When we set out to see if a robot could hitchhike across Canada, we were trying to initiate discussions about trust, notions of safety, and about our attitude towards technology. We also wanted to see, of course, whether a robot could hitchhike across the country, relying only on the goodwill and help of strangers. But the response was more profound than we could have imagined: Our robot – hitchBOT – not only met with a lot of friendly humans, but also went viral on social media, gaining more than 35,000 followers on Twitter, 12,000 on Instagram, and receiving 48,000 likes on Facebook, all in less than four weeks.
What a Hitchhiking Robot Can Teach Us About Automated Coworkers
Machines need us too.
December 18, 2014
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HBR Learning
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Digital Intelligence . Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Excel in a world that's being continually transformed by technology.