How would it likely alter society if automation and robots did all the work, and thus all basic needs and most luxuries were free for the taking, and no one had to work for a living?

Like IRobot?

Remember, something always goes wrong in these Utopian type situations...

Science Fiction does a good job of warning us about potential pitfalls to new technologies and new paradigms, which is a good thing. But if the warnings are heeded, technological progress doesn't have to turn out bad.
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by HungryGuy on February 14th, 2009
Or even with humanity (geez, 'i am legend')

Sure it's science fiction.
Warnings don't seem to be all it takes.

But I have to agree with the majority's opinion on this; we'll never perfectly replicate intellegence. So no worries.

Cloning is kind of scary, however. So maybe i'm wrong. Maybe a lot of people are wrong
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by .DanielleFLOURINE on July 24th, 2009
We probably don't want to replicate self-awareness (sapience and sentience), even if we could. Do we really want robots to have civil rights? But if they could be made to simulate intelligent bahavior well enough to manufacture all our material needs, that would be sufficient. Would it not?
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by HungryGuy on July 24th, 2009

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