The departure of Bill Gates hasn’t even cooled off yet in the press, and all of a sudden Microsoft is talking about robots!

“If we are correct about our investment, and this marketplace really does take off in the next three to five years, then we take our revenues as the marketplace builds,” said Tandy Trower, general manager of the Microsoft Robotics Group. […]

Dubbed the Microsoft Robotics Studio, the system aims to create common technological underpinnings for what is now a relatively fragmented industry. The company says it’s intended for use with a wide range of robots, from those in factories to the growing number of robots available to consumers.

It might take many years, but Microsoft believes robotics could present a big opportunity as the market grows, said Tandy Trower, general manager of the Microsoft Robotics Group. He cited estimates predicting that consumer robotics alone will grow into a multibillion-dollar industry in five to 10 years.

But my absolute favorite line in this whole thing comes towards the end where they say:

However, Spencer said Microsoft is unique in putting together a comprehensive system for robotics software development. “I don’t see any downside in this case; I really don’t,” he said.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. HA! Ahh… that’s almost as good of a joke as how the Chinese are trying to claim that mobile execution vans are a vast improvement in human rights. Good times. Good times.