Apr 19, 2020 05:11 AM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52340651
EXCERPT: For better or worse the robots are going to replace many humans in their jobs, analysts say, and the coronavirus outbreak is speeding up the process. "People usually say they want a human element to their interactions but Covid-19 has changed that," says Martin Ford, a futurist [...] "[Covid-19] is going to change consumer preference and really open up new opportunities for automation."
Companies large and small are expanding how they use robots to increase social distancing and reduce the number of staff [...] Robots are also being used to perform roles workers cannot do at home. Walmart, America's biggest retailer, is using robots to scrub its floors. Robots in South Korea have been used to measure temperatures and distribute hand sanitiser.
With health experts warning some social distancing measures may need to be in place through 2021, robot workers may be in greater demand.
[...] Fast-food chains ... have been testing robots as cooks and servers. ... In warehouses [...] The Covid-19 outbreak has ... companies looking to increase the use of robots for sorting, shipping and packing. ... Once a company has invested in replacing a worker with a robot it's unlikely the firm will ever rehire for that role.
[...] Artificial intelligence is being developed that can replace school tutors, fitness trainers and financial advisers. Robot sceptics had believed humans would have an edge in those jobs. That could be changing as lockdowns have made humans more comfortable with the idea of connecting remotely. The instructor or adviser on the screen doesn't need to be a real person, it just needs to think and act like one.
A 2017 report by global consultants McKinsey predicted a third of workers in the US would be replaced by automation and robots by 2030. But events like pandemics have the potential to change all the timelines and experts say it's really up to humans to decide how they want to integrate this technology in the world... (MORE - details)
EXCERPT: For better or worse the robots are going to replace many humans in their jobs, analysts say, and the coronavirus outbreak is speeding up the process. "People usually say they want a human element to their interactions but Covid-19 has changed that," says Martin Ford, a futurist [...] "[Covid-19] is going to change consumer preference and really open up new opportunities for automation."
Companies large and small are expanding how they use robots to increase social distancing and reduce the number of staff [...] Robots are also being used to perform roles workers cannot do at home. Walmart, America's biggest retailer, is using robots to scrub its floors. Robots in South Korea have been used to measure temperatures and distribute hand sanitiser.
With health experts warning some social distancing measures may need to be in place through 2021, robot workers may be in greater demand.
[...] Fast-food chains ... have been testing robots as cooks and servers. ... In warehouses [...] The Covid-19 outbreak has ... companies looking to increase the use of robots for sorting, shipping and packing. ... Once a company has invested in replacing a worker with a robot it's unlikely the firm will ever rehire for that role.
[...] Artificial intelligence is being developed that can replace school tutors, fitness trainers and financial advisers. Robot sceptics had believed humans would have an edge in those jobs. That could be changing as lockdowns have made humans more comfortable with the idea of connecting remotely. The instructor or adviser on the screen doesn't need to be a real person, it just needs to think and act like one.
A 2017 report by global consultants McKinsey predicted a third of workers in the US would be replaced by automation and robots by 2030. But events like pandemics have the potential to change all the timelines and experts say it's really up to humans to decide how they want to integrate this technology in the world... (MORE - details)