This is an English translation of an article I wrote for a German magazine. The article looks into the post apocalyptic strategies the wealthy and ultrarich are focusing on. Main point: The rich are as afraid of the collapse of society as anyone else, but their means to face the calamity are on another level.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    61 year ago

    I’m glad you mentioned robots, because robots and automation are something I deal with often. I can respond with a question: You’re forgetting how useless a billionaire is, aren’t you?

    Robots don’t spring from whole cloth, ready to go. Someone, usually several people, have to make them. And once they are made, someone has to maintain them, charge them, and repair them. Amd it will be left in the hands of someone that Bob the Billionaire doesn’t respect: a mechanic. Someone who isn’t useless, and can disable those robots in minutes, probably in ways you can’t easily trace.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      11 year ago

      I totally agree but something like perimeter Phalanx CIWS with decent ammo stores would put all but the bravest off for a while surely you agree with that? I’m also expecting one of the first purposes of decent Automatons would be a certain amount of self maintainance/basic repair.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        11 year ago

        for a while

        Therein lies the problem. No matter what they come up with, it will not work forever.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          11 year ago

          OK, now I see you at the edge of range of the phalanx, hiding behind a rock occasionally holding up a “scarecrow” to see if the phalanx is out of power/ammo yet.