, removing trash and plastic waste before it can reach our oceans. Bridge BlobThere are more than 600,000 bridges in the United States and approximately a third of them are designated structurally deficient as of 2024. Those bridges are crossed by 168.5 million motorists every day. At the present rate of repair, itll take more than 50 years to fix these bridges, so were going to need a lot of help. While the bulk of research into particle-armored liquid robots is focused on biomedical applications, their unique propertiescapable of navigating tiny fissures in concrete and other materials, enduring harsh conditions, and yet deformablemeans they could eventually be used with bridges to inspect, apply coatings, and remove contaminants. What might that look like? Thousands of tiny armored blobs working mostly unseen to hel bridges and other big infrastructure self-heal.Farther into the future, this same kind of robot might continuously clean your homes roof, windows, and siding, working year-round to remove moss, algae, and dirtno ladders required.
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E-Commerce
Despite being one of the most celebrated and influential architects of all time, Frank Lloyd Wright has never had what may be one of the top indicators of cultural importance: a Hollywood biopic. That may soon change, as the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation has recently struck a licensing deal with Hollywood production company Galisteo Media to bring Wright’s story to the big screen as a movie. “He was the greatest American architect. He was incredibly ambitious and headstrong and visionary. He also was a flawed person, and his life was filled with triumph and tragedy,” says Rob Rosenheck, cofounder of Galisteo Media. “This is a big gap in American popular culture that we don’t have a feature film about Frank Lloyd Wright.” Galisteo’s deal focuses on the 1920s, a period in Wright’s life when he relocated to Los Angeles and embarked on a series of innovative residential designs. Designed using novel textured concrete blocks, these homes came to be known as Mayan revival architecture and launched a nationwide trend throughout the ’20s and ’30s. This was also a turning point in the life of Wright, who died in 1959 at the age of 91. Wright had gone West in his early 50s in the wake of the devastating 1914 tragedy in which his mistress and six other people were murdered in Wright’s Wisconsin home, Taliesin. “The murders at Taliesin are a critical moment in Wright’s path,” says Rosenheck. “They’re an essential part of the story, and they are the inciting incident that propels him toward coming to Los Angeles.” Wright’s time in L.A. was transformative, leading to a reinvention of his approach to architecture that resulted in some of his most famous work, from the Mayan revival homes to the Guggenheim Museum and Fallingwater. Rosenheck and Gailsteo Media cofounder Cindy Capobianco are intimately familiar with Wright’s works from this era. Since 2019, they’ve owned and lived in the Ennis House, a Wright-designed private residence from 1924 located in the Loz Feliz area of Los Angeles. Known for its appearance in the film Blade Runner, it was one of the four textile block homes Wright built in the Los Angeles area during this period. When Rosenheck and Capobianco bought the house from billionaire Ron Burkle for $18 million, it was the highest price ever paid for a Wright-designed residence. And the house had some baggage. Its concrete block construction method, while innovative in the early 1920s, was prone to structural decay, especially after sustaining significant damage in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Rosenheck and Capobianco, founders of Lord Jones, an early cannabis company that helped establish the market for cannabis and CBD-infused health and wellness products, had the means to keep the historic house in good shape. The couple also has experience in the film industry. Their production company was behind Lover of Men, a 2024 documentary film exploring Abraham Lincoln’s romantic relationships with men. Living in a Wright house and learning more about his life and work, they were surprised to realize there had never been a feature film about him. “It just was natural for us to think about producing a film about the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright,” says Rosenheck. As stewards of the Ennis House, Rosenheck and Capobianco have an ongoing relationship with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. They began talks about a potential licensing deal last year. In July, the two groups announced that they’d reached a deal for Galisteo to have exclusive rights to produce content about Wright’s life, focusing on the period of his life in Los Angeles. Galisteo declined to share details on the financial terms of the deal. “Engaging in new media is not only beneficial in terms of shining a light and making people aware of Wright and his significance, and really ongoing contributions to architecture and the built environment. But it’s also resonant with Wright himself. He was a person that engaged robustly with media,” says Joseph Specter, CEO and president of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. That ethos is behind other partnerships the foundation has made in recent years. The organization has made a varied range of licensing deals celebrating and expanding the work of Wright, collaborating with brands including Airstream, Steelcase, and New Balance. Specter says this is the first licensing deal focused specifically on storytelling. “The similarities between those licensing deals and a project like this are about creating awareness, excitement, and deeper understanding about who he was, and how his work even affects our lives today,” says Specter. A former professional opera singer who ran the Arizona Opera for a decade before joining the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation earlier this year, Specter says he is not nervous about handing Wright’s life story to filmmakers. “What I found most exciting about that work was to empower people who were creators, directors, designers, choreographers, and ultimately performers to do their best work,” he says. Rosenheck says Galisteo has developed a treatment for a feature film about Wright and he has been meeting with writers, directors, and actors to try to find the right collaborators for a project. He’s optimistic a film could be in the works soon, as well as other projects, from TV series to podcasts. “Everyone’s aware of Frank Lloyd Wright. Everyone’s aware that this story has not yet been told, and it’s been on people’s wish lists,” he says. “Every time we talk to an actor or a director or a writer, everybody has a vision for it, everybody has passion for it. And everybody understands the stakes that are involved in getting the story right.”
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E-Commerce
Experience sharpens judgment, boosts productivity, and teaches lessons that only come from years on the job. Yet, despite its value, companies continue to undervalue those with the most experience to offer. Employers have spent the past decade championing inclusivity. Yet, our latest survey of 1,000 Americans over 50 by DateMyAge found that 73% of over-50s feel treated as if their best years are already behind them, and 62% believe that employers have written them off professionally. Ageism isnt just a workplace issue. Its a cultural one. We wanted to explore it more deeply to challenge the idea that life and ambition have an expiration date. Age bias, sometimes subtle but often not, presents a stubborn barrier for those in midlife. Companies ask questions about retirement plans rather than career goals, neglect to provide learning and training opportunities, and quietly exclude them from office social events. It’s no wonder loneliness, depression, and low self-worth are rampant among older workers. Bias is discouraging, but you cannot let it bring your career to a sudden halt. Talent doesnt have an expiration date. If you want to prove it, you need to maintain business as usual. That means growing, contributing, and delivering value. You need to show that age is just a number. Maintain your worth The older you get, the more people assume youve fallen behind. The best way to challenge this assumption is to be the person who knows everything. That means anticipating competitor moves, industry trends, and regulatory changes before they hit the headlines. And dont let your title confine you. Job descriptions dont stay static, and neither should you. Look at whats leading change in your industrywhether thats artificial intelligence, sustainability, geopolitics, or something elseand identify the skills and knowledge that will deliver the most value to your employer. Not only does this keep you relevant, but it also rebrands you as someone who adapts, innovates, and grows, regardless of age. Interestingly, a study published in Experimental Aging Research shows that while the workplace is rife with implicit age bias, explicit bias is far less common. This suggests that these attitudes are unconscious, and those who display unconscious bias are often far more open to working on it. When you demonstrate that your knowledge is sharper than ever (and that youre committed to evolving your skills), you leave little room for the assumption that youre past your prime. You will likely find that your colleagues perceptions will shift quickly. Deliver business-critical value The reality is, nearly all older workers have their professional development stunted by ageism. And, sadly, Ive seen too many senior professionals fall into the trap of setting learning aside and accepting their time is near, which only fuels the belief that theyre coasting towards retirement. But instead of accepting ageism as fate, you should use it as motivation. Be the one pushing for training opportunities, designing new processes, piloting new technology, and calling for collaboration across departments. When youre visibly driving progress, youre making an impact thats hard to discredit, especially when it delivers business-critical value. Whether its growing revenue, cutting costs, or increasing market share, focus on delivering measurable impact. Even a modest process improvement could save your employer millions, and value speaks louder than stereotypes. If the numbers are positive, nobody will question how old you are. Theyll be asking what more you can deliver. Shape your companys future Getting involved in projects that will shape the company over the next decade isnt just a way to stay busy; its a way to stay relevant. Whether thats market expansions, transformation initiatives, or sustainability programs, these are high-impact areas where your experience can make a measurable difference. And when youre actively involved in building the future, nobody can question whether youre stuck in the past. Mentorship is another way to provide value that only employees with years of experience can offer. In exchange, by connecting with colleagues across generations, you gain insight into emerging trends, evolving tools, and fresh perspectives, which creates an opportunity for everyone to learn and grow. And with a clear view of the up-and-coming talent, you can take ownership of planning for your exit. Retirement is inevitable, but it should be on your own terms. Rather than waiting for management to make the call about your future, be proactive in guiding and developing your eventual replacement. Doing so demonstrates that you dont intend on sticking around past your time, but that your mind is still firmly focused on fulfilling your duties, rather than planning for your future away from the workplace. Overcoming age bias requires hard work In an ideal world, age bias would have no place in the office. Unfortunately, that isnt reality, but you cannot let bias dictate your path. If you slow down, step aside, and stop trying, youre unfortunately only confirming the assumptions others have made about you. The best approach is to pull up your socks, show your resilience, and get to work. Every time you take on a high-value project, teach a younger colleague something new, and contribute positively to the balance sheet, youre sending a clear message: Age is no measure of ability.
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E-Commerce
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