Robots aren’t making us more productive (yet), China’s solar-powered highway, and more top insights

During the week, the Daily Rundown brings you the day’s trending professional news. On the weekend, we try to keep you current on the big ideas that can help you see what’s coming. Read on and join the conversation.

Plenty of robots, not much to show for it. The number of industrial robots in the U.S. has grown rapidly over the past decade, but productivity gains haven’t materialized, Bloomberg reports. Labor productivity has been stagnant, and productivity gains from innovation — something you’d expect robots to boost — have declined. The robot renaissance could be taking its time; or displaced workers are moving into lower-wage, low-productivity jobs, driving overall productivity figures down. ? Share your thoughts: #RobotParadox

Young people are staying in the nest

The share of young adults living with their parents is at its highest rate in 75 years, reports Quartz. In 2016, 33% of 25-29 year-olds lived with their parents or grandparents, nearly three times the figure in 1970. As young people choose to delay or opt out of marriage, they have less incentive to move out, explains Pew; young people (particularly men) also face employment challenges and wage pressures. ? Join the conversation: #LivingWithParents

College alternatives are gaining steam. As student debt burdens climb, more college-bound seniors are considering options like MissionU, a one-year data analytics program that combines skills coursework with apprenticeships. Instead of paying tuition, MissionU grads pay a portion of their income to the school for a few years after graduation. 10,000 students have applied for just 50 spots, reports The Wall Street Journal. Such programs are appealing to students who are wary of taking out loans for a degree that may not immediately translate to a career. ? Share your thoughts: #CollegeAlternatives

A bionic arm that feels like the real thing: Researchers at the University of Alberta developed a bionic arm that gives users a sense of their robotic appendage moving through space. When a user thinks about moving her arm, the prosthetic sends vibrations to her muscle tendons. Those vibrations trigger a sensory illusion, letting the user know the whereabouts of their prosthetic. What’s next? Expanding to legs, and giving prosthetic users a sense of touch, temperature and movement. ? Share your thoughts: #BionicArm

China thinks smart cars deserve smart roads. China-based Qilu Transportation has constructed an “intelligent highway” that is aimed at supporting the next generation of autonomous vehicles. The road is outfitted with solar panels that can generate enough energy to support 800 homes; it also has room for wires and sensors to monitor traffic patterns and allow electric vehicles to recharge. In 2015, China overtook the U.S. as the world’s largest market for electric cars. ? Share your thoughts: #ChinaHighway

One last idea: Keeping busy can feel both energizing and satisfying. But many of us don’t know when —or even how — to stop, writes Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff, who argues that we lose our creative powers when we forget to take a breather. ? Share your thoughts: #BusyAddiction

“You physically can’t think ‘outside the box’ when you’re in your inbox. You need downtime — you need to switch ‘off’ — to access the creative part of your brain.”

Want to get ahead at work? Looking for advice from the pros? Share your burning career questions in the comments with #YouAsked and we’ll get experts to weigh in.

— Scott Olster and Emily Kvitko / Share this using #DailyRundown