I have long attested that whatever sci fi can think up, humans will eventually create.

In b4 451 isnt SciFi

  • groet@infosec.pub
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    56
    ·
    8 days ago

    Ah yes the good old torment nexus from the hit novel “dont build the torment nexus”

  • Ledivin@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    55
    ·
    8 days ago

    the first-ever flame-throwing quadruped robot dog

    A very competitive category, as we all know

  • (⬤ᴥ⬤)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    39
    ·
    edit-2
    8 days ago

    this is what the company behind this says it’s useful for:

    Wildfire Control and Prevention
Agricultural Management
Ecological Conservation
Snow and Ice Removal
Entertainment and SFX

    first two sound pretty reasonable to me, as someone with a very basic understanding of wildfire control.
    snow and ice removal, i mean it’s definitely gonna do that but i can’t think of any place where it would be necessary to use a robot dog for it.
    the last one’s self explanatory.

    i’d love to be optimistic and say that this robot will only get used for harmless or good deeds but i know this thing is already being retrofitted by cops to shoot tear gas or some bullshit

  • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    25
    ·
    8 days ago

    It’s a delightful PR gimmick by a most definitely not a tech company, since there’s not much cutting edge technology going on in the world of “flamethrowers are perfectly legal in America and that’s our business model”.

    In addition to strapping a flamethrower to a generic quadruped robot, they also strapped one to a drone.

  • Iheartcheese@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    edit-2
    8 days ago

    I mean… Humanity is pretty screwed as it is so why don’t we just turn into the skid and see how bad we can make things

    • TotallynotJessica@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      8 days ago

      Because “humanity” isn’t really screwed, just most members of humanity. I hate this assumption that climate catastrophe or nuclear war will be a certain end. No it won’t. Humans will survive, maybe even a large percentage of them. LIFE GOES ON.

      Maybe you want death because trying to improve things is “too hard,” but I want to live. I hold onto hope because life is more fulfilling that way. You’re just justifying apathy by assuming we’re all going to die when it’s actually unlikely to happen.

  • Crismus@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    8 days ago

    Now we just need a “Rat Thing”. That will solidify the world into a corporotacracy where the Liberterian ideal of Corporate Profits over everything and no pesky regulations to get in the way of profits.

    Bring on the Franchise Wars…

  • Donjuanme@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    edit-2
    8 days ago

    I’m not remembering a mechanical dog in fahrenheit 451, but it’s been decades since I’ve read it…

    Also not at all worried about “footed” robots navigating the real world.

  • galoisghost@aussie.zone
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    8 days ago

    As an extra layer or irony this screen shot is a comment on a headline posted on a micro blogging platform.