Man Vs. Robot
Will robots steal our jobs?
Since the beginning, humans have relied on tools to do more than our bodies can. These tools started simple, like the bow drill or lathe from 1200 B.C.E. Over time, tools became more complex, and now robots are raising a big question: will they take our jobs?
A look at the future of robotics
Robots are already changing factories. The Industrial Revolution brought the steam engine, which powered powerful new machines. These machines could do more work than people, and slowly began to replace workers. This trend is continuing. A study by Oxford says that by 2030, robots will take over 8.5% of all jobs worldwide. That is 14 million jobs in China alone! This number is expected to double by 2040.
But wait! New jobs are being created to keep these robots running. Since 2015, there is been a 10% increase in factory jobs for robot maintenance. So, for now, robots need us to keep them working.
Robots in everyday life
Robots are no longer just in factories. In hospitals, robots like the Da Vinci surgical system help doctors perform delicate surgeries. Lasik eye surgery also relies on robots for its precision.
Even white-collar jobs are changing. Accounting, retail, and food service are increasingly being automated with machine learning and AI. The COVID-19 pandemic has sped up this trend, as companies look for ways to keep workers safe. Amazon, for example, is developing automated stores without the need for a traditional cashier or stocker.
In transportation, companies like Tesla are working on self-driving cars. This could mean self-driving Ubers, making transportation faster and safer. Even in our homes, robots like Roombas are taking over chores. These robots are cheap to run in the long term, since they do not need any form of compensation.
The future of work
With all this evidence, it seems like robots will take over most jobs eventually. However, there's a catch: robots are not very good at making complex decisions. Many jobs require things robots cannot do yet, like understanding emotions (doctors, teachers) or using creativity (artists, musicians).
The good news? Super-intelligent robots that can replace humans are still a long way off. So while robots will change the workplace, they are unlikely to make us obsolete anytime soon.
