IBM Watson and the Future of Robots

Watson did well in the things that computers do well.  That is, to pattern match.  

Here is the future in computer development, as I see it now.

2011 - Watson wins Jeopardy

2015 - IBM Watsons are installed in medical and customer service applications

2016 - Watsons installed in robots. Robots can now perform menial household and factory tasks, and programmed by just being told.  

2020 - Watsons installed in cars.  Driverless cars introduced, first high end (Caddilac, Lexus) then all cars.

2021 - Most trucks driver-less on interstates.  

2025 - Most mining operations now use robots.

2030 - A Manufacturing operation uses robots exclusively from mining raw materials, smelting, and production, and delivery.

2035 - Robots manufacture and install solar cells, 95% of all energy now solar. Cheaper than oil.

2041 - First factory that reproduces itself, completely automated, producing robots that build another factory.

2048 - Reproduce-able robot factories now on Moon and Mars.  

2050 - Reproduce-able robots now number more than human population.  

2066 - Human population falling as people see less need for children to support them in old age due to robot availability.

2070 - Robot population limited by available energy.  

2090 - Economics and Money abandoned as population declines and all products are free anyway.  

2240 - Messianic age arrives.  No more war. 

Oh, and one more thing.  There is never a "singularity".  Watsons never gain consciousness.  It is just not what computers can do.