Unsurprisingly, workers loved the long weekends.

Microsoft Japan tried a four-day workweek. Productivity spiked.

Long Weekends

Switching to a four-day workweek boosted productivity by nearly 40 percent at Microsoft Japan, a sign that the change could benefit employers and employees.

Microsoft Japan Tried a Four-Day Workweek. Productivity Spiked.

It also cut down on the company's environmental impact.

And there are a couple of major problems with that.

21 states are using AI to grade essays on standardized tests

Down Grade

The AI systems now used to grade essays on standardized tests in 21 states are deeply flawed, according to a new Motherboard investigation.

21 States Are Using AI to Grade Essays on Standardized Tests

And the systems are doing a terrible job.

When it comes to managerial tasks, most Chinese workers would rather take orders from a robot.

88 percent of Chinese workers would prefer a robot boss

"Loving And Gratifying"

A small survey shows that most Chinese workers would prefer to be managed by an impartial AI algorithm or "robot boss" than a human.

88 Percent of Chinese Workers Would Prefer a Robot Boss

Middle managers: consider yourselves warned.

A drone with a nail gun for autonomous roofing

Hey, roofers: this robot is coming for your job.

Researchers strapped a nail gun to an autonomous drone

Heads Up

Researchers created an autonomous roofing drone by strapping a nail gun to an octocopter and using cameras and markers to teach it where to place nails.

Researchers Strapped a Nail Gun to an Autonomous Drone

There’s no way this could go wrong.

"Humans will always want to talk to other humans. The reason is that only other humans really understand us."

In a strange twist, this AI tries to teach empathy to humans

Sub-optimal Cheeriness Detected

A pharmacy call center has deployed AI that coaches human employees how to have more empathy with frustrated customers on the phone.

In a Strange Twist, This AI Tries to Teach Empathy to Humans

Normally the emotion education works the other way around.

"I mean, once these things come in, I'm done; I'm out."

Truckers want to ban self-driving trucks in Missouri

Truck Rally

Truck drivers in Missouri are trying to get self-driving trucks banned in the state over concerns that they would get automated out of a job.

Truckers Want to Ban Self-Driving Trucks in Missouri

"Most of these people coming in today are literally a week out of being out of business."

Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents preferred a robot replacement.

Most people would rather a robot steal their job than a person

Unemployment Fine

Most people would rather lose their job to automation than to another human, according to a newly published study out of Germany.

Most People Would Rather a Robot Steal Their Job Than a Person

They'd feel worse about themselves if another human took their job.

First Ejection Due to TrackMan in Atlantic League/Baseball History

Frank Viola is the first casualty in the war of man versus machine.

Baseball coach ejected for fighting with robot umpire

Automated Martyrdom

Just one inning into the "robot umpire" Trackman's major league debut, a human coach decided to pick a fight and got ejected from the game.

Baseball Coach Ejected for Fighting With Robot Umpire

He only lasted one inning before arguing about the strike zone.

"We can see the contours of something new, a society as distinct from our own as that of the 20th century from feudalism, or urban civilization from the life of the hunter-gatherer."

NYT calls for "fully automated luxury communism"

Support System

A new op-ed in the New York Times says that everyone can embrace a life of high-tech luxury, as long as the world embraces communism.

NYT Calls For “Fully Automated Luxury Communism”

Saving the world with new tech would require ending capitalism.

"The monotony in the store has increased a ton since we've gotten these robots."

Walmart employees hate their new robot coworkers

Coworker Concerns

Walmart executives have great things to say about their new robot workers, but human employees are less than thrilled about them.

/ / automation