Getting the Home Robot Just Right

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Just some thoughts, from imagining my ideal at home intelligent robotic assistant.

  • It will be on wheels, with enough tech to help it get out of being stuck (or ask for help)
  • Height is between coffee table and dinner table
  • The top is essentially a tray, for example serving drinks
  • The “face” is a large screen, sufficient for watching videos on
  • Very loud speaker system, for parties but also security
  • Patrols the home
  • Is reachable by app and intercom
  • Has a personality
  • You will talk to it instead of a AI chatbot. Making it seem more real
  • Thin arms with 3 joints and a very sensitive hand
  • Cameras all over it, and integrates with security cameras throughout the home, if you want
  • Lidar?
  • Arms are very dexterous but not strong. They exist to grab and deliver
  • Arms can put food in and out of microwaves
  • Arms can water plants
  • Arms can feed pets
  • It can be customised with clothing

It is primarily an AI chatbot companion on wheels. It hangs out with you, it is available to chat, and give answers and advice. The LLM is trained on your own data as well as having separate external AI info.

But also, it can do minor household tasks, with a strong focus on dealing with things when you are not there. Answering the door and accepting a package (placed on the top tray). Feeding pets and plants. AND looking after your kids. It is your proxy when you are not there.

And of course it will do daft random things, the Furby Factor.

But ultimately it is your buddy for watching sport at home. It brings you snacks and drinks without you needing to get off the couch. You can ask it who will win. You can make bets just by telling it. It will vibrate and sing when your team scores. It will screen calls from your girlfriend during the game.

Oh yeah, it is your at home Personal Assistant. Reminds you to put the bins out, or pay bills. Tells you to wake up, gives advice on how to dress, tells you off if you have eaten the wrong thing too much (you set the parameters), screens calls, books restaurants, operates the smart home. Next to you, with you, transparent.

Hey, show me the back yard.
Call work and tell them I am sick today
Go out the front door and see how windy it is
Throw a ball for the puppy
Yell out if my toddler goes near the kitchen

Visa + Mastercard x Stablecoins

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I have a high degree of certainty that the next generation of global currency exchange will be won by the behemoths of Visa and Mastercard, with duplicate offerings.

The end result is obvious. Stablecoins provide certainty (when tied to a big, stable currency), and low costs (because blockchain).

The currency itself is irrelevant, that will work itself out. Likewise, solutions might be fixed on one stablecoin, or allow a few different ones. Both seem likely, with different tiers and fees.

Interest can be paid on positive balances, because the providers have actual cash money that they invest.

Cards, yes cards, will work like debit cards today, but globally. If I want to buy flowers for my aunty in Cuba, or send her money, I just use stablecoins. It costs me a fraction of 1% to achieve.

It will primarily be used to send money back home from itinerant workers. That is a massive industry, and to date full of fees and inconveniences. It can also be used to buy things internationally, primarily services, but also for buying from Temu or AliExpress and so on.

While anyone can take the lead with this, Visa and Mastercard have everything already in place, especially the merchants, but also systems. For the tech side of things they will partner, or more likely buy, some business who knows there stuff.

Both payment systems will wait until the last moment to swoop in, and dominate.

Don’t invest in anyone else unless you think they will be the lucky business to get bought.

Food Court – My Restaurant Rules meets Shark Tank

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This is a reality TV concept that ticks a lot of boxes!

  • Find a struggling food court, one that has at least two vacancies. Buy it. Buy the property.
  • But only if you manage to buy out the leases of existing tenants. Stagger their exits.
  • Contestants can have experience, even in food courts, but their brand and menu must be substantially new
  • The free rent is genuine and will continue after the show has ended, after a winner is found

You can imagine the TV part – see their stories, watch their problems, have some clock ticking, have mentors. That part is easy.

The mentors though are industry business folk, with money. They (and the show, lines could be blurred about percentages) front up money for fit-out. A strong focus will be on repeatable standardised components. For example, everyone has the same till and ordering system (so sales can be tracked). Equipment like fryers, griddles, bain maries, microwaves and whatever will be the same for each contestant, and remain the property of the food court. The contestants get to spend money on uniforms, menus, initial ingredient stock and so on.

The reality aspect alone will have the food court bursting with customers. So every player will make money, you’d think.

At the end (of the show), the food court continues. The players can carry on and keep running their business, if they choose, or sell it, or shut up shop.

Oh yeah, the mentors and the TV show get a percentage of ongoing turnover during and after the show, and a percentage of the business, should it ever expand or franchise.

From then on, on a two-year cycle, the group with the least turnover in the food court lose their spot, and get no compensation for it. They lose any food court owned equipment. A new group is chosen to replace them and the clock starts again.

Here’s the cool part – after the show ends the food court is gifted to a trust that manages it. Each business keeps on being rent free (but pays their share of overheads), meaning they will always have a price advantage that should keep the food court flourishing.

Better Foods – Supermarket of the Future

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There are a variety of supermarket formats that serve various niches:

  • Standard large – sells everything
  • Mini mart
  • Speciality Deli
  • Whole Foods
  • Gourmet

I’m thinking of a new type, which is very focussed on health, food trends, sources and independence + information. Somewhere I would shop, as an older person who is very aware and conscious of the many aspects of food shopping.

I’m thinking like a specialty wine store or library where there are little signs in front of products telling us something special about them. To make our choices easier via the thoughts of like-minded people.

Labelling can tell us about:

  • Origin (country, region, nearby)
  • Nutrition
  • Low fat / sugar
  • Super-food ingredients
  • Minimal packaging
  • Ethical parent company

As opposed to the cheating and lying that mass-producers of food put on their packaging. Ideally, if there are alternatives, the bad brands simply aren’t stocked. A little dangling pamphlet can explain why.

No fresh meat, baked goods or veg – we would encourage people to go to a butcher, baker or greengrocer. Well, some amount of bread would be good. But otherwise, nothing is going off any time soon.

A focus on staples and whole foods, especially where you can fill your own container. While the store might have regular discounts (I’m thinking monthly cycles, not weekly), the big point of difference is savings on staples that are never discounted, like generic tins of beans or bags of flour. 50% off sometimes, with limits on how many. This will be funded from being a non-profit business. We will also hire staff who are disabled, autistic or whatever. And 1% of all revenue goes to the charity of the month.

We want to also serve the poorest of people. Every main product type will have the cheapest version that we can source that isn’t truly terrible, with signage pointing out why it is cheap, the trade-off. For example tinned tuna might be from Thailand and not Canada, with different ethical considerations.

We look at, and share, consumer reviews, especially from the non-profit advisors like Choice in Australia.

The key, what makes this extra-shiny and modern, is we do not sell anything, not a thing, that is ultra-processed. There are exceptions to this… But basically you can trust that nothing we sell will be terribly unhealthy for you.

We will promote products with

  • no artificial colours
  • minimal packaging
  • locally made
  • fewest ingredients
  • lack of fillers

And finally, where possible, we will support small business over corporations. We will show on signage if multiple washing powder brands are made by the same company.

State-Controlled Tech

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It used to be the dictatorships and communist lands where high technology wasn’t purely a capitalist thing. But as time has gone by, and the power of cheap technology grows rapidly the direction is clear – all tech will end up being state-run. Everywhere. One way or another.

Russia and India can switch of communications (mobile phones and internet) and one day countries like the US will make an argument for such a kill switch, for emergency security reasons.

Countries who are not long-term peaceful partners are distrusting each other’s operating systems, productivity suites, data centers, cloud storage, drones and surveillance devices. Soon that will include cars.

Military is becoming more electronic and less mechanical. Expect missiles encrypted so only those with permission can use them.

Every country making their own versions of everything isn’t feasible. So we will have Asia and Africa having Russian and Chinese tech, Europe AU/NZ/Canada and the rest of the Americas having theirs, and the US all by themselves.

Governments will have at least partial control of every tech business, from TVs and phones to toys and robots, to cars and drones. Anything on the spectrum that starts with certification and ends with complete ownership.

Within 5 years – the change will be rapid. A new cold war in terms of not wanting to be spied on.

Deconstructed Cruise: Outback

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Fundamentally, while a mass market cruise is meant to be about the destinations, many people stay on the ship. One study suggests 34%.

Once destinations have been removed from the equation, there is no need to be on a ship. When we replace the cruise with a land-based alternative, the same rule applies: location matters not.

The idea is to replace the cruise with a similar experience, but held somewhere cheap. In this instance we are thinking outback Australia, easily reached from Perth or Adelaide, and not hard from other Australian capitals. The outback, being desert, has very low land costs… Cheaper than a cruise ship.

The Pool

Water access needs to be investigated*, but otherwise, the pool, structurally, will be the point of focus, so a lot can be spent on it. We are talking cabanas, swim-up bars, wave pools, even a surf park. Water slides and splash parks for the kids. More water than a cruise has!

The Food

The cruise food experience can be replicated easily, but with two key differences: we have open space, so people who want a bit of isolation (think honeymooners, families with kids) can have as much space as they need. And with fewer safety concerns we can have crazy BBQs and bonfires, a la Burning Man.

By embracing the Australian BBQ vibe (ask any Aussie about Bunnings sausages), we can be cheap and iconic.

The Accommodation

Cabins, like in a caravan park, but with glamping options. Think airline classes, but with a few lower grades as well, with shared toilet/shower blocks, for those who want basic.

Also, of course, it is a trailer park for RVs and caravans. Being a day’s drive from the city, it becomes a fun weekend excursion in the van.

And a motel for the more traditional types. But no kitchens, and no TVs.

The Drink

Absolutely not officially highlighted but this is the key – relatively cheap drinking. Bar prices are 20% below what you pay at home. That in itself is sustainable given the lower overheads. Offerings are not highly varied – for example 10 set cocktails, and perhaps 3 choices for each type of wine.

The “all you can drink” option is the secret sauce. It is calculated precisely and changes with time to be optimal. It of course only covers “basics” and the wine is as basic as you can get. There is a total alcohol limit on your card, per night, that sounds reasonable to everyone. People will find ways to cheat which is why security is a large expense.

The Entertainment

Simply put, the same as a cruise, but not as good. More basic, drunken people don’t need fancy. Have a highlight band night on Saturday, high energy quality covers band (like at fancy weddings). Otherwise it is trivia, karaoke, DJs and something cultural. Pokies, of course.

The Activities

Anything from a cruise ship can be done the same, and cheaper. Plus there is land, so think dune buggies and day trips. Cinema can be outdoor cinema.

Ultimately…

This is a budget holiday as cheap as Bali but easier to get to for just a few days.

*If it is near the coast, a small desalination plant makes sense, and makes it “eco”.

Getting Australia to Buy EV Utes

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EV adoption in Australia has been low compared to Europe and Asia, and more like the US. Which is not surprising, as we both have big car cultures, with insecure men wanting bullbars, but also we are large lands with long drives, and range anxiety.

In Australia the culture, especially for older folk, is quite keen on caravans, and often a dream is to “do a lap” around the continent. This takes care and planning with combustion engines, and is impossible (currently) with EVs.

The weight of a caravan, and the drag, means that typically the range of an EV utility vehicle will halve, while a petrol ute will use twice as much fuel. A diesel vehicle will use 50% more fuel, and is the most common vehicle type for towing because of that.

I can see two factors that will allow EVs into this important space, given the typically the best-selling car model in Australia is a ute – Ranger or HiLux.

  1. The new Donut Battery system, coming out very soon, which promises double the range for an EV for the same weight and range, using solid-state technology. That makes EVs as good as diesel.
  2. One savvy ute brand will come out with a caravan of their own, or caravan specs. The shape of the caravan will align with the shape of the towing vehicle, to reduce drag. A system, that includes integration between the car and caravan for things like electrics, braking and so on.

The profit from the caravan can make the EV ute cheaper.

Reversing Some Tech – It is Happening!

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We are aware that hackers are huge problem in the modern world, although for most people it is someone else’s problem. But the more we hear of it, the more wary we become. There are trends towards mitigating the risk by removing aspects of technology. This was in the news today:

Hong Kong’s banks have a new weapon against scams: Accounts that require customers to visit a branch to access their funds.

The territory’s Monetary Authority calls these accounts a “Money Safe.”

…Hong Kong’s government will now promote Money Safe with advertising and other tactics, and is already encouraging residents to use the accounts to store any cash they don’t intend to spend in the near future.

Presuming that the in-person verification cannot be thwarted, I love this. True peace of mind in a digital world. Many people otherwise can and do store cash secretly at home…

Similar measures are taking place in other areas.

Australian Defence has signed a multi-year Deed of Standing Offer with Google Australia to deliver enhanced, secure and air-gapped hyperscale cloud capability for Defence’s ICT Environment. It is confusing considering the entire idea of cloud computing was originally to be distributed across multiple locations, but this is an instance without connections to the outside world, especially useful for portable computation. It cannot be hacked remotely.

Also in Australia, the government just made it mandatory for supermarkets and gas stations to take cash. Which means cash is sticking around, and cash in your wallet cannot be hacked.

People with modern cars are resorting to old-school methods to protect them from theft, because it is easy to clone a digital key. Expect more and more physical keys returning as an option (at least) for vehicles.

And Tesla is in trouble because someone died in a burning car because electrical failure meant the doors wouldn’t open the usual way. Hopefully we return to mechanical doors, and more knobs and dials for things like air con.

And finally, smart homes haven’t really taken off, except for HVAC in the US. And door bells / security. I sense a trend towards more self-reliance, like backup power supplies and generators, and tech-free defence.

An Alternative to the 5% Billionaire Tax in California

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The proposal might be on the ballot in the state elections of November 2026; a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of billionaires, including any illiquid wealth.

Illiquid is the bug-bear. It isn’t necessarily easy to cash out on such things. I would argue that they can easily get a cash loan, but I appreciate that this factor makes the tax a harder sell.

Instead, I propose something far more pre-emptive and socialist. Give 5% of your unrealised wealth to the state. The state becomes a passive investor in the business that made the billionaire rich.

To lessen the potential shock of that, when giving great wealth to someone, it should include 5% that is held in escrow, for the state to take, if and when the person meets the wealth threshold (which might of course vary in the future). But also, the rich person and take it out of escrow at any time, but they must acknowledge that the state can potentially take it from them one day.

Trump is already being very socialist and taking a share of some major companies. We just need to make sure that having such a stake doesn’t lead to governmental nepotism.

Some 2026 Predictions

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Cars – hybrid cars will peak, partly because of a change in subsidies. The US will go their own way…
PHEV will make huge gains. Once battery technology improves further, pure EVs will dominate, maybe from 2028 onwards. There will be a death spiral for gasoline, and it will be effectively dead by the mid-2030s.

Trump – it has taken a while to kick in, but in early-2026 all of America will know that inflation is worse, unemployment is worse, and new industry has not taken off. The mid-terms will go very Democrat and Trump will double-down on everything bad he has done.

AI – the bubble will burst, but only for some. It will be enough to drag down the stock market for the entire year (US but also most where). However, those who have not gone all-in (Google, Microsoft, Meta) will come out as winners.

War – Trump will do some good in places like Nigeria, but his claiming of oil and resources will be bold and embarrassing. After “conquering” Venezuela, he will try to intimidate Greenland and fail terribly.

Everywhere – immigration will slow substantially, and it will be the #1 election issue. After that, “qualified immigration” will be important, because capitalism doesn’t work with fewer people.

Fertility – one country will make the boldest plan ever to boost births and the rest of the world will follow suit. Babies will be the most important asset.

BRICS – or something like it, will create a stablecoin based on the average of the group’s currencies, and they will go ballistic due to first mover advantage. Because it will be state-run, no competition. In the US, a USD stablecoin competition between numerous parties will lead to a lot of fraud and corruption.

Drone terrorism – will affect enough major events to make people fearful of mass attendances.

Drugs – one smart tourist destination will make certain psychedelic drugs legal in accredited clinics.