Automata After All

Background: Las Vegas glittered again under the desert sun as CES 2024 unfolded, showcasing a dazzling array of tech innovations poised to reshape our world. This year a spotlight shined on the burgeoning realm of Companion AI Robots. These charming machines, blurring the lines between technology and trusted confidantes, stole the show with their heartwarming potential to enrich our lives. A sunny optimist can imagine waking up to a robot brewing fresh coffee, then joining in with the children for interactive games. Or, picture a wise and empathetic robot patiently guiding an elderly person through their day, offering companionship and a soothing presence.

Deja Vu: In a world where technology evolves at breakneck speed, the marvels of artificial intelligence and robotics often seem like a 21st-century phenomenon. Yet, the seeds of these technological wonders were sown centuries ago, exemplified by an 18th-century masterpiece, "The Writer," created by Swiss watchmaker Pierre Jaquet-Droz. This astonishing automaton, a mechanical boy poised at a desk, pen in hand, doesn't just mimic the act of writing – it actually inscribes words on paper, a feat that mesmerizes even in our digital age. It's almost as if the little mechanical boy, centuries ago, was penning a letter to the future – and we're now reading it with a mix of awe and a slight existential crisis. Speaking of writing to the future, it's time to wind back the clock and explore the historical gears that powered such ingenuity.

Stat: 6,000: The number of parts (give or take a couple) making up "The Writer."

Bonus Stat: 19 billion: the number of transistors in the A17 Pro, which first appeared in iPhone 15 phone.

Definition: Theatrum mundi, literally translated as “theatre of the world.”

An elaborate mechanical show popular across Europe in the 19th century. These shows were known for their impressive special effects, like simulated shipwrecks and thunderstorms, and featured large, scrolling pictures that were partly mechanical and partly hand-operated. They also acted like animated newspapers, recreating recent military battles and naval events. For example, Brown’s Theatre of Arts in Britain, which ran from 1830 to 1840, depicted Napoleon’s campaigns.

List: Automata

1. Digesting Duck by Jacques de Vaucanson (1730s) This feathered marvel pecked grain, "digested" it, and, well, expelled it.

2. The Silver Swan (1770s): This mechanical marvel didn't just sing – it preened its feathers, ruffled its wings, and even bowed its head in response to applause..

3. Mechanical Ballet Dancers (1800s): Miniature, clockwork ballerinas performing intricate waltzes and quadrilles with stunningly realistic movements.

4. Disney Animatronics (mid-1900s): These were not only mechanically advanced but also incorporated sound and were used to create realistic characters in theme parks, including Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride/

Something Else: Lifelike automata. Precise puppetry. AI companions. Then there’s the pet rock. These painted stones became instant fads, illustrating the human desire to nurture and connect with even inanimate objects.

Recommended Reading: Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology by Adrienne Mayor. The fascinating untold story of how the ancients imagined robots and other forms of artificial life―and even invented real automated machines

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