Walmart Could Be Thinking Of Creating Robot Bees

The concept might be trite, at this point, but the idea of robotic insects being created has likely been ruined in the minds of those who have seen that Black Mirror episode where robot bees were used to commit mass murder. This is why a recent patent by the retail chain giant Walmart, which involves the development of robot bees is creating quite a bit of interest and concern.

If this news is already sounding eerily close to being a horror show, the patent that the retail chain filed also implies that the robot bees are going to be used to bolster pollination, which the reduced bee population has severely restricted. This is exactly the plot of the aforementioned Black Mirror episode that ended with the death of hundreds of thousands of people, Science Alert notes.

Now, it’s worth pointing out that the show is science fiction and history has proven that advancements in science and technology have rarely produced the kinds of dire repercussions these programs have predicted. On the contrary, much like how smartphones and the internet have contributed much to the betterment of human lives, the futuristic technologies featured by these shows have often proven more advantageous than disastrous.

With regards to the concept of robot bees taking over the tasks of real bees to spread pollen from trees and flowers, there is merit to the idea. Pollination is incredibly important in preserving entire ecosystems and to encourage the proliferation of healthy crops. It’s one of the most important safeguards that humanity has against global food shortage. This is why addressing the issues related to this essential part of nature is so important.

On the other hand, the fact that Walmart is doing this does seem a bit odd, as Futurism points out. The entity is not exactly known as a bastion of scientific advancements and discovery. Then again, governments might be willing to pay a lot of money to keep catastrophic world hunger at bay.