I think its about putting the next generation to work. The Chinese model of manufacturing, which has really been the world's model for two decades, is that chea

I think its about putting the next generation to work. The Chinese model of manufacturing, which has really been the world's model for two decades, is that cheap labor is more economical than technologically advanced industrial robots. That is eventually going to change, and maybe sooner than later [1]. Then what do you do with half a billion unemployed people? Even doing nothing for them but giving them offices is better than letting their communities decay, even if it loses money in the short AND long term. And who knows, maybe after a few boom and bust tech cycles the innovation labs will actually make something useful and profitable. That's just an added bonus. [1] http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36376966 http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36376966