I never thought that the promotion of a new technological achievement, especially one related to people’s livelihoods, would make me uneasy.
But I felt uneasy after watching a video of a robot making pancakes.
My fondness for pancakes is average, but I know where to find pancake stalls, who buys pancakes, and I understand the crispness of freshly made ones. I know how pancakes have filled the gaps for some people and supported the roofs over others’ heads. On the way to catch the subway, at the corner pancake stall, a pancake ready in three minutes provides energy for those in a hurry; on cold mornings and cool evenings, busy pancake vendors sweat away unease while settling many dreams. They and their customers are ordinary people, meeting by chance, and through pancakes, they share the colors of life. Their relationship is not merely that of customer and vendor; their interactions should be warm. Questions, answers, the first time is unfamiliar, the second time is familiar, and perhaps without realizing it, they greet each other, share jokes, exchange blessings, or express gratitude. All these beautiful moments are possible. They might even exchange hometowns, asking where each is from, and recognize each other as fellow townsfolk on the streets of a foreign land. Thus, pancakes represent the shape of a certain area on the map, and years later, the aroma of pancakes will be etched in the heart.
A pancake costs just a few coins, made by hardworking outsiders. They may be young or old, all simple, their appearances marked by the dust of life. This is not a high-end skill; it is a fruit within their reach, a way to survive in the crevices of society. If pancake robots are promoted, undoubtedly, their life paths will lose another avenue. Who says life is a wilderness? Tell me, how can the wilderness of the poor be so constricted? Robots can do what humans cannot, such as lifting heavy loads or working in dangerous environments; the more such robots, the better. For precise instrument manufacturing or special surgeries, the use of these robots extends the reach of human hands.
What is so difficult about making pancakes? Can humans not handle it? Is machine-made better than handmade? Will the nutritional content change? Food is the foundation of life, and the heavens nourish the people; indeed, the people sustain themselves through countless means of livelihood without abandoning themselves, nurturing their strength and ambition. Now, introducing a robot to make pancakes, what is the significance of taking away the ordinary person’s job? Will there be a continuous stream of people buying pancakes, queuing for twenty-four hours for pancakes, thus necessitating the deployment of pancake robots? This situation does not exist. Pancake robots cannot create new value; they will only pile up uniform products in warehouses. As for taste, I believe people understand people better than machines do. Imagine this: eating food made by robots, purchasing goods managed by robots, walking under the surveillance of robots—how are you superior to ancient people? Where is your luck? In any case, I feel a chill down my spine.