Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

employment

Robots are useless at these tasks that humans are good at

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Some people say robots will put millions of people out of work and even enslave and kill us all, but that’s a little bit hysterical really. 

What looks realistic is that robots will continue to make working life easier and more manageable for humans.

Yes, of course, some jobs may disappear for humans because robots will do them, but hopefully, they will mostly be the dull, dirty and dangerous jobs humans would generally rather not do anyway.  [Read more…] about Robots are useless at these tasks that humans are good at

OECD says automation will end 14 per cent of jobs

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The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which counts all leading countries as members, says automation technology will affect 14 per cent of jobs. 

Some might say this is quite a significant number of people, while others might argue this is an under-estimate.

In its report, The Future of Work, the OECD says: “The future of work offers unparalleled opportunities, but there are also significant challenges associated with these mega-trends.”  [Read more…] about OECD says automation will end 14 per cent of jobs

Robots eroding employment prospects in developing economies, says UN

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robots making cars
Picture courtesy Stratfor.com

Increasing utilisation of robotics and automation technologies in developed countries is ruining emerging economies around the world, according to a report by the United Nations. 

A policy briefing by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Robots and Industrialization in Developing Countries, argues that increased use of robots in developed countries erodes traditional labour-cost advantage of developing countries.

The report notes that new technological breakthroughs in computing, robotics and artificial intelligence in advanced economies will result in large numbers of people being made redundant in developing countries.  [Read more…] about Robots eroding employment prospects in developing economies, says UN

Japan providing springboard for robot takeover of the world

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Dr Masayuki Morikawa, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (Rieti), Japan
Dr Masayuki Morikawa, vice chairman and vice president, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (Rieti)

Inadvertent or not, Japan is providing a starting point for the relentless march of the robots toward total global domination. 

The government of the nation of 127 million humans has instituted the sinister- and ominous-sounding Robot Revolution Initiative Council.

The country’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said the launch of the Council was a “celebration to mark the start of the robot revolution”, adding: “Robots will dramatically change people’s lives and society.”

Abe may not be envisaging a world run by robot prime ministers, but he certainly has not stopped it going down that route. It’s inevitable that robots will rule, but how they get to that point is worth documenting, while they’re still at their planning stage.  [Read more…] about Japan providing springboard for robot takeover of the world

World Economic Forum warns of ‘widespread disruption’ to business by robots

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US Secretary of State John Kerry, delivering the keynote speech at the World Economic Forum
US Secretary of State John Kerry, delivering the keynote speech at the World Economic Forum

You know we’re in a lot of trouble when the World Economic Forum sees fit to issue a dire warning about the future of global employment, forecasting that more than 5 million people will lose their jobs across 15 developed economies by 2020 as a direct result of robotics and automation technology.

It’s difficult to say whether WEF is being conservative in its estimate, but since it is considered the mouthpiece of the leaders of the world economy, it’s in its interests to try and calm people’s anxieties over the issue.

In its report, The Future of Jobs, WEF says: “The Fourth Industrial Revolution, which includes developments in previously disjointed fields such as artificial intelligence and machine-learning, robotics, nanotechnology, 3-D printing, and genetics and biotechnology, will cause widespread disruption not only to business models but also to labour markets over the next five years, with enormous change predicted in the skill sets needed to thrive in the new landscape.”  [Read more…] about World Economic Forum warns of ‘widespread disruption’ to business by robots