How Humanoid Robots Will Change The World
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Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
Implications of Mass Production of Humanoid Robots
Economic Disruption
If humanoid robots are mass produced, one of the first things you will notice happening will be a significant shift in labor markets. You can expect industries that are reliant on human labor performing mundane and repetitive tasks to undergo phases of digitization and automation. While this normally improve efficiency and reduce operational costs, job displacement is bound to happen. The situation would force governments to rethink workforce training and potentially introduce universal basic income (UBI) policies to support displaced workers.
Social and Ethical Considerations
The widespread use of humanoid robots in everyday life would inevitably raise ethical concerns. Even spending too much time consuming social media is still a problematic issue. Thus with humanoid robots walking among us, issues such as privacy, constant surveillance, and the ethical treatment of AI-powered machines will certainly become hot topics of debate. Furthermore, the emotional connection between humans and humanoid robots could blur lines between relationship roles. If we are now concerned about how people might form overly attachments to their smartphone, what do you think the consequences will be if people in the future regard social humanoid robots as their equal counterpart?
Technological Dependence
As more businesses and consumers rely on robots, societies could face increased dependence on technology. We are only about three decades into living in the digital era and we already can sense and experience the many pitfalls of depending on technology. What happens if there is a widespread malfunction of robots and machines? Are we prepared for the cybersecurity risks involved in having our humanoid robots connected to cloud networks? These are just some of the serious questions that must be addressed before mass adoption of humanoid robots takes place.
Barriers to Advancement of Humanoid Robots
Technical Challenges
Although great strides have been made, there are still significant technical hurdles in making humanoid robots more versatile. For instance, robots still struggle with human-like dexterity, fine motor skills, and nuanced decision-making. Even if we managed to perfectly replicate the physical movements of a humanoid robot to a human being, mimicking human intelligence is actually more difficult than it appears. For instance, most of us do not pay much regard to our common sense but for a dumb machine, it is a powerful attribute that scientists and engineers have not yet been able to satisfactorily replicate in a machine. If a humanoid robot accidentally harms a person because it misinterpreted a command from its human owner, the humanoid technology could very well be banned.
High Costs Of Humanoid Robots
Building humanoid robots is expensive due to the intricate engineering and advanced materials required. The Tesla Optimus is expected to have a retail price of about $20,000 to $30,000 and that sounds reasonable as some cars even cost more than that amount. However, we buy cars because we know we can rely on it to serve our purposes. If humanoid robots do not at least meet our expectations, then consumers will surely abandon it. Mass production would lower costs, but initial investment remains high. For now, accessibility to humanoid robots is normally limited to universities, wealthy corporations and government organizations.
Legal and Regulatory Issues
There is currently no comprehensive legal framework for robots operating in human environments. This means that getting to own a humanoid robot may require jumping through many hoops. Just take for instance liability issues—such as who is responsible when a robot malfunctions or misbehaves in public? What if the robot causes harm to people or animals? Regulatory issues will definitely be a major hindrance before mass adoption can take place.
Public Acceptance of Humanoid Robots
For humanoid robots to succeed, they must be widely accepted by the general public. Concerns about robots taking over jobs, privacy invasion, or simply being “creepy” will slow down their advancement in society. Did you know that the Google Glass project failed partly because people were concerned about someone who is wearing the device secretly recording them in public spaces? Even if regulations give the green light for regular consumers to own a humanoid robot, the reactions of people might stop you from taking your humanoid robot to the supermarket to help with the groceries.
