The timeless question of humanity
To date robots make us feel insecure. They are metallic beings of great efficiency and precision that don’t make mistakes – why wouldn’t humans feel inadequate? Today, thanks to Artificial Intelligence, the latest robots can speak, act, and communicate almost like humans. So is the neo-colonialism we must be worried about, be that of robots?
Robots colonising may sound bizarre, but to some extent, it has already begun. For example, when you allow your emails to be sorted in your Gmail inbox, you have already let robotic technology control it. When you enter your destination in your GPS, you are allowing a robot to manipulate your directions and movements. And when you have a Smart-home system, you are leaving your safety in their hands of them too.
Since the invention of the assembly line, physical labour has been reduced year by year. And now with robots performing tasks with less possibility of failure, why would an industrialist want manual workers who require maternity leave or healthcare? A study predicted that more than 50% of jobs in the United States are going to be automated by the mid-2030s – especially in the field of agriculture, medicine, and military industries. If this reality is inevitable then so are unemployment, lower standards of living, and idleness.
Despite all of this, will they end up dominating the world? Some experts predict that since robots are susceptible to problems like corrosion and wear and tear, they will never be more powerful than humanity. They are also unqualified for jobs which require creative and artistic skills – these qualities are unique to homo-sapiens.
Will machines end up replacing most professionals? Yes. But if we develop symbiotic relationships with them, then perhaps society will advance to a utopian structure where robots do the groundwork, and all individuals are just the brains.