Would You Replace Your Boss With A Robot?
- 24% of UK workers are open to having a robot boss
- 57% of people opt for human cashiers over self-service checkouts
- 61% agree that computers, automation or robots are going to take the jobs of humans in the near future
Almost a quarter of UK workers would rather work for a robot than their current boss, showing that we’re becoming more and more open to the idea of AI in the workplace.
But how do people feel about the increasing dependence on robotics in everyday life – and how could these concerns impact our careers?
reed.co.uk surveyed 2,000 employed adults in the UK, asking about their attitudes towards using tech at work. Here’s what we found:
It checks out…
Despite our increasing reliance on the digital workplace, there is still some preference for human service over automation.
For example, 57% of people say they would opt for a cashier manned by a person at the supermarket while only 43% would choose the self-scan checkout lane.
Why? Greater peace of mind and a higher level of reliability, according to 41% of those we surveyed.
And with over half of recipients saying they preferred the personable interaction they get from a real person, it’s obvious that we aren’t quite ready to go full-on robot just yet.
What about everyday AI interaction?
Whilst the majority aren’t ready to let go of human cashiers, that doesn’t mean they’re against all kinds of AI.
In fact, many people have used some of the most common services that are powered by artificial intelligence.
This is evident in the growing use of chatbots, with 64% of adults have used a chatbot, with almost a third not knowing whether it was a real person or not.
And, with 34% of people browsing a social media feed that’s personalised through AI, and one-fifth of adults saying they’ve spoken to a voice assistant – the presence of robotics in our daily life might be more prevalent than we think.
Robots vs. humans
An overwhelming 61% agree that computers, automation or robots are going to take the jobs of humans in the near future.
The jobs voted most at risk range from Factory Workers to Receptionists, whilst the likes of Doctors, Vets, and Social Workers are seen to remain (mostly) safe from robot takeover – primarily due to the importance these professions place on human interaction and empathy.
Even more surprisingly, only 11% are sure robots won’t replace human jobs, while a further quarter admits they haven’t yet fully made up their mind.
But what if we really did have to work with robots? Well apparently, most of us think Star Trek provides the best role-models.
In fact, the majority of UK workers named Data as their number one potential robot boss. Optimus Prime and Wall-E followed closely behind.
Top 10 robots to work for
- Data (Star Trek)
- Optimus Prime (Transformers)
- R2D2 (Star Wars)
- Terminator
- Robocop
- K9 (Doctor Who)
- Bender (Futurama)
- C3PO (Star Wars)
- Hal 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)
- Rosie (The Jetsons)
Originally posted by Reed.
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