If all our wants and needs were provided for free (cost, money)

[crystalblue]

what would become of humanity?

Say we had a huge surge in robotics/AI/energy/etc...

and the cost of everything became nil.

If you wanted it, you could dial it up on your android phone, and it would be delivered free of charge by a robot driver.

What would humans do with their time? Not just here, but all humans everywhere?

[elnina]

... then life would be senseless and endlessly boring ...

[Yeledaf]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

what would become of humanity?

Say we had a huge surge in robotics/AI/energy/etc...

and the cost of everything became nil.

If you wanted it, you could dial it up on your android phone, and it would be delivered free of charge by a robot driver.

What would humans do with their time? Not just here, but all humans everywhere?

Text the news to everyone they know.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

what would become of humanity?

Say we had a huge surge in robotics/AI/energy/etc...

and the cost of everything became nil.

If you wanted it, you could dial it up on your android phone, and it would be delivered free of charge by a robot driver.

What would humans do with their time? Not just here, but all humans everywhere?

A lot of people would be bored/depressed/angry. Kind of what happens with rich kids who live off their trust funds.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

A lot of people would be bored/depressed/angry. Kind of what happens with rich kids who live off their trust funds.

so,what would happen next?

what happens with 8 billion bored/depressed/angry people?

[ovcatto]

Apparently the OP and some subsequent comments seem to be under the impression that the majority of human needs can be fulfilled by money or material wealth.

[Cattknap]

Humans need to feel fulfilled to be truly happy. Working, in the broadest definition, is something we all need in order to feel our lives are worthwhile and accomplished. Granted, working at something we hate can be counter-productive in feeling fulfilled. Technology can help us with some of the more mundane tasks of life, but in the end, we need to be actively engaged in something that uses our brains, our bodies (if possible), our passions, our time and our talents. We also need leisure along with the work. The happiest people I know have careers (both paid and unpaid) that they feel passionate about and are actively engaged in yet live a nice balance of work, friends, family, hobbies, etc.

[Memphis1979]

Then everyone would want more.

Perhaps people could follow pursuits that actually make them happy, but there will always be a desire for more.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by Memphis1979

Then everyone would want more.

Perhaps people could follow pursuits that actually make them happy, but there will always be a desire for more.

but, when you have everything you could ever want/need for free, what is "more"?

[LauraC]

What was the name of that fairly recent movie with Bruce Willis where people had robots lead their lives for them? This question reminds me of that movie.