For some time now, I’ve been following the use of robotics when it comes to various forms of employment. Obviously, we have seen the emerging use of robotics in manufacturing and assembly operations, such as in the automotive industry. However, now we are increasingly seeing the use of robotics in the health care sector, the retail sector as depicted by Amazon’s newest warehouses, the construction industry, and even in the restaurant sector. The pandemic resulted in even more robotics use as a means to better ensure the health and safety of workers from contact with other workers, patients and air-born viruses in workplace environments. Experts see organizations adopting robotics increasingly to perform otherwise unsafe or stressful workplace tasks, such as caring for patients in a hospital who are in quarantine or isolation. They also argue that the use of robotics is not about replacing employees who would traditionally be performing certain tasks, but rather providing an overall enrichment of safety in these environments. For example, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over the past two years, more than 1 million American healthcare workers were infected with COVID-19 and more than 4,000 of them died.
Now, enter the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its application to the field of robotics and automation. AI will allow various forms of user-friendly robotics, including for example advanced remote-controlled humanoid nursing robots in the health care sector. AI will enable the robot to learn repeated tasks. Once a robot has repeatedly performed a task, such as removing a blanket from the patient’s bed or retrieving specimens, it will be able to do these tasks without being given step-by-step instructions. Advances in robotics and AI will see other uses in not only so-called blue collar work, but also in various forms of white collar work. In the past two years, automation and AI tools have become sophisticated enough to influence professionals and white collar work. Administrative assistants, radiologists, financial advisers — and now lawyers — have all become the targets of such software. McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, estimated back in 2017 that 35 percent of all professional tasks can be automated these days. JP Morgan has already marshalled an army of developers to build software that can do in seconds what it took lawyers 360,000 hours to do previously.
The fact of the matter is that future workforces will work hand in hand together with robots and processes using artificial intelligence. The implications for workers are varied and enormous. The current and next generations of workers will have to fully educated, trained and comfortable with this new reality. As in the past, along with new technologies comes a demand for new skills and knowledge. There is no sector that is immune to advances made in robotics and AI, some obviously more than others. As we are already seeing shortages of skilled workers in certain sectors, there will be greater pressure placed on organizations to compensate through the use of automated processes. Also, whether by design or accident, many of the countries with the most rapidly aging populations already have the most robots. According to the International Federation of Robotics in 2016, the nations with the highest density of industrial robots included South Korea, Japan and Germany. At that time, the U.S. ranked eighth among the countries. With their ageing populations, the use of industrial robots will no doubt increase in both Canada and the U.S. if they are to effectively compete on the global scene.
The pandemic has increased our awareness of our vulnerabilities when it comes to maintaining productivity and private and public services. One can certainly expect that most sectors will be examining the future ways to avoid the negative impacts of pandemics and climate change on their workforces. One means to dealing with the changing labour force demographics will be to investigate potential other uses of robotics and AI. It’s happening now, and there is no stopping the changes that will come about. Emerging demands will require fresh, dynamic solutions.
FROLITICKS 
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