Introduction
Does automating control system help reducing human error? If we wipe out humans out of the system and automate most of the processes, would it lead to reduction in errors? [4]. Technologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence and robots are advancing at a faster pace [1]. While upcoming technologies improves the quality, speed and economical balance, they also replace a large number of workers [1]. Walter Bennis, reputed management consultant says that “the future will have just a man and a dog working in a factory because all the systems will be automated. The human is there to feed the dog and the dog is there to bite the human if he touches anything” (Paradies and Unger,2000) [4]. The effects of automation have already fallen on the economy. The number of industrial robots has increased faster than imagined in the last few years [1]. This makes it cost-competitive with human workers, as technology gets cheaper and more capable, science will find its application in the economy. This increase in trend of artificial intelligence will soon lead to a great recession [1]. Human errors are unavoidable and is reason enough to find the idea of automation appealing. But there are some skills that is beyond the reach of machines.
What is Automation?
The term automation can be defined as the innovation and application of novel technology to monitor and control the manufacturing and delivery of goods and services. An automation professional could be anybody involved in the automation process. Automation has far spread into many sectors[12]. Each passing decade, artificial intelligence is seeming to reach its peak with new technologies that evolve daily [10]. Some of the industries that involve automation are:
-
Facility operations: Includes environmental control, safety, security,etc
-
Manufacturing: to produce chemicals, food, cloth, paper, etc
-
Utilities: Water, electricity, gas and telecommunications
-
Transportation: Includes aerospace and rail
-
Defense: Various military instruments and weapons are automated
-
Automation includes a broad spectrum of artificial intelligence like robotics, electro-optics, sensors, controls, system integration, cyber security and many more. [12]
Evolution of Automation
The term automation was used for a variety of control systems such as factories, machinery, boilers, aircraft, etc. Some of these processes have achieved complete automation. [14]
Automation was inspired by the word automatic (derived from automaton) and was not used on a large scale until 1927 when General Motors came up with the automaton department. It was then that automation started advancing from then on at a rapid rate. [14]
Since then decade after decade automation has spread its wings into other fields like Information Technology, medicine, commercial business, manufacturing/production and so on. Automation has come a long way from computers to robots working in industries. Thus, the technology available to us today makes it easy to access any information anywhere for any amount of time. [15] The evolution of Artificial Intelligence has taken automation and robots to a whole new level [10]. Artificial Intelligence coupled with machine learning has sparked a huge shift in computers. [16]
How Will Automation/Artificial Intelligence Impact Our Jobs?
Machines are taking over all our jobs. Today, robots are able to flip burgers and work in warehouses. Technology has gone far enough so as to handle insurance claims, book keeping, storing data, helping managers, research and investment through artificial intelligence [5]. Technology will advance sooner rather than later and may wipe out human labour. Humans don’t stand a chance against robots and artificial intelligence. The coming era can be considered as an “automation apocalypse”. Only those with extremely talented skills may survive the robotic apocalypse. Humans are warned about the “Rise of Robots” and the “End of work.” [5]
But on the other hand, optimists argue that automation may save money or labour in the following ways:
-
Lower prices: Makes the product more attractive and creates a high demand that may lead to more job openings and workers.
-
Profits: Generation of more profits may lead to higher wages. This will also lead to more employment and more production.
It is predicted that the stock of robots in the United States may quadruple by 2025, IT has predicted that robots will quadruple by 2025, which would mean almost 1 to 2 robots per 1,000 workers. This addition will amount to severe job losses in just a matter of few years. This data is relevant based on the current economy with respect to the additional automated machines in the workforce. [6].
While automation can give a very good and consistent performance, it lacks certain things like logic, adaptability and judgement whereas humans are all wired to feel, empathise, judge, voice out their opinion and adapt to situations. By maximizing the use of robots, we lose the ‘feel’, the sentient and emotional knowledge humans possess and by maximizing human input we lose a very high performance, and an error-free machine. Which one is appropriate? The answer to this question is a debatable one and the answer lies somewhere in between the two extremes. The answer would differ differently for different situations and time. [4]
An Optimistic View
While automation may have known to kill some jobs, it has also created others. After the Industrial Revolution, more than half of the American workers continued to stay employed in the agricultural sector and most of these jobs were to be taken over my industrial machines. Humans possess the unique skills of making judgements, giving an opinion, empathy and logic [4]. Humans are also variable, interactive and adaptable but they also make errors which is natural and inevitable [4]. As each decade passes by, there are many countries with declining birth rate and eventually the population in all countries will shrink. But to maintain the GDP of the country, the workers of tomorrow will have to work much harder than the workers of today. They will have to augment at a faster rate than they did before or now. Automation could be an answer to all of this. At a recent world summit in Dubai, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that “There will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot cannot do better”, suggesting that we may all have to work on basic income just enough to survive and afford necessities. But even after expressing their thoughts which may sound like a threat to human labour, it also has some positive impacts like “with automation, there will come abundance. Almost everything will get cheaper” [6]
Every robot that comes into the US economy reduces employment by 5-6 workers and in addition to every robot, the workforce every 1,000 human workers may cause wages to drop by 0.25% to 0.5%. The trend of robot transformation is likely to continue and will soon be joined by technological unemployment (artificial intelligence)[7].
If one were to assume that machine did replace humans, then what? What would the world look like? Will the economy take a bad hit?
Well, the answer to this would be that if machines if ever take away our jobs, the lower-class population will get poorer. All of them will be replaced by a robot and will be left with no jobs. They won’t be able to make it through the day let alone buy necessities. The economy will take a hit for the worse. The rich may get richer. The ones who own the machines will go through severe losses but not as bad as the lower-class population. This will slowly lead to annihilation of human race thereby leaving robots and machines to run the planet. There is also the point to be considered that eventually the machines would break down and there will be no resources to fix them. Even if man must develop a machine to repair other machines, what if the repair machines breaks down as well?
Theoretically though automation may lead to a great deal of benefits and advantages, to implement it practically is a whole different story.
An Optimistic Example
A very good example of such a phenomenon is the business/commercial website which is widely popular called Amazon. The company has switched to artificial intelligence and has increased the number of robots working for them in their warehouses (count from 1,400 to 45,000 robots)[6]. But it is also to be noted that the pace at which it hires workers is altogether the same and hasn’t changed because of the increasing number of robots. The increase in use of robots has made sure that Amazon keep their prices low and people can afford to buy more products online. This also opens up opportunities for more workers in their warehouses even if it means fewer working hours. A well- known founder of a fulfilment company called Bruce Welty ships more than a billion ecommerce orders every year and a company called the Locus Robotics is known to sell warehouse robots. Welty finds that the threat to jobs from the companies that sell robots is blown out of proportion, considering the increase in the rise of ecommerce which creates more demand for warehouse workers. [6]
Benefits of Automation
The 5 major benefits of automation over human labour are cost reduction, productivity, availability, reliability and performance [2]. Automation has many benefits that are financially difficult to replicate with more human labour. Automation reduces human error and offers more precision [11]. Robots can work instead of three to five individuals, contingent upon the undertaking and helps saving on the cost of labour [11]. The increase in accuracy and the streamline processes of robots means minimal material waste in any operation [11]. It also removes workers from dangerous tasks, safeguarding them from dangerous environments [2].
It means higher manufacturing rates leading to increased productivity, efficient use of raw materials, safety, reduced work labour, better quality of products and reduced factory time [3]. Increased productivity and higher output are the two biggest points in justifying the use of automation [3]. Despite claiming high quality output by humans, automated machines or systems typically perform the manufacture and production process with a variability noticeably less than human workers, resulting in greater consistency and control of product quality [3]. Also increased productivity will lead to less scrap [3].
Another advantage would be the reduction of workhours workers need to work on an average [3]. In the1900’s the average work hours of a worker in a week was 70 hours and has gradually come down to 40 hours due to automation [3]. Automation and mechanization have played a significant role in this reduction [3].
Disadvantages of Automation
A major disadvantage that is caused when automation takes over is displacement of workers [3]. In majority of cases the displaced workers undergo tremendous emotional stress. In addition, the worker may be displaced geographically. An individual may have to relocate in search of a new job, which is another cause of worry. Other cons include the unexpected expenditure required to invest in an automated equipment. It also requires a maintenance of the higher level with a machine that requires manual operation and a low flexibility in terms of the products possible [3]. There is also a potential risk that automation may vanquish the world rather than serve humankind. Humans will become slaves to automated machines. [8]
But if we use automation wisely and effectively, it can help open up opportunities in the future. One can view it as an opportunity to relieve workers from unpleasant, repetitive and dangerous labour in all forms. Moreover, future technologies that include automation provide a growing economic and social surrounding in which people can take the liberty to enjoy a higher standard of living and a better-quality life [3].
How Can Automation Be Controlled?
Optimists think that any harmful effects shall be short-lived, and robots may slow down the manufacturing and productivity due to varied reasons thereby increasing the employee well-being and income. Pessimists on the other hand point out to the increasing evolutions and breakthrough, robots may need only a few skilled professionals [9]. The era of robots is taking over people’s lives. For example: Internet of things(IoT) [13]
It is not possible to stop automation at the pace it is moving today. But there are ways to control automation. The very famous Bill Gates suggested that in order to control automation, robots could be taxed. These funds can later be used to help the financially weak displaced workers. This would also give these workers a chance to transition to a new job in a different field like healthcare, education, etc. Also, a better way to control robotics would be having the company take care of workers or employees they choose to cut loose because of switching to automation. [6].
Considering the scenario where artificial intelligence and automation advances and many workers and employees are displaced because a robot replaces them, governments must equip and embrace the economy similar to that of the Great Depression. Eventually, governments will have to decide on and come down to a basic income situation. [6]
An if scenarios were to change in the manner where the machines would replace hazardous, dangerous and fatal jobs then maybe automation isn’t such a bad thing. Humans are known to be adept and will certainly find a way to transition into a new field. [6]
Conclusions
Humans can certainly be replaced by machines. Moreover, the ‘Era of Robots’ has already begun. We can see it happening today. Machines can do so many things more accurately and efficiently than humans can. They will replace humans in all categories and areas. They have taken over industries, medical fields, commercial business enterprises, information technology, business processes, etc. Each machine can displace 5 employees from their jobs. But one thing machines can never learn will be human interaction, voice an opinion, judgement, empathy, emotions which humans so unknowingly express in their data-to-day lives. Today, scientists have developed robots that can sense emotions and act accordingly. There may come a time in the near future where advancements can be made on these machines and they will be programmed to feel as well. But none of these innovations will be good enough. Different scenarios require different emotions, also situational awareness is something machines would not understand. One can argue that machines are a great threat to the world and the apocalypse of the earth shall begin through robots, but every machine needs to be programmed by humans. There will be robots that will take away jobs of workers and employees from different fields, but there will also be new jobs created every other day. The need to find different skilled workers will increase with the need to grow. With rapid growing technology, machines couldn’t replace all of the human jobs. They lack creativity and novel thinking required in various fields. They will never be able to do jobs which may require architecting, to dance, to write, to act or take pictures. Jobs liked nursing, psychiatrist and psychologist need empathy and compassion. Humans can make decision on experiences and critical thinking.
Other factors like intuition, judgement, innovation and creativity can never be found in machines. Today, many of the job titles that have come in the last decade were not known to the industry. As innovation gets advanced so does the needs. Different company or industry will require different skilled people. In the world we live in today, it is very essential to keep up with the leading technologies or skills so as to not be replaced by a robot. Automation is not necessarily bad when we consider some of the wonders it does by replacing workers in dangerous and fatal jobs. Also, the advancement in the medical field is mind-blowing. Robots can help a man walk who is paralysed from waist down and also conduct their own surgeries. This will certainly put some doctors out of jobs but will also develop new job opportunities in the medical field. The only way robots can truly take over the world is when man comes up with an inventions or artificial intelligence which will be programmed not only to think like a human but also to feel and judge. This robot will be a super robot and if ever such an invention were to occur it will a be doom day for us all.
This super robot will program and take over every machine possible and program it. We no longer would have any control over automation. The ideas have certainly been projected in sci-fi movies, but it won’t be long until someone comes up with an invention as such in the real world. To conclude it is highly unlikely that machines will take over the entire human race and their jobs. Man created the machine and not the other way around, but it is certainly likely with the pace with which technology is moving that machines may do most of the jobs with precision and accuracy than a human would. The chances of humans being replaced by machines all over is unlikely considering the new opportunities that come up daily. The answer to whether machines will conquer the world or not is still debatable and the answer lies in the world man develops in the near future. It is up to the human race to save its own kind.
