Essay Sample on Robots Replacing Humans: The Future of Work?

Introduction

Companies all over the globe are continuously adopting automated systems in almost every aspect of their operations. With the increased use of robots in companies and industries, there is a likelihood that these robots will soon replace humans. Robots have the ability to outsmart human beings and render many professions obsolete in the future.

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Though the robots need to be programmed and operated by humans, their level of performance is relatively high compared to humans. According to Manyika et al. (4), in about sixty percent of global occupations, a third of them have activities that could be automated. The automation signifies a significant transformation in workplaces as well as for workers.

Though Artificial intelligence and automation are projected to lift the economic growth rate and productivity of organizations, the two are also expected to affect workers. As a result, workers will need to either upgrade their skills or switch occupations. This paper provides a detailed discussion about how the rise of automation and robo-sourcing will destroy many professions in the future.

How Automation is Replacing Human Jobs

The degree by which automation affects employment varies by sector and occupation. According to Manyika et al. (5), "Activities most susceptible to automation include physical ones in predictable environments, such as operating machinery and preparing fast food. Collecting and processing data are two other categories of activities that increasingly can be done better and faster with machines." As a result, most professions could be killed workers rendered unemployed, and some pushed to lower economic brackets.

In the present-day, no profession has stuck to the old manual ways of handling tasks. Through Artificial Intelligence, new equipment is being developed every single day and whose functionality copies that of human beings. As a result, the new systems are prototypes of human beings but which are more productive, accurate, and fast compared to humans.

Robots in companies and industries are outperforming humans in their professions since they are prone to a few mistakes and have no limits on performance time (Williams 2). Compared to humans who get tired and take some time to get a rest, robots provide a continuous flow of work at any time of the day. Therefore, humans do not stand to compete against these systems.

Additionally, robots have no limitation on the environment in which they operate. Robots are being used in researching harsh environmental conditions that would pose a danger to human beings. Such environments include high or very low temperatures. By developing the right robots to fit in such environments, they can provide the required outcomes in the best way possible. Such robotic operations only need little human efforts for coordination purposes (Williams 5). As a result, many people formerly conducted such activities are rendered jobless.

In the healthcare professions, automation and artificial intelligence are making continuous advancement. New and better-automated machines are being developed to read scans and perform medical analysis within the shortest time possible. Additionally, automated machines have the power to remove damaged tissues and organs from sick patients.

Automated machines and robots are evidence that in the future, the medical field will not need a lot of human personnel to treat even the so-called severe conditions (Williams 2). Many people with intentions to pursue careers in the medical field may be at risk of securing job positions in the future as machines can effectively handle their jobs.

In efforts to improve productivity and cut on wages, the manufacturing sector has embraced the use of robots and automation. As a result, many activities that were formerly handled by humans are being handled by robots and automated processes. In the future, people working in the manufacturing sector will stand no chance to survive in this industry as machines will do everything.

Those people with no advanced skills in the implementation of technology will be pushed to the lower economic level since technology does not accommodate them. Automation is taking over even the basic tasks in the informal sector. As Bergstein notes (42), "robots milk cows now." Those people employed in the informal areas are being replaced by machines and are left with no alternatives to gain their day-to-day livelihood.

Automation has no limits and is spreading in the transport sector. According to Williams (3), "last spring, a robotic co-pilot developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, known as Darpa, flew and landed a simulated 737." Airplane pilots have little to do in an entire flight, as most of the procedures that were formerly done manually are now automated. Automation has brought about the introduction of driverless cars, an aspect that could see many people lose their jobs.

With driverless vehicles, the need to own cars will decline, and those people with no other skills will be displaced and pushed to lower economic levels. With the introduction of driverless vehicles, it means that the pilotless planes and captainless ships could be achieved soon, and these professions could become obsolete.

Companies are continuously adopting algorithms that have the ability to obtain, analyze, organize, get results, and even predict the future. Organizations such as banks, insurance, auditing, and data management companies are using software that can suggest bets. The software also develops hedges and even serve as robo-economists. The software programs are already using natural language to communicate, and have already replaced highly paid human personnel in more prominent financial companies such as the Blackrock. If such automation takes place in each company, then many people will be victims of unemployment.

Artificial intelligence and automation have also made its way in the security sector. According to Williams (5), "Russia recently unveiled Fedor, a humanoid robot soldier that looks like Robocop after a Whole30 crash diet; this combat-ready space android can fire handguns, drive vehicles, administer first aid and, one hopes, salute." Armies all over the world are competing to develop new technologies that can be used as human alternatives on the battlefield.

As a result, robot soldiers are being developed by some superior nations such as America, Russia, and Britain. Soon or later, these robot soldiers will outnumber human soldiers. Therefore, the dreams of those who intend to be soldiers in the future will be shunned down, and they will be forced to look for alternatives. The less human soldiers that will be in the armies will be there just for formality and for formality and operating the robots. The chances to join the security forces will be limited to the very few who have the skills to manage these robots.

Automation and artificial intelligence will create a whole new level of competition in the labor market, an aspect that may bring about income inequality. According to Sherman (1), "Sending everyone to programming or robot boot camp will just mean many more educated people than open positions and drastically lower salaries because of an oversupply of labor."

Due to the usage of artificial intelligence, unemployed people may opt to train to fit in the dynamic technological world. The aftermath may be too many qualified people that the concerned companies decide to take advantage of offering low wages. Due to the need for people to seek employment opportunities, cheap labor might be the only solution.

Automation and artificial intelligence render some careers obsolete. Some of these professions include file clerks and some journalists. Some media houses are already using software programs for copy coverings. Additionally, some aspects of the media may soon be obsolete. One area of concern is the newspaper vending as the majority of people can access information through mobile applications; hence, no need to print the hard copies (Williams 4).

In areas such as law firms where documents are the primary focus, file clerks will no longer be needed in the future. The job loss is due to the introduction of the digital file system and cloud computing. Such technologies allow quick access and retrieval of information compared to humans. People in such professions have nothing to admire in the future.

In the future, advancement in artificial intelligence may lead to the development of machines whose intelligence matches that of humans and which might even go past it. The result of this advancement is that these machines may rule and even kill humans as they can take over every task that can be handled by humans. The machines may become even more dangerous compared to nukes. As Williams explains (4), "Fears of technology are as old as the Luddites, those machine-smashing British textile workers of the early 19th century. Usually, the fears turn out to be overblown." Artificial intelligence and automation have no boundaries; it develops new machines to replace humans, follow them to virtually new industries they flee to.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence and automation are of great benefit to many organizations due to the associated efficiency, productivity, and even accuracy. However, this automation has the power to outperform human beings in their respective positions, a factor that may lead to the displacement of many employees. A single machine has the potential to replace up to five employees, and many industries adopting automation may retain few employees compared to those laid off.

Lack of employment is an issue of concern in the society and which may lead to financial strain, directly affecting the economy. As a result, the government is forced to provide financial benefits to the unemployed population (Goodman 3).

In ensuring that people overcome the adverse effects of automation, governments need to seek better ways to train people for new jobs. Jobs disappear; therefore, there is a need to protect workers affected by the disappearing jobs.

Work Cited

Williams, Alex. "Will Robots Take Our Children's Jobs?" The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia, 11 Dec. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/style/robots-jobs-children.html.

Goodman, Peter. The Robots Are Coming, And Sweden Is Fine. The New York Times, 2017, pp. 1-7, https://nyti.ms/2pKcSk2.

Manyika, James et al. Jobs Lost, Jobs Gained: What The Future Of Work Will Mean For Jobs, Skills, And Wages. Mckinsey Global Institute (MGI), 2017, pp. 1-18.

Sherman, Erik. 5 Reasons A Robot May Take Your Job, And 5 Why Not. CBS News, 2015, pp. 1-2.

Bergstein, Brian. Free Money's Big Test. MIT Technology Review, 2018, pp. 39-45.