Robot butlers look more like Roombas than Rosey from the Jetsons

This text discusses the growing genre of “thing biographies” (also called microhistories) – books that tell the history of an object and,through that history,reveal insights about humanity.

Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

* What are thing biographies? They are books that focus on the history of a specific object (like cod, bananas, wood, rope, or sand) rather than a person or event.
* Examples: The text mentions Mauve, Cod, Banana, The Age of Wood, Rope, and The World in a Grain as examples.
* They’re really about us: The author emphasizes that these books aren’t about the object itself, but about what the object reveals about human history, ingenuity, and our relationship with the world.The history of cod, for example, tells us about exploration.
* Connection to AI: The author draws a connection to AI, pointing out that even this seemingly abstract technology is fundamentally physical and relies on hardware – specifically, chips made of sand. This highlights the grounding reality that even advanced technology is built on basic,finite resources.
* The value of perspective: Reading about these “things” provides a grounding perspective amidst the rapid changes in technology.

In essence, the text champions the value of these seemingly niche books as a way to understand broader historical and technological trends through a unique and often surprising lens.