Robotics And The Development Of Robots In The Workforce

The debate over whether robots are helping or hurting the workplace is more heated than ever. Advances in technology are soaring thus making an increase in the use of robots in the workplace more and more commonplace. Some believe the use of robots in the workplace can never totally result in the loss of jobs, but due to the fact that robots have invaded the workplace environment, many people fear this indicates replacement of human jobs. Although advancement in technology of robotics and artificial intelligence may offer precision, productivity, efficiency and flexibility, the loss of human jobs will be devastating to the many people who depend on their jobs to make a living and provide for their families.

The concept of “robots” has been with humans for a long time. From the “robot-knight” plan of Leonardo da Vinci to the automatons of Jacques de Vaucanson, to the robots created by several robotics companies, people have demonstrated a fascination. The word robot came from the Czech word, “robota” which means “forced labor”. In 1921, writer Karel Capek used it in his play entitled Rossum’s Universal Robots (R.U.R.). The credit for coming up with such term, however, goes to Josef Capek, his brother. Presently, robot means a machine that performs complex actions, similar to humans or other animals; also a machine that can perform repetitive tasks, guided by automatic controls. (Shulman & Buckley, 2014).

Currently, “about 47 percent of the U.S. workforce is at risk of becoming obsolete due to automation” (Castellano 22). A workerless future is not as farfetched as it once was. With the rapid advancements of technology, robots have been more effective and efficient than ever. Posing a big problem within the nation, more and more companies are acquiring robots as they are more cost efficient than regular laborers. This has political leaders worrying about the potential detrimental effects it could have on the US economy. Since 2000, the number of manufacturing jobs has fallen by almost 5 million (Thompson 53). Which equates to a loss of 300,000 human manufacturing jobs each year. At this rate, millions of people could be unemployed by the year

“We ain't seen nothing yet”, claims robot expert Andrew McAfee. Robots are in and around our jobs at every moment, many believe these just aid in creating jobs, but they may at one point replace us in even the most specialized of tasks. The current idea that the economy is improving and unemployment is at a relative low may be correct but is highly unstable. Soon all of the major industries will fall to the robot revolution, based on their improvements over the previous years, benefits to employers, and several expert predictions.

Nearly all jobs, blue and white collar alike, will eventually be automated by a worker who never makes mistakes, never needs to stop working, and can learn faster than any human alive. This is the future we face, according to Kevin Kelly, writer of “Better Than Human: Why Robots Will — And Must — Take Our Jobs.” Kelly discusses the future of machines doing our work for us. Kelly believes that all jobs currently occupied by humans will eventually be taken over by machines, and humans will benefit from the results. While Kelly presents engaging arguments, his examples and writing style are ineffective in fully demonstrating his view of automation in the workplace.

In the article, “The Robot Invasion” by Charlie Gillis, the author discusses how robots have grown from the early 1990’s, to the present, and what is expected in the future. He discusses how the beginning of robotics went from simple robots to more complex robots. For example, Andrew Vardy, a computer science professor, recently created toy-sized robots that could see and was able to sort pucks by color (Gillie, 2012, p. 478). The biggest challenge faced with the growth of robots is the capability to respond to changes in the surroundings. However, there is hope for robots evolving because James McLurkin, a professor from Rice University, programmed robots smaller than a hamburger with simple combinations of tasks like following the leader, escaping deadlocks, and even cleaning floors of bread crumbs (p.479) Since 2005, a Massachusetts based company Kiva Systems, has been selling automated warehouse systems using hundreds of robots that are able to get merchandise from storage to shipping (p. 479). The warehouse system can triple distribution productivity. Humanoid robots are being used by the military field, due to their high market price. Baxter, is the first humanoid industrial use robot available for approximately $22,000.00. Many people are skeptical about the growth in technology, when it comes to robots, because they fear they could replace jobs that humans perform. Thomas Frey, an American Futurist, doesn’t look at robots taking over human jobs. He sees advancements for humans to adapt to the future of robots, as robot designers, engineers, and dispatchers. He feels humans and robots can grow together.

Undeniably, in the spectacular stunning grand ballroom, the first thing people discuss are “robots are getting big ideas. They don’t know their place! But [Metropolis’] economy is unthinkable without robot labor…but they cause friction with human workers.” Their conversation illustrates the relationships between robots and humans in the far future, where jobs are being replaced by automation and cause humans to have animosity toward robots. However, it also indicates that there are people who benefit from the highly developed robots and enjoying the advantages technology

Advancements in technology is happening rapidly around us at every second of everyday. Just think about it: upgraded versions of the iPhone every year, a self-driving car in the works, releases of T.V. screens with picturesque resolutions, and drones that self-stabilize themselves while midair. Alongside these advancements are the increase in robotics and “robot workers,” thanks to the development of artificial intelligence, or AI. As we further this advancement into a new technological revolution of the 21st century, many fear that its cons may outweigh the pros, and lead to the inevitable “technological unemployment” due to robot workers. On the contrary, as robots take over routine jobs, this creates much safer careers in technology,

Kevin Kelly’s vision of the future goes beyond what we can imagine in the present day. According to his essay “Better Than Human: Why Robots Will—And Must—Take Our Jobs,” he believes that the integration of robots into the workplace is already in progress. Within decades, Kelly writes that humans will see robots in every area of the workforce, and thus be pushed to create new jobs for ourselves. This revolution is eminent, but for the better. Companies will no longer have to pay salaries. Completing menial tasks will be a thing of the past, as personal workbots bustle to clean and tend at our command. Throughout this revolution, what it means to be successful will shift from a white-collar occupation to “how can we build the better bot?”. Kelly affirms that this image will give us a chance as human beings to focus on new work that matters (Kelly, 2012, p. 312). However, the glossy image Kelly provides lacks depth. I believe that Kelly is mistaken because he overlooks the potential drawbacks that could be presented in our postindustrial future. For instance, if a simple search engine like Google can cause addiction and weaken critical thinking, as written in Nicholas Carr’s essay “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”, I question how the adult mind will mold to the hypervisibility of artificial intelligence and how society will accommodate it. Kelly insists that “[robots] will help us focus on becoming more human than we are” (Kelly, 2012, p. 299), which reinforces the idea of

Rising unemployment is also another serious impact while using robots widely. Unemployment means demand for labor is less than the supply of labor, so there is an increasing proportion of workforce seeking work. Robots are usually major problems that are associated with it. It was reported that due to the increasing acceleration in automatic technology, over 5 million Australians lose their jobs, and it is projected to be at risk more than two decades (Hoy, 2014). Individuals who lose occupations must take time and effort to find another suitable one, but it is usually difficult because of the rapid technological changes. Professor Osborne also points out that more than 47 per cent of employment in United States is at risk of being automated

The technology promises seemingly limitless possibilities. Robots are already living among us, controlling your refrigerator, your smart phone, your personal computer and even your car. Some technology advancements sound far-fetched to contemporary ears, and many people hesitate at the prospect of adopting them. Nonetheless should we embrace a cyborg future in which tasks great and small are carried out by robots? As robots are becoming increasingly common in human environments, people will be presented with more opportunities in addition existing jobs in healthcare may be replaced by software, humanoid robots and smart machines by the year 2025. And there are two WORDS with various opinions on this prospect.

The fear of losing our jobs to automation is all but too real with predictions from consultants in partnership with Oxford University and economists forecasting that at least 35 percent of our jobs to be at risk within the next 20 years (Wakefield). As leaders of the masses in the human workforce we are not exempt from the effects of automation and it would serve us well

Automation may prevent our economy from creating an ample amount of new jobs. It doesn’t matter what job and career you have the robots will affect you greatly. Technology is gaining up on us, should we take action or let it take its course? Modern technology does not move humanity forward, but subsidizes to human laziness and makes basic human routines simpler.

Technology will continue to be more productive than humans as they are programmed to never stop working and humans tend to do more pauses when they are working. Thompson happens to work for The Atlantic where he writes about economics, labor markets, and the media. Another study shows that the “International Federation of Robotics, overall paid employment has risen”which increases the productivity (Syed, R. & Qureshi, M, 2014). In Brazil, China, Republic of Korea, Germany, and USA has found increasing amounts of employment from robots overtaking menial and jobs that people can’t endure during the day due to lack of work hours. While the USA is jumping on the bandwagon of the trend of adding robots to workplaces, it is known to have only half as many robots as Germany. Stated in the Saf Health Work article it says,“this allows such an increase in production”. In return, it is more of a benefit to the company in the perspective of getting the work that needs to be done finished. Similarly, Japan’s population is always growing and this gives them a higher demand for robots to help out in hospitals and health clinics to make it run efficiently and effectively. The Saf Health Work article researches articles based off

The technology in modern days have changed the way that we used to work, rest and play; and it will continue to change in a faster speed. We are already used to have robots surrounding in our life, they are in movies, factories and as household objects. The development of autonomous robots have benefit our live in many different ways. However, there are downsides of having robots replaced the tasks that were done by human and it comes along with some ethical issues. This paper will firstly discuss about how robots can solve the problem of aging population, the benefits and reasons why robots will not yet replace human as nursing worker or companion. Secondly, discussions about the possible future of robots replace human in workplace and the opportunity for human to develop new jobs in the robotic future. Finally discuss the ethical issues that autonomous robots might create.