A robot with a human-looking face smiles.

This robot checks people into hotel rooms.

Islam Yakut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Should We Worry About Robots Taking Over?

As You Read, Think About: What are some ways robots are helpful to humans?

It’s time for dinner. Your mom orders a pizza using an app on her smartphone. Soon after she places the order, you hear a voice saying, “Hello. Here’s your delivery.” But there’s no delivery person at your doorstep. Instead, you find a delivery robot!

In the past two years, a company called Starship has used robots to make nearly a million food and grocery deliveries in 12 states. The wheeled bots use computers with artificial intelligence (AI). That’s the ability of a machine to think and learn like a human.

It’s time for dinner. Your mom orders a pizza using an app on her smartphone. Soon, you hear a voice. It says, “Hello. Here’s your delivery.” But there’s no delivery person at your doorstep. Instead, you find a delivery robot!

In the past two years, a company called Starship has used robots to make deliveries. Starship’s robots have made nearly a million food and grocery deliveries in 12 states. The wheeled bots use computers with artificial intelligence (AI). That’s the ability of a machine to think and learn like a human.

Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images

This robot provides information at airports.

Delivery robots are just one example of AI-equipped machines taking over jobs once done only by humans. About 200,000 robots pack products in Amazon warehouses. Thousands of bots now assist doctors in operating rooms around the world. Robots also clean floors in stores, pick fruit on farms, and more.

With AI becoming more advanced, many people are concerned that even more jobs will become automated. Some people even think that robots may eventually replace all human workers.

Delivery robots are just one example of AI-equipped machines taking over jobs once done only by humans. About 200,000 robots pack products in Amazon warehouses. Thousands of bots now assist doctors in operating rooms around the world. Robots also clean floors in stores and pick fruit on farms.

With AI becoming more advanced, many people are concerned that even more jobs will become automated. Some people even think that robots may eventually replace all human workers.

Should we be worried about this robot revolution?

Robots have been taking over the workforce for decades, since they began to help build cars in the 1960s. Today, there are about 3 million industrial robots used worldwide, and experts expect humans to lose even more jobs in the future. Why? There are some things robots can just do better than humans can.

Robots have been taking over the workforce for decades. In the 1960s, they began to help build cars. Today, about 3 million industrial robots are used worldwide, and experts expect humans to lose even more jobs in the future. Why? There are some things robots can do better than humans can.

Some experts predict that robots could take over more than 20 million jobs worldwide by 2030.

Source: Oxford Economics

Source: Oxford Economics

“Robots can often complete tasks more quickly than humans can—without getting tired,” explains Michael Chui, a researcher who studies how robots affect businesses.

“Robots can often complete tasks more quickly than humans can. They do
this without getting tired,” explains Michael Chui, a researcher who studies how robots affect businesses.

Darren Staples/Getty Images

This robot delivers food and groceries

It’s not just industrial jobs that are at risk. There are now robotic chefs, explorers, coaches, and more. Today’s advanced technology also allows machines to be creative. Last year, a British newspaper called The Guardian published an article written entirely by AI.

So should we be worried about a robot takeover?

“It’s something we should be thinking about,” Chui says. “People need to continuously learn new skills in order to keep up.”

It’s not just industrial jobs that are at risk. There are now robotic chefs, explorers, coaches, and more. Today’s advanced technology also allows machines to be creative. Last year, a British newspaper called The Guardian published an article written entirely by AI.

So should we be worried about a robot takeover?

“It’s something we should be thinking about,” Chui says. “People need to continuously learn new skills in order to keep up.”

David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Marty patrols aisles for spills.

Other experts argue that even the most advanced bots are no match for humans. Jobs require humans to take on many different, sometimes unexpected, tasks. But most robots are programmed to do just one.

Take Marty, for example. Hundreds of this type of robot work at Stop & Shop supermarkets. Marty patrols the aisles, beeping when it spots a spill. But it can’t actually clean a mess.

Other experts argue that even the most advanced bots are no match for humans. Jobs require humans to take on many different, sometimes unexpected, tasks. But most robots are programmed to do just one.

Take Marty, for example. Hundreds of this type of robot work at Stop & Shop supermarkets. Marty patrols the aisles. The bot beeps when it spots a spill. But it can’t actually clean a mess.

Islam Yakut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

This robot brings food to your table.

“Machines can do some of the things that people can do, but they can’t do everything,” says Pierre DuPont, a scientist who designs medical robots. “So, is a robot going to put a doctor out of a job? The answer is no.”

Plus, robots are far behind humans in making emotional connections. They can’t comfort a patient like a nurse does or help a student like a teacher would.

Researchers point out that robots are here to help us, not eliminate us.

“Robotics is actually going to create more jobs,” DuPont says. “After all, someone will need to design and program robots.”

“Machines can do some of the things that people can do, but they can’t do everything,” says Pierre DuPont, a scientist who designs medical robots. “So, is a robot going to put a doctor out of a job? The answer is no.”

Plus, robots are far behind humans in making emotional connections. They can’t comfort a patient like a nurse does. They can’t help a student like a teacher would.

Researchers point out that robots are here to help us. They’re not here to eliminate us.

“Robotics is actually going to create more jobs,” DuPont says. “After all, someone will need to design and program robots.”

56% of Americans believe automation will improve their jobs.

Source: Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research

Source: Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research

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1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

2. What does it mean for a job to become automated? Include an example.

3. What evidence supports the argument that humans should not worry about robots taking over?

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

2. What does it mean for a job to become automated? Include an example.

3. What evidence supports the argument that humans should not worry about robots taking over?

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