When our website, RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, started 10 years ago, we were probably the only dedicated website reporting on robotics and automation, especially in the industrial sector, more specifically, about industrial robotic arms.

At the time, industrial robotics was a niche topic, generating little or no attention in mainstream media. Our interest was in the technology side of robotics first, and investment opportunities second. This enabled us to carve out a unique space, and now, our interests are accurately reflected in the composition of our audience – largest group is engineers and roboticists, the second-largest, investors.

And back when we started, and for the first five years or so, we dominated Google search results, appearing as the top result – and the 20 or so after that – for nearly any query related to robotics and automation.

Fast forward a decade, and the landscape has changed dramatically. Robotics and automation are no longer niche subjects. Media coverage has exploded, with numerous websites competing for attention. Our visibility in search results has significantly diminished. While we still have a loyal audience, particularly for industrial robotic arms, we can’t help but ask: Has robotics become over-hyped?

Let’s explore this question from multiple perspectives.

Do websites get more readers by reporting on robots?

The surge in robotics-related content across the internet suggests that many websites see value in covering the topic. Robotics and automation are exciting, futuristic subjects that often attract clicks. Stories about humanoid robots, advancements in AI, or automation’s impact on jobs frequently go viral.

However, the question is whether this increased interest translates into sustainable readership. Many general-interest or general-technology websites likely cover robotics to capitalise on trends rather than long-term commitment to the subject. This opportunistic approach could explain why many robotics stories are sensationalised, emphasising fear (for example, “Robots Will Take All Our Jobs!”) or wonder (for example, “Meet the Robot That Can Cook Gourmet Meals”).

We’re not saying we didn’t or don’t find their coverage interesting – we do. And we can’t claim to have to have been pressured into publishing scare-mongering stories of our own – we enjoy them as much as anyone else.

However, for dedicated platforms like ours, holding on to a steady readership requires nuanced, informed reporting that appeals to a discerning audience. While general websites may attract casual readers, specialised outlets retain readers genuinely invested in the field.

And, to be perfectly honest, our readers do not always enjoy the fear-mongering, robots-taking-over-the-world stories because they work in the field and are not given to hyperbole about it – it’s a serious business and they’re a bit tired of the typical mainstream takes on robots. But still, it’s only a bit of fun in an otherwise misery-laden time and world.

Are robots the answer to the world’s problems?

Robotics and automation have undeniably addressed significant challenges across industries. From boosting productivity in manufacturing and logistics to assisting in disaster response, robots have proven their worth. For example:

• Economic growth: Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Germany have leveraged industrial robotics to sustain manufacturing competitiveness.
• Healthcare: Surgical robots and automated diagnostic tools are transforming patient care.
• Agriculture: Autonomous systems are tackling labor shortages and optimising resource use.

That said, robots are not a panacea. The complexities of problems like climate change or global inequality cannot be solved by technology alone. Media coverage often oversimplifies these issues, contributing to the perception that robotics is over-hyped.

Is robotics and automation a growing market?

The growth of the global robotics market is undeniable. According to various reports, the global robotics market was valued at over $35 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 20 per cent through 2030. Key drivers include:

• Industrial automation: Demand for efficiency and precision in manufacturing and logistics continues apace.
• Service robots: Applications in retail, logistics, and healthcare, many of which are new, but undeniably beneficial in many ways.
• AI integration: Enabling smarter, more adaptive systems, AI is likely to be seen as the most powerful technology humanity ever developed.

While the market’s growth is impressive, its media coverage might be disproportionate – too much coverage for an industry that is a fraction of the size of, say, the car industry. The excitement surrounding humanoid robots, for instance, often overshadows less glamorous but more impactful industrial and commercial applications – such as those robotic arms that so interest our audience.

Google Trends and robotics search interest

Our analysis of Google search trends over the past 10 years shows a marked increase in interest in terms like “robotics” and “automation”, as well as other related terms. Major milestones, such as advancements in AI or the launch of high-profile robots, often trigger spikes in search activity.

However, these trends may also indicate volatility. Interest tends to increase around sensational headlines but tapers off until the next big story. This cyclical pattern suggests that mainstream interest in robotics may be driven more by novelty – and keeping up with the Joneses – than sustained engagement.

The performance of RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com

Despite being overshadowed in search results in recent years, our website continues to retain a strong audience. Our focus on industrial robotics gives us a unique edge – it’s difficult to persevere with an interest unless it’s real. Links from authoritative sources further validate our credibility, though we must admit that competing with larger, general-interest platforms remains a challenge.

Improvements in our search engine optimisation (SEO) improvements could help regain some visibility, even though none of us here really have any interest in the newfangled thing, whatever it is. Anyway, budget constraints make hiring an SEO expert difficult. We’re told that strategies such as “optimising” existing content (whatever that means), publishing regularly, and targeting niche keywords could be effective, but we haven’t got the patience or the spare brain cells for any of that.

We regularly get suggestions from our readers as to what to cover, and we have ideas of our own. Some work, some don’t. But that’s how we roll here. In short, we have never done any specific SEO activity.

Is the current interest in robotics a passing fad?

The robotics industry’s growth and diversification suggest that media interest – especially our website’s and that of other robotics news websites – is not a passing fad. However, mainstream media’s fascination with the topic may wane as other trends emerge. This shift could create an opportunity for specialised platforms like ours to reclaim prominence by staying consistent and improving the quality of our coverage.

Historically, media attention has shifted between various technology trends. Before robotics, topics like personal computers, smartphones, and social media dominated headlines. As these subjects became more familiar, their novelty may be wearing off. A similar trajectory could await robotics, especially when a new trendy technology comes to the fore.

True faith

The explosion of interest in robotics and automation has created both opportunities and challenges for specialised platforms like RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com. While the field is undoubtedly growing, the media’s coverage often exaggerates its immediate impact, contributing to perceptions of over-hype.

Our aim remains the same: to provide factual, insightful coverage of robotics and automation, as well as related subjects. By continually learning about our chosen subject, refining our SEO strategy, and continuing to serve our loyal and supportive readers, we can navigate this crowded landscape and maintain our position as a credible source of news, insights and opinions in the industry.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work

I took three Waymo rides this month while in San Francisco for an economics conference. The smooth trips made for a haunting vision of the potential future of artificial intelligence. Inside the cabs, there was gentle New Age music and no one in the driver’s seat.

Such could be the future of the economy in general if artificial intelligence substitutes for human labor in more and more occupations. The unemployed masses could come to depend on the charity of billionaires and trillionaires who own the means of intellectual production.

But A.I. could also be designed to empower people rather than replace them, as I wrote a year ago in a newsletter about the M.I.T. Shaping the Future of Work Initiative.

The Future of A.I. and Work

Which of those A.I. futures will be realized was a big topic at the San Francisco conference, which was the annual meeting of the American Economic Association, the American Finance Association and 65 smaller groups in the Allied Social Science Associations.

Erik Brynjolfsson of Stanford was one of the busiest economists at the conference, dashing from one panel to another to talk about his hopes for a human-centric A.I. and his warnings about what he has called the “Turing Trap.”

The Turing Trap

Alan Turing, the English mathematician and World War II code breaker, proposed in 1950 to evaluate the intelligence of computers by whether they could fool someone into thinking they were human. His “imitation game” led the field in an unfortunate direction, Brynjolfsson argues — toward creating machines that behaved as much like humans as possible, instead of like human helpers.

A Human-Centric Approach

Henry Ford didn’t set out to build a car that could mimic a person’s walk, so why should A.I. experts try to build systems that mimic a person’s mental abilities? Brynjolfsson asked at one session I attended.

Other economists have made similar points: Daron Acemoglu of M.I.T. and Pascual Restrepo of Boston University use the term “so-so technologies” for systems that replace human beings without meaningfully increasing productivity, such as self-checkout kiosks in supermarkets.

The Need for Education and Training

People will need a lot more education and training to take full advantage of A.I.’s immense power, so that they aren’t just elbowed aside by it. “In fact, for each dollar spent on machine learning technology, companies may need to spend nine dollars on intangible human capital,” Brynjolfsson wrote in 2022, citing research by him and others.

A Big Question

A big question is who will pay for all that education. Employers fear that if they train their work force, the employees might take their in-demand skills to a competitor. And the workers may not be able to afford it on their own. This implies, Brynjolfsson wrote, that governments “should directly provide this training or provide incentives for corporate training.”

Conclusion

The future of artificial intelligence and its impact on work is a topic of great concern. While there is a risk that A.I. could substitute for human labor and lead to unemployment, it is also possible that A.I. could be designed to empower people and make their lives easier. The key is to create a human-centric approach to A.I. development, one that focuses on building systems that assist and augment human capabilities rather than replacing them.

FAQs

Q: What is the Turing Trap?

A: The Turing Trap refers to the idea that A.I. development has focused too much on building machines that mimic human intelligence, rather than building systems that assist and augment human capabilities.

Q: What is a human-centric approach to A.I.?

A: A human-centric approach to A.I. focuses on building systems that assist and augment human capabilities, rather than replacing them. This approach prioritizes the well-being and empowerment of humans, rather than just seeking to build intelligent machines.

Q: Who will pay for education and training in the age of A.I.?

A: The cost of education and training in the age of A.I. is a big question. Employers may need to spend more money on training their workers, and governments may need to provide incentives for corporate training or directly provide education and training themselves.

Money and Power

A Personal Connection

Whenever I get a new job, the first thing I do is call my dad. And the first thing he asks me is: How much are they paying you? The man’s obsession with dollars and cents is lore in the Drummond family. But his zealous interest in the size of my paycheck is for very good reason: Money runs the world, after all, whether you have any or not. So, Mr. Drummond figures, you may as well try to make as much as you can.

The Importance of Money

My inherited pathologies aside, WIRED’s interest in money is as obvious as it is enormous: We cover an industry awash in trillions of dollars, and that industry just so happens to be shaping everything about the way we all live. But who exactly has that money? How are they wielding it? And what does that mean for the rest of us? To find out, we dispatched some money-eyed WIRED reporters to far-flung locales: From the United Arab Emirates to Denmark to Washington, DC, to freaking Florida, we cast far and wide to bring you some uniquely WIRED stories documenting wealth and power across the planet.

A Surprising Observation

Finally, a group of editors sat down to assess our lineup. And we noticed something, as we flicked through the drafts and infographics. Wherever in the world we’d sent a reporter, whichever corner of the technology landscape we were covering, the holders of all of that money? Men. All of them. Every. Single. One. Bill Gates, who sat down with Steven Levy to talk about his new memoir (stay tuned), has enjoyed 19 of the last 30 years atop the list of the world’s richest people. Of the 30-odd crypto investors in Trump’s inner circle, all of them are—wait for it—guys. Even the young people hustling door-to-door in the Sunshine State, shilling solar panels in a desperate bid to become millionaires by 30, are, well, men.

A Lack of Diversity

So let me be the first to point it out: There is more testosterone in this issue than the last decade of People’s Sexiest Man Alive editions combined. In part, that’s a reality borne of circumstance: 87 percent of billionaires around the world are men, and women continue to be vastly, outrageously outranked in executive positions within the tech industry. None of that even begins to account for racial diversity, which paints an even bleaker picture. And it’s one likely to continue apace, as tech giants like Meta and Google chip away at their DEI investments. Meanwhile, the online manosphere—newly emboldened by President Trump and his First Buddy Musk—continues to metastasize in scope and influence.

A Call to Action

But I’ll take ownership too. At WIRED, it’s our failure of editorial foresight and imagination to have seen the obvious—the blatant, persistent masculinity, page after page—only at the last minute. To not have, earlier in our assigning process, decided to interrogate the fraught and fractured gender dynamics of wealth accumulation, of corporate influence, of power. All of which still, infuriatingly, belong nearly exclusively to people with penises, with boardroom-commanding baritones, and with a centuries-long head start.

Conclusion

Don’t get me wrong: You’ll enjoy this issue, both in print and online. We hope you learn a thing or two about how the big bucks in tech are being amassed and spent, and the people—the men—amassing and spending them. But from one woman in charge to all the guys out there, including those featured in our pages: It might be a rich man’s world for now, but trust me, women like money too. And we’re coming to take some of yours.

FAQs

Q: Why is the issue of wealth and power dominated by men?
A: Unfortunately, 87 percent of billionaires around the world are men, and women continue to be vastly outranked in executive positions within the tech industry.

Q: What does this mean for women and underrepresented groups?
A: It means that they are still largely excluded from the conversation about wealth and power, and that their voices and perspectives are not being represented.

Q: What can be done to change this?
A: WIRED is committed to increasing diversity and representation in our reporting and storytelling. We hope to inspire others to do the same and to create a more inclusive and equitable industry.

Q: What’s the message to men who hold power and influence?
A: We’re coming for your money, and we’re not going to apologize for it. Women like money too, and we deserve a seat at the table.

The Fashion Industry’s New Best Friend: Raspberry AI

Accelerating Product Development with Generative AI

The world of fashion is moving at a faster pace each year. Most retailers introduce new styles each season, and fast-fashion companies like Shein, H&M, and Zara update their collections continuously. To keep pace with the rapid demand for new styles, brands and manufacturers have been turning to tech to accelerate their design process.

Raspberry AI: A Game-Changer in Fashion Design

Raspberry AI, a startup founded two years ago, is one of the technological solutions that helps expedite product development by allowing designers to visualize and iterate their ideas nearly instantly with its text-to-image platform.

From Sketch to Reality

Raspberry’s founder Cheryl Liu, who was a private equity analyst at KKR focused on retail before working for Amazon and DoorDash, spotted an opportunity to apply generative AI to fashion design right after image models like Open AI’s DALL-E and Stability AI’s stable diffusion became available in late 2022.

"For the first time in history, you could rapidly create hundreds of designs in a way that you could never do before," Liu told TechCrunch. She explained that before generative AI, designers would often have to order physical samples to visualize their ideas, which would take weeks.

Competitive Advantage

While Liu acknowledged that Raspberry competes with other AI image generators like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Adobe Firefly, a key reason why professional designers choose her company’s product is its ability to understand and accurately interpret industry-specific terminology.

She gave an example of the word "fuzzy sweater." "There’s a lot of [design specific] terminology behind that sweater that a Midjourney does not know."

Expansion Plans

Raspberry will use the funding to hire engineering, sales, and marketing professionals and expand into home, furniture, and cosmetics product design.

Investment and Growth

The product quickly became popular with brands. Today, Raspberry counts 70 customers, including fashion houses like athletic brand Under Armour, Groupo Teddy, an Italian manufacturer with 8840 stores across 39 countries, and luxury designer MCM Worldwide.

Such fast growth has helped Raspberry raise a $24 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz, with the participation of existing investors Greycroft, Correlation Ventures, and MVP Ventures. The funding comes about 10 months after the startup’s $4.5 million round.

Conclusion

Raspberry AI is revolutionizing the fashion industry by providing a platform that allows designers to quickly and accurately visualize their ideas. With its industry-specific terminology and ability to create images from sketches, Raspberry is poised to become a leader in the field of generative AI.

FAQs

Q: What is Raspberry AI?
A: Raspberry AI is a startup that provides a text-to-image platform for fashion designers to visualize and iterate their ideas nearly instantly.

Q: How does Raspberry AI work?
A: Raspberry AI uses generative AI to create images from text descriptions, allowing designers to quickly and accurately visualize their ideas.

Q: What sets Raspberry AI apart from other AI image generators?
A: Raspberry AI’s ability to understand and accurately interpret industry-specific terminology, as well as its ability to create images from sketches, sets it apart from other AI image generators.

Q: Who are Raspberry AI’s customers?
A: Raspberry AI counts 70 customers, including fashion houses like athletic brand Under Armour, Groupo Teddy, an Italian manufacturer with 8840 stores across 39 countries, and luxury designer MCM Worldwide.