This is where Asimov got it wrong... It's easier to build robots into the things they automate than to build general-purpose 'human like' robots that can operat

This is where Asimov got it wrong... It's easier to build robots into the things they automate than to build general-purpose 'human like' robots that can operate things the way humans do. We'll have to disagree on this. I think robots will become pervasive almost "overnight" once we can build them generic enough to replace, for example, those guys in the sweatshops. Or the burger flippers in the backroom at McD. A sweatshop worker can quickly learn to sew a new kind of design, even if that involves using different or new tools. Purpose built sewing machines are probably only flexible within very tight constraints. A McD worker can quickly learn to cook a new meal or operate the new oven. A fully automatic kitchen would likely need a serious overhaul (in all locations where it was deployed) when the food designers come up with something new. When you have a "mechanic intern" tho, who works almost as well as a really dense low-wage guy, can also learn new things, but costs only half in maintenance, and never sleeps... What's not to like? I believe the turning point here, though, will be when wealth is equalized a bit more, meaning workers in india demand a little more money rather than when robots get cheaper. Now we're back at where we started, but that's okay and perhaps a nice way to let go of this thread. :-) As said, I believe the indian sweatshops won't even be competitive against generic bots at their current rates. Much less when they demand more.. (Oh, did I mention that robots never go on strike? ;-) )