Robots: Augmenting Human Talents or Replacing Them?

In 2014 Stephen Hawking predicted that robots would take over the world in 100 years as a result of the full development of artificial intelligence. Some reacted with fear while others looked for business opportunities, using autonomous mobile robots, humanoids, and exoskeletons. Now that technology is widely used to make the average life much more efficient, the digital side has become cheap enough to develop robots that can move themselves and help businesses run even faster.

Raquel Buscaino, Senior Consultant and host of Deloitte Tech Savvy TECHTalks podcasts discusses the recent implementations of robots in the business world in her episode, “Building Trust in Physical Robots.” She introduces Mark Cotteleer (Executive Sponsor) and Kathleen Felter (Lead) of Deloitte’s Physical Robots Domain project to provide deeper insight into the purpose and success of advances in automation.

The purpose of this project and the tasks of these team members are to find the proper uses of robotics in the workplace. Since researchers and other technology experts have perfected the transfer of physical data into digital applications, the next step is to utilize the digital data to improve a process in the physical world. Therefore, when digital data shows a talent shortage or inefficiency in a specific department, such as the lower levels of supply chains, an autonomous robot would complete these tasks in assistance to humans.

Contrary to popular belief, these robots are not built to take over human jobs. Though this may result in lesser available career opportunities, Cotteleer explains that robots will serve to complete the tasks that humans do not need to spend quality time doing. Instead, humans can focus their attention toward adapting, adjusting, and creating new knowledge, as this is what they do best.

For instance, nurses and CNAs are currently performing for more duties than their position requires. Changing sheets, delivering food, and other small tasks could be completed by an autonomous robot while the nurses can pay proper attention to clinical and patient care, their true responsibility. These nurses will not be entirely replaced but rather their capabilities will be augmented to prevent labor shortages in the medical industry.

A risk with the integration of robots is the fear and mistrust based on safety, security, and functionality of the robot. A common question that factory floor workers have asked is “can I trust the robot not to be hacked?” Fortunately, Felter clarifies that robots must go through the same training process as humans do in order to ensure that the tasks are properly “learned.” This includes reinforcement learning, monitoring of health and safety, and the proactiveness of researchers to continue improving on existing technology. She also states that companies must be willing to adapt and modify the organizational culture to accept the new technological changes.

Ultimately, the goal of the physical-digital-physical revolution is to create seamless collaboration between humans and machines. By developing robots to become more multi-purposeful than only for a single purpose, businesses will not only become more efficient but also humans will be able to place their time and effort into areas with talent shortages.

Stephen Hawking could be right, and in 100 years, robots could take over the world. However, instead of fearing the unpredictable future, we must shift our focus and integrate this advanced technology into our lives, so that human talent can use artificial intelligence more effectively and positively.