Robots will neither be common nor very good in 2014, but they will be in existence.
Interpretation
Asimov predicts the presence of robots in our lives by 2014, though he casts doubt on their quality and commonality.
In this quote, Isaac Asimov acknowledges that while robots will be present in society by 2014, they will not yet be widespread or highly functional. This reflects his foresight into the slow yet inevitable progression of robotics and artificial intelligence, suggesting that technological advancement is a gradual process rather than an instantaneous leap.
In practice
In a discussion about future technologies, you might reference Asimov's quote to highlight the evolution of robotics.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
If there is technological advance without social advance, there is, almost automatically, an increase in human misery.
I think when you get older, things come along that you know are a test in some way of your ability to stay with it. And when e-mail came along, I was just going to fall in love with it. And I did. I can't believe it now - it's like one of those ex-husbands that you think, 'What was I thinking?'
The only thing that was in my mind when we made that first phone call was, 'Is it going to work?' We had all these parts hand soldered together, engineers standing by with the soldering iron - just in case.
Inventing is a combination of brains and materials. The more brains you use, the less material you need.
Sometimes, the Internet can feel like a middle-school playground populated by brats in ski masks who name-call and taunt with the fake bravery of the anonymous. But sometimes - thank goodness - it's nicer than real life.
Technological man can't believe in anything that can't be measured, taped, or put into a computer.
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