Redundant robots
Fabio, a robot assistant in an Edinburgh grocery store, was retired after scaring customers. We worry about artificial intelligence destroying jobs, but sometimes it’s the robot that gets the P45:
Elektra, a 7ft-tall robot with a brain formed of 48 electrical relays, was displayed at the World’s Fair in New York in 1939. He could talk, respond to voice commands and smoke a cigarette. He ended up in a California amusement park.
K9, a robot helping security staff in San Francisco’s Mission District, was taken out of service after it was accused of discriminating against homeless people.
Steve, a security ‘roboguard’ in Washington DC, suffered an ignominious end by tumbling into a fountain last July.
Follow the leaders
Ukip may have a fifth change of leader in less than three years (counting Nigel Farage’s term in late 2016). How long did other parties take to get through as many?
| Lib Dem | 19 years |
| Conservative | 21 years |
| Labour | 26 years |
| Plaid Cymru | 37 years |
| SNP | 39 years |
| Sinn Fein | 66 years |
| DUP | only three leaders in 47-year history |
| Green | three changes in ten years; it had ‘principal speakers’ before that |
Gloom with a view
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