The unprofitable world of robot vacuums.

In this episode of the Round Table podcast, we dive into two seemingly unrelated topics: the shrinking profits in China's booming robot vacuum market and the common choice of red for movie theater seats. Although sales of robot vacuums are strong, the industry faces fierce competition, soaring marketing expenses, and growing consumer demands for advanced features, all of which are squeezing profit margins. Meanwhile, the conversation about theater seats reveals that the prevalence of red is not just a design choice; it’s also influenced by practical reasons—red is less visible in low light conditions—and the way our eyes evolved to perceive colors, making red harder to detect in dim environments compared to other hues.