So what is the point of such a robot? Well with drones now delivering packages for Amazon we had to figure it's only a matter of time before this type of situation was on our doorstep.

“We’re interested in getting this robot out into the world,” said Marc Raibert, co-founder of Boston Dynamics, “Out in the world is just a totally different challenge than in the lab. You can’t predict what it’s going to be like.”

Who might want a robot with the skill set of the average day hiker? The military, for one. Boston Dynamics, which Google acquired in 2013, has nabbed millions of dollars in government contracts in recent years, peaking at more than $34 million from the Department of Defense in 2012. In addition to Atlas, the military has funded other Boston Dynamics robots, including BigDog, a four-legged, load-carrying creature built for rough terrain

 

I can understand where this would come in useful and possibly cut down on the loss of life in military situations. I can also see where when dealing with a missing person ATLAS would come in handy as they can search 24/7 and be programmed to spot things that may be unseeable to the human eye.

With all that in mind, there is still something to be said for human instinct and compassion. I guess for now we will have to take a wait and see approach.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel that this is a great idea or that it's a slippery slope into an AI takeover? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Outside Online